CHRISTIAN MISSION.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, Issue 18084, 22 September 1923, Page 7

CHRISTIAN MISSION.

ARRIVAL OF MR HICKSON. Ah- J. At. Hickson, who will begin iiis New Zealand healing iiii.''sion in Auckland on October 1, said> in the course of an interview: “Aiv mission in Australia was very successful, and I am happy to be here to see what further good I can accomplish. Apart from the great spiritual uplitc, the mission has given to the Christian churches, there have also been many physical cures of chronic and organic disease. Ido not want people to think this is simply a mission for effecting physical cures. Physical healing has its place in my work, but what I am trying to do is to revive in the Church that part of its ministry which is not only the healing of the body but primarily the healing of the soul. I consider that the Church’s ministry without the ministry of healing is incomplete, just as our Lord’s. ministry would have been incomplete without the healing of the body. But although physical healing had its part in our Lord’s ministry, it did not take first place. . His great work was to redeem mankind and to save the souls of men and prepare them for the Kingdom of Heaven.. Those seeking healing for their bodies must oome to our healing services in the right spirit, with the desire not only that they might be healed of physical infirmity, but that they may amenu their lives. The secular press of the world lias been wonderful in its lielp and iu guiding thought in this matter, and it has the great advantage of Doing nble to reach the man in the street, the man who does not go to church and who could hardly be reached througn anv other avenue.” , , . Asked concerning the criticism on the part of a certain section of the Australian press, Air Hickson said he would make no comment. “Can you quote a few outstanding instances of cures at your healing services in Australia?” asked the interviewer. “I do not care to do so, said Mr Hickson, “as I do not want to enlarge particularly on the body healing aspect of my mission. The cures have been too numerous for me to select any examples. I claim no power for myself in this work of healing. Mv one thought and desire is to help the people to realise that there is but One Great Healeg. our Lord Jesus Christ, and it is to Him and to Him alone we must look for health and happiness Reviewing his work in Austro m in the Church Standard, Air J. M. Hickson, who is at present in Auckland, says lie took with him from Australia very many happy memories of tl/c kindness and consideration which liad been given him bv the archbishops, bishops. cWv. and all Christian people. “I feel, he says, “that the insight which has been given through the missions of the tragedy of 'suffering everywhere, and also of fhe presence of the Lord to heal, will not be quickly forgotten, ami, therefore, believe that the clergy and laity will unite together and work for this revival, which will bring new life to the Christian Church. “It is not for priest or minister to con pern hiiwself much viiiJi nu* work on the physical and mental plane,’ ]\lr .I-Ticlvson holds j * that is better loft in the hands of those who are masters in that work. His great concern surely is to revive the spirit of faith in the soul of man. . . The priest can. however, co-operate with those working on the physical and mental plane. “Alv contention has always been that if the Church is going to rcvi>». ibis ministry of healing she must k*ep it on the plane wlm'-e Christ left it—that is tho .spiritual—-and there must be no compromise with healing by suggestion, . psycho-the-rapy, "etc. Spiritual healing is spiriinal; mental healing is mental; physical healing is physical healing. Tt is the power of God that works through then) all, but physical and mental healing can be accomplished bv purelv scientific methods, without anv belief in God or religion at all, although flint does not mean there are not many good Christian me” in tho medical profession. It is only right for them to use all the wisdom and ckill Which God lias given to them, but also thev must get on their hnees and lift their patients lo the Great Physician when science can go no further. , “A notable fact,” Mr Hickson continues, “Is the way in which the mjs sion had broken the fee of reserve which is so painfully noparent in. these days in speaking ton-ether of spiritual th’mrs. All classes of the community festifv to this commercial travellers and. others whom one meets and brushes up against—the ordinary man ip the. street, ao to spcajs.