FAITH HEALING.

Waikato Times, Volume 112, Issue 18776, 26 October 1932, Page 8

FAITH HEALING.

MR DALLIMORE ANGRY. STRONG ATTACK ON CHURCHES. “SCRIBES AND PHARISEES." PACKED HALL ENTHUSIASTIC. Some of the criticism to which his “revival fire” faith-healing missions have been subjected was replied to by Mr A. H. Dallimore, the evangelist, before a crowded attendance at the Alexandra Hall last evening. There was little ventilation in the hall, w'hich was packed with people, many of whom, on their own statements, were suffering from various diseases. Two women fainted during the proceedings. Most of Mr Dallimore’s remarks, which were spread over two hours, constituted a general atta-ck on the Christian Churches. He frequently quoted from the Scriptures, placing his own interpretation on the Biblical incidents, but on each occasion he returned to his main theme —the hypocrisy, futility and uselessness of churches of all denominations. Warm applause greeted some of his sallies.

“If I can fill that Town Hall at Auckland every week why can’t the churches?” he asked. “I can hold 3000 people every Sunday, Why can’t they? If they only preached the right message they wmuld hold them all right. (Applause). When our churches- w r ake up to their real responsibilities and have a living, working, miracle-performing Jesus Christ we will have salvation." “These Misguided People.” The speaker w r ent on to assail those who had commented upon his work. “They might just as well have saved their miserable printer’s ink as plaster my name up on their bill-boards,” he said. “There is one thing they are doing for me—they are advertising me no end. (Applause). The more the ministers and journalists slam at revival fire the more Interest there will be in it. We sorrow’ for these misguided people who cannot see our Jesus. I oan tell you it is biting and stinging pietty hard up there and thank God for it. .. . They can’t destroy our faith In Jesus, though they call it hypnotism, a snare and a delusion and so on. They think they are miracles of the hypnotio order. They are the same old Scribes and Pharisees of Jesus’ day." It did not matter whether peoplo had toothache or cancer they could all be healed, Mr Dallimore added. When people did things instead of just talking, like the churches just talked, then the world sat up and took notice. There was a wave of alarm going over New Zealand concerning what the mission would amount to in the finish. Ho knew what it would amount to. Let them praise His wonderful name I A little later Mr Dallimore affirmed that there was a wave of revival fire sweeping New Zealand, fire which burned and would turn them into firebrands. The main charge against the churches w'as “Ye did always resist the Holy Ghost.” Here and there a noble soul brought more souls to Jesus, hut a Holy Ghost church was different to “this dead outfit.” He was not speaking disrespectfully, but it was no use speaking of a bad road when it was not a good road. He was out for them to get life into the churches, if churches would let them. He had been in New Zealand five years and had a congregation of thousands.

The Lost Padlook. Mr Dallimore then told the story of a caretaker of one of his Auckland halls, who had lost a gate padlock. This man had asked the Lord to bring it back, and a few days later it was back on the naill Of course his prayer had been answered. “Is there a reporter here?” asked Mr Dallimore. Several people answered in the affirmative. “Well let him get this story straight this time," he continued. "A friend of mine had a cockerel, which was completely paralysed and unable to move. His wife suggested wringing his neck. That wasn’t very kind, was it? He said: ‘lf Dallimore can heal a cow, well I will get a hanky for this rooster.’ I needn’t tell you what happened. Little, old rooster. He knows whether he’s paralysed now. I should bring it down to the Town Hall in a sugar sack I" (Laughter and loud applause). “We have thousands of proofs, but the opposition only say no," he said, when reading several testimonials. “I have said some things about the opposition, but I would black their boots right here if they would let me-” , » Later Mr Dallimore, with an air of amused contempt/ referred to an Auckland man who had advertised in the press for people who had not “gone under the power.” Mr Dallimore asserted that this man, who was an evangelist, had also advertised in Vancouver to find out why he (Mr Dallimore) was “fired out" of Canada. Among the letters read was one from a woman, said to be over 70 years old, who alleged that she had been cured after 21 years- suffering from asthma. Another correspondent urged the evangelist "not to accept the devil’s challenge.” Mr Dallimore objected to the correspondent spelling “devil” with a capital D. At 9.45 p.m. Mr Dallimore and his assistants commenced the work of stretching out several hundred men, women and children on the floor in the manner of recent meetings described in the Waikato Times.

“UNDER THE POWER.” YOUNG MAN’S EXPERIENCE. UNABLE TO FALL OVER. The personal experience of a young man, who approached Mr Dalllmore at his Hamilton meeting last evening with Hie object of securing a healing, was related subsequently to a Waikato Times reporter. The individual in question. Mr D. B. Cormaek, staled that he was formerly an undergraduate at the University of California and at the Auckland University College. He assured the reporter that lie went up to the platform purely in a spirit or inquiry, and in no disparaging or doubting mood. “I was recently in hospital with a badly deformed foot, which still gives mo much trouble," lie said. "As soon as Mr Dalllmore found that he could not put me down he said, (Continued in next column.)

'Mockery, mockery.’ I replied that I was not mocking him, but was seeking genuine relief. Mr Dallimore apologised and attempted to push mo over, but on finding this difficult he assured, me that the Lord Would heal me. I felt nothing whatever.” Mr Cormack said he had formed the opinion after this experience that there was no hypnotism In connection with the collapses. He considered both the collapses and. the alleged cures were due entirely to suggbstidn, which had been stimulated by the rousing hymns and the eloquence of thi preacher.’