FAITH-HEALING MISSION.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18622, 18 July 1930, Page 7

FAITH-HEALING MISSION.

STRANGE SCENES IN AUCKLAND Strange scenes were witnessed at the Covenant Hall, Wellesley Street, Auckland, where a mission is conducted by Mr A. H. Dallimore. The evangelist believes in faith-healing. He affirms that in the name of Jesus Christ there is healing for all ills of the body and the mind. “We read of cures being sought for cancer, for tuberculosis,” he said. “We have them here; Jesus is the remedy.”

He told of the faith-healing performed by Dowie, the American, and said that on one occasion Dowie went up to a man in the street, who had a cancerous growth on his face. After the laying of hands upon him the growth withered then ard there and fell off on to the pavemer The evangelist told also of having prayed for a job for a man who sought his aid and that a job was offered the following morning. “Jesus also found a job for Billy,” added Mr Dallmore. “Didn’t he Billy?” “Yes,” came a voice from the congregation. “He found a job for me.”

» Unknown Language Early in the meeting a woman stood up during the reading and exposition of a pasage of scripture and poured forth quite a lengthy oration in an unknown tongue. Immediately the preacher closed his eyes and made an oration in declamatory style. Then he smiled and said; “I thank you, Lord Jesus, for the interpretation.” Later it was made clear that in this mission it is believed that talking in strange tongues frequently takes place in fulfilment of the prophecy that this shall be one of the “signs.” The second demonstration came from the lips of a man who, in a high pitched voice, spoke words that might have been Chinese, Hindustani or just gibberish. Again there was a translation and thanks were given to Jesus for the interpretation. The last sign of the kind came from a middle-aged woman, who ended in tears.

A member of the mission explained to ‘Herald’ reporter that the mediums of these signs in strange tongues were so completely under the influence of the spirit that they had no control over themselves. They did not understand what they were saying nor were they conscious that they were being so moved. Further that the missioner did not know the meaning of the words, but that the interpretation was immediately given to him by the Holy Spirit. All these utterances were in praise of God. It might be mentioned that there is such a thing as an ecstatic trance.

Patients in Trance After such proceedings it hardly came as a surprise that the faith-heal-ing should produce unusual scenes. It was evident that most of the people present knew what was coming. Dipping a finger in olive oil the missioner placed one hand on the head of the subject, and the other behind the back, in a loud voice exclaimed. “In the Mighty name of Jesus of Nazareth. ’ by which time as a rule the patient collapsed backward into the missioner’s arms and was laid on the linoleum-covered floor, where he or she lay perfectly stiff. In the case of women a grey blanket was thrown over the limbs. The missioner prayed for health and rebuked the evil afflicting the person. A very big man, who went down like a pole-axed bullock, was said to be suffering from nerves. Formerly he had been in the Canadian North-West police.

There was no cessation for a long time. A constant procession went up and all except one youth collapsed. It looked like hypnotism. Whatever it was, these people lay on the floor for 10 or 15 minutes as a rule. They awakened one by one and returned to their seats, but usually there were a dozen or so on the floor at one time. Articles from Sick Absentees. A number of people took up handkerchiefs from ill friends. In such cases the missioner held the article between his hands and prayed that the healing power of Christ should anoint the handkerchief and bring healing to its owner.

More women than men sought healing. The nature of their troubles was not always announced, but sufficient information was given to show that dire sickness was not always the case. For instance, one woman wanted to be cured of a sore throat. There was prayer for a person with a dislocated ankle. One man had “rheumatism and a little cloud,” and for both prayer went up as he hit the floor. The missioner claimed many wonderful cures, and one or two people public testified that they had had impaired sight and hearing restored. It would appear that at previous meetings some active opposition was experienced. Mr Dallimore mentioned that last Sunday evening he had been asked if he would drink cyanide of potassium. He told of a Canadian farmer who had proved his faith by allowing a poisonous snake to bite him twice on the wrist, being quite un--1 affected, although the snake died. Mr Dallimore declined to drink the poison as a sign of his faith, however, quoting to support his refusal the utterance of Christ: “Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.”