FAITH HEALING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19066, 11 January 1924, Page 7

FAITH HEALING.

ATTITUDE OF THE CHURCH. REPORT OF LAMBETH COMMITTEE. AN INTERESTING PRONOUNCEMENT. fresa Association —By Tek^'raph—Copyriffit LONDON, January 9. The committee which was appointed by the Lambeth Conference to consider spiritual healing has issued its report. The Archbishop of Canterbury m an introduction to the report, says: “it only carries the authority of the members ot the committee; but they are men o capacity, learning, and thought, and wel qualified to handle such a difficult subThe report lays down the following generalnrs“lCtbeeSchief work of the Church in regard to disease is to develop in ail its members the right attitude of confidence, love and understanding towards God, to bring those who care for the soul into co-operation with those who care for the body, and to insist on hygiene and plain living as part of the ordinances of God. Secondly, the Church must saimtion methods of religious treatment of bodily disease, always giving full weight to the scientific discoveries of those who are m vestimating the interrelation of spirit, mind, and body. , Thirdly, it is not the function cf the Church to apply its means of restoration if no higher end is sought than the ie covery cf bodily health. The sick raus not look to clergymen to do what the ohvsician or surgeon should do. What Tver means the Church employs, emphasis Sould be laid upon the primary purpose 5 deepening fellowship with God, in Christ Jesus. For the purpose of healm<r prayer and the sacraments should be° used in conjunction before any sacramental rites are employed. Earnesi united prayers should be offered ou bejialf of sick persons in the Church as well by the patient and his friends at home Eciioious methods are specially a PP™Ff ate where moral and intellectual dithcuh ties and perplexities have contributed to th? border The preliminary treatment requires a real knowledge of » 010-v and psychology, so it is dauraDie teaf clergymen should be trained adeqUOpeportunity should also be given for the patient to make a special confessionofhis sins and the priest should absque him if he should be humblyand heartily desirous of forgiveness. Then might oUow treatment immediately and direc ly to complete the restoration of the This Ly take the form of nncuon-tuat S’ »Sti„g with oil by ft. P.”‘^ the laving on of hands, either by the SLt or g by a lay person or by both (These rites have Scriptural authonty and are sacramental in the sense that blessm o is sought and received through the perr3 of outward and visible actions. The motive with which they are used is Si “edition •< «» natient to God’s will, and the messing £3ved will bo either the KJttrrt™ £ health or grace to bear the sicuness Stly dhe whole treatment may appropriately end with the .patient’s receptimi of the Holy Communion. 1 Other methods of procedure are at private gatherings of the parents friends and sometimes a special gift of healing seems to be bestowed on a particular 5 person. Where there is little corporate action of the Church, it is unnecessary and impracticable to license mdteShealers or officially to recogmse 6 pSfe^ le CMord Allbutt and Sir RJoncs stated that they desired not to associate themselves with %e r ecommerid tion to use unction.— A. and N-Z. Gable.