In Defence of Spiritual Healing.

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume XIV, Issue 4, 1 October 1923, Page 312

In Defence of Spiritual Healing.

THE ARCHBISHOP OF MELBOURNE'S TESTIMONY.

■ Mr J. M. Hickson is a prophet m his own country, just, now, and has encountered something of the criticism - which is . traditionally the portion of the. native-born, . His missions have not- suffered thereby. The_ cables re- . cord amazing invasions of every centre where his missions have been held, by thousands who have sought relief. Cures that are vouched for by competent and credible witnesses have . been recorded, but the cable news we have had served up to us m New Zealand has been characteristically meagre and- condensed. - In one ease it led the "Press". to throw up a wickedly unfair crpsshead, affirming that Mr Hickson said he could cure cancer — which those who have followed our articles will know is 'absolutely the-

reverse of what Mr Hickson does say. He says that God can ctire cancer, if He will. Mr Hickson 's visit 'stirred Melbourne to the depths of its being, and there was much searching of its newspaper soul, to find a way of escape from the conviction of the presence of the Finger of God m the occurrences. Mr Hickson ,'s work was subjected to severe criticism, quite properly, and the Archbishop of Melbourne's judgment is that it survived triumphantly. A VIGOROUS ARTICLE BY ARCHBISHOP LEES. There was a trenchant leader m Melbourne ' '' Herald which called forth from the Archbishop an article of great evidential value. . He began as trenchantly by asserting that t( the acid test of Mr Hickson 's work is not the court of man's judgment, but the bar. of God." He admifetd the impartiality of most of the .Press, and the -"splendid cautious .and openminded attitude of the medical profession." But it had been asserted m some organs that "the Church should frankly and fearlessly disclose " the practical results of the Mission," aiid at the same time should "claim no success until the improvement m the health of the patient has been maintained for at least six months!". The Archbishop retorted that it was difficult to accede to both these requests, unless it meant that they, were expected to. be silent till next September, which would try the patience of those who had witnessed the .work. But as a matter of fact, they had published a number of fully avouched cases, and. there would be more. Then he makes the crucial point that the Church- is riot "claiming successes." She rather intended to record' testimonies, which was vastly different. WE ARE NOT TOUTING FOR CUSTOMERS. "We are not a business! concern touting for customers. We are members of Christ, offering the blessings which the Gospels say He gives. It is not quite correct therefore to speak of multitudes coming 'at the bidding of the Church to submit themselves to Mr Hickson. ' The invitation has been given to the whole Church (all believing people), and not to the public outside the Christian circumference. It is not that any one is barred from benevolence. It is that faith m God is -Christ's condition of healing. The difficulty has not been to gather the crowds, but to keep them away. It has been a revelation of the sickness of the world, and it is very wholesome for the community to be shaken by seeing the distress of their brothers and sisters. Moreover, they do? not 'submit themselves to 'Mr Hickson.'' He preached agaihst that repeatedly. They submit themselves

to Christ. There is no need whatever to remind the Church that she has 'nothing to fear from being can-" did.' The Anglican Communion certainly is,, not afraid, nor has she any intention of being anything but frank. We have no theory to bolster up, . no axe to grind. We all, those of us at least who, are men of faith and goodwill, are collating spiritual data. The writer phrases: it exactly when he says that this is 'possibly a message of considerable importance to humanity.' All I would lay down, however, here is that' we cannot consent' to separate the physical from the spiritual.. This is either part of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, or it is something that we cannot handle as a Church. THE MISSION'S RELATION TO PUBLIC AND DOCTORS. ' ' And that is why there is another side to the demand of publicity. The Church (again I mean the whole Church) does not really owe anything to the public as a matter of obligation. If it were entering into competition with the doctors, it would owe them an explanation. If it were making money out of a propaganda, it would owe a plain statement to the public. But as it cordially co-oper-ates, where permitted, with the doctor, whether by intercession or by supplementary treatment, and as it asks nothing of any one, but only seeks to give, it is perfectly' free to continue tranquilly what it has begun. Christ always refused to do mighty works as a sign to the curious. He frequently commanded those whom He treated to hold their tongues. But it is a matter of privilege where men and women have received

benefit to bear quiet and joyful witness to what Christ has done. I myself have heard from three people m the last forty-eight hours the story of their own healing and their own spiritual renewal as well. They cannot wait for six months to' rejoice over what is a patent fact. But "we are making no "claims." We are just thanking God. We can treat. He alone can Heal. Does any hospital issue percentages of complete cures? Do the 'Melbourne' and the 'Alfred' issue competitive figures? The thought is ridiculous. No one can do more than pray and , trust. But marvellous cures are well attested. The late Bishop Mylne, of Bombay, told me m my own vicarage at Kenilworth nearly twenty years ago how his own son, an Oxford running 'blue,' had been healed of tetanus (a quite unmistakeable complaint, by the way) after the doctor m attendance had given him up, and after Mr Hickson had laid his hands upon him. It was a revelation to the Bishop, who told me with reverent gratitude. THE RIGHT TO PRIVACY. "But this brings me to the right of every man and woman to privacy if they desire it. It is difficult for those whose life is spent m making things public to realise how the average person shrinks from being made a victim to publicity. Public men have to get used to it. But- many sufferers implored us with tears to shield them from the importunity of the photographer and the cross-questioning of the interrogators last week. No doctor would dream either of submitting his own work to such intrusions on

privacy, or exposing hiis own patients. against their will to the chatter of the curious. This, therefore, must lie set ever against the perfectly candid attitude of. all of us who desire to help to the uttermost any who are sick, by bearing witness to. other cures, or amendments. Where the witness is freely given to doctor or -reporter, naturally enough we" • shall rejoice ; but I must say quite plainly that if the patient is satisfied it is no one else's business to cavil. THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. "Where faith exists, and goodwill, and willingness to accept evidence bravely, there will still be failures to admit. Sometimes it may be iji the patient. We read m the- New testament, 'He perceived they had faith to be healed.' Sometimes the difficulty is m the minister of healing. Christ told Apostles that some evils went not out but by prayer and fasting. Sometimes the difficulty is m public opinion. There were cities where He 'could not do many mighty works because of their unbelief.' . In this the disciple is not above the Master. In come cases a, cure, may ,\ lapse through disobedience or failure to maintain the profession. 'Sin no more lest a worse thing happen to thee was said to a patient who had been cured. . . .- .. - EVIDENCE IN MELBOURNE. "Still m our Cathedral of St. Paul to-day a mere handful of witnesses, were given from sheaves which we have received. It is easy to see how any one who has not been there may misunderstand. It is' difficult to understand how any one present, f 6r in-

stance, at* ther Thanksgiving ■ Service, could- remain cynical. There was a freedom fivpni extravagance, a frank abstaining from- touching-up and '"a joyful acknowledging of bodily healing, mental recuperation and spiritual refreshing, m the selected testimonies that we read out. In some cases a professional man's witness accompanies them. They covered a wide range— deafness,: sight, neuritis, lameness, heart troubles, paralysis, rheumatoid arthritis, sciatica, goitre (a particularly impressive witness here from a qualified observer who cails it "undeniable"), -gastric troubles, tubercular trouble, chronic catarrh. In some cases the help was instantaneous, m others gradual. In some .eases the sufferers frankly said the illumination of soul counter-balanced the lack of apparent movement m physical things. The diagnosing of results or causes is another matter, but we are really not so much concerned about that. Cei'tainly there ■will be no disputing of territories where the doctors and spiritual healor rejoice together. God bless them m it. We are their allies, and God's ministers. That is all. If any one is better, feels better, 'or commences to get better, that 1 is all we are desiring. And if science will label and classify, so much the better, provided only that it will honestly add upon the label "Digitus Dei' est hie. '/—' ' Church News, " Christchurch.