THE SMITH-WIGGLESWORTH MISSION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18592, 28 June 1922, Page 6

THE SMITH-WIGGLESWORTH MISSION.

TO THE EDITOR.

Sib, —In your issue of Saturday last “Canny” asks a question respecting the Smith-Wigglesworth Mission -which has, no doubt, been, in the minds of many other people who day by day have listened to the faith-healer and witnessed -undeniable miracles—From whence comes his power? Is it of 'God?, The question suggests that there is another power operating in the world, not of God but rather of evil—of Satan. Is miracle-working alone an evidence of divine power? To many minds not given to investigation, this is sufficient evidence. On all such questions as these the Bible is the only book that can give us light. It is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. Especially at this time let us open its too oftan neglected pages and study the position carefully. Faith-healers are rising up all over the world in great numbers, and what attitude are we to take? In 1 John iv, 1, we are cautioned: “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God; because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” By what rule are we to test them? Is it miracle-working? No. “To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them” (Isa. viii, 20). Then the miracle is not the test, oven though very mighty miracles are worked—even mightier than have been witnessed hero in _ Dunedin, which were hounded by decided limitations reminding one of the restricted powers of the magicians of Egypt in the time of Moses. In Matt, vii, 21-23, wc read: “Not every one that saiih unto mo. Lord, Lord, shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven; but he that doeth. the will of My Father which is in Heaven. Many will say to Me in that day. Lord, Lord, have wo not prophesied in 'Thy Name? and in Thy Name have cast out devils? and in Thy Name done many wonderful works? And then will 1 profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from Mo, ye that work iniquity.’’ From, this Scripture wc can see that miracle-working alone is no proof that the worker is connected with divine power. We must get deeper than. that. He that doeth the will of God is the evidence we require. What is the will of God? The answer is found in Psalm, xc, 7,8: “I delight to do Thy will, 0 my God; yea. Thy law is within my heart. ” From this we can see that the will of God and the law of God are identical.” . . On Sunday morning the writer attended a meeting in "the Princess Theatre conducted by Mr Wigglesworth. At that meeting this attitude towards the law of God was very clearly defined. He gave his audience to understand that he was free from the law, meaning that he was not under obligation to keep it. What a different attitude from that of our Lord, who said; “I. have kept my Father’s commandments” (John xv, ID), and “I delight to do Thy will, 0 my God; yea, Thy law is within my heart” (Ps. xl, 8), and of the Apostle Paul, who said : “I delight in the Law of God after the inward man” (Rom. vii, 22)! The inward man is the converted heart; but of the unconverted heart we read, “The carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the Law of God, neither indeed can be” (Rom. viii, 7). Satan means adversary—God’s adversary —that is, he is an anarchist, a rebel against God’s government, the foundation of which is the law of God. His method of propaganda is miracle-working and antinomianism. In Isa. xxx. 3-9, we read : “Now go, write it before them in a table, and note it in a book, that it may be for the latter day (margin). . . . That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the Lord.” And because of this unwillingness to hear the law of the Lord, in a time when Satan is working with all power and signs and lying wonders, God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie; because they received not the love of the truth. (2 Thess. ii, 10.11.) “Thy law is the truth.” (Ps. oxix, 142.) - From the evidences of the Scriptures, it can be plainly seen that a person endowed with the gift of healing from God will be found living in harmony with His law. —I am, etc., A Bible Student.

BOXING; M'QUAKBIE v. M'CLEAJCY. TO THB EDITOH. Sib, —Ancnt the boxing tournament last I protest that it- is an absolute scandal that a late arrival ior a 4s seat should bo ■ashed to pay Ss or else look for a stranger to go halves in the ticket. In the first place, if there is a 4a seat vacant, I contend that a 4a roan should get that seat without having to look for a stranger to help to pay 4s twice over. On top of the 8s charge for a 4s seat, only one ticket was issued. How is that 4a of nano accounted for? I allowed the other fellow to have the ticket, and ho had to vouch for roe at the doci. They tell roe that business men are at the head of affairs, and I really believe the management is right in some ways. Hut not in others. For instance, M‘Cleary and M'Quarrio were, right through the piece, undoubtedly on the watch for a knock-out. They both fought fairly and cleanly from start to finish. Certainly there were some fouls on both sides, but they were quite, unintentional, and as gentlemen the boxers apologised and fought on. Then, why in the name of sport, can a protest be entertained because M‘Quarric gave M‘Cleary the knock-out after such a clean fight? To my mind as a boxer, the protest is absurd! and not apart from partisanship of parochialism. In tlic interests of true sport and of no favour. —I am, etc., Justice.

[Mr H. Divers, secretary of the Otago Boxing Association, int'orras us that at 7.40 p.m. on Monday all seats in the pit hud been sold. At 7.45 p.m. all seats in tho back stalls had boen sold, and at 8.15 p.m. only 20 seats were available in the orchestral stalls and 100 in the dross circle. As there were still some 200 people outside the theatre who were not prepared to pay more than 4«, and as the remaining available scats were on the outer portion of tlie oire'e -and orchestral stalls, It was clearly announced, says Mr Divers, that two patrons would be admitted to seats in these portions of the theatre on one 8s ticket, patrons making their own arrangements so long as they paid 8s for a ticket at the ticket office. The association did not wish to turn away those who, although unwilling to pay Bs, were willing to pay 4s. Had 8s tickets been sold for 4s, the arrangements regarding the araushment tax, Mr Divers states, would have been complicated.—Ed. O.D.T.J