CURES DISPUTED.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 600, 2 November 1932, Page 11

CURES DISPUTED.

Faith Healing Mission Criticised. INVESTIGATION WANTED. (Special to the “ Star.”) AUCKLAND, November 2. A meeting in the Town Hall to protest against the Dallimore mission was attended by a large number of people. After prayer, addresses were given by the Rev W. Gilmour and Mr Kenneth H. Melvin, the latter of whom has on more than one occasion challenged Mr Dallimore’s claims. The Rev Joseph W. Kemp presided. Mr Gilmour dealt with an investigation into the Price healing campaign in Vancouver, which he had personally inquired into, and which he characterised as having left behind it a very sad aftermath of sorrow, disappointment and broken faith. Mr Gilmour strongly urged the holding of a thorough investigation into the Dallimore mission, not only as to healing results, but also into spiritual, moral and financial results. Mr Melvin first quoted from a letter from a Hamilton woman whose sister, after attending the Auckland mission, had become temporarily deranged and had to be sent to a mental institution. She returned quite cured, but again attended Mr Dallimore’s meetings, became worse, and had to be sent back to the mental institution, where she was at the present moment. The letter said:

“ The consequences are going to be serious, as Dallimore is undermining people’s faith in their spiritual leaders and their belief in the efficacy of surgery and medicine.” Saved in Time.

Another case quoted by Mr Melvin was that of a male patient concerning whom it was claimed that “ some inches of bone had been miraculously restored to his leg.” The case was in hospital for two operations, was discharged cured, and the wound healed on July 12, whereas he was supposed to have been miraculously healed on September 26. Mr Melvin quoted the doctor’s report in proof of the dates. Still another case quoted was that of a patient with an internal complaint. The patient was anointed fifteen times and told not to go near a doctor, but she was not cured, and in desperation went to a doctor. Her life was despaired of, she was rushed to hospital, and just in time, the doctors stating that her life was jeopardised by trifling with faithhealing. Hypnotism Alleged.

Mr Melvin said there was abundant and conclusive evidence that the faithhealing movement proceeded under hypnotic influence, and if that was so it constituted one of the gravest public dangers known, quite apart from its spurious divine claim. The final point of Mr Melvin was that in common with all faith-healers, Mr Dallimore held and taught doctrines that were, in the concensus of Christian opinion, contrary to the Scriptures, and subversive of the glory of Jesus Christ. There were only three interruptions during Mr Melvin’s long address, and at the conclusion he said he was prepared to produce his evidence before, the Mayor of Auckland, the City Council, and an>- citizens who might care to see it. He had documentary evidence to support his criticisms of the alleged cures.