THE HEALING MISSION AT GREYMOUTH.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 November 1923, Page 4

THE HEALING MISSION AT GREYMOUTH.

Jli 11 (mt tlie old shapes of foul disease, King out the narrowing lust of gold, Ring out the thousand wars of old King in the thousand years ol peace. King in the valiant man and free The larger heart, the kindlier hand, King out the darkness of the land King in the Christ that is to be. Kittle do they who asked for some “impressions ol the Hickson .Mission"’ (as they were pleased to call it), know the inital difiieulty of the task. To eoiidcn.su into a cold brevity of words the impressions gained m the .Mission is impossible! It were enough to have been present at but one of these three services to realize that: and yet. each one. who went, came away with a heart idled with an infinite peace and hope—an inspiring sense of humility—and a deep Mini-stirring compassion, and over ail. and through all shone a light brighter than sunlight, Imt gentler : soft as starlight, yet more penetrating, But who could dare describe those eyes, filled, first, with tears of sympathy -nr the gentle sadness fn the Savour who had waited so patient!" through the ages for people to learn to bring to Mini their ~ick and sutl'ciing Iriciids; and then with the half-understood, unexplainable joy m the knowledge that their Faith was indeed bong regarded. Xo pen uia) write, no words describe nor yet lip? express that scene -the pitiful suffering of tile -e.ik and the little children. am! tlm aged the iniensc earn-e-lm-s of the strong and healthy, who thus brought tlieir sick and alibi tee In be beaded:— ... a sight so i'linlii ll tc in its majesty.” Al the service on Monday evening the ( luireli was erowded by people who had gathered from all the surrounding country- people of all congregations—come to hear the message ■which Mr Hickson had brought to them from afar. It was a message ol I. >ve. Hope and Health : and siieli was lliu moving simplicity, the appealing sincerity ol his words that none could doubt whence came his Power. He emphasised the actual presence of Christ—the eHieaey of unselfish prayer. and the wonderful opportunity which is being revealed to the World. But they must come with an uiitaltering faith, yielding themselves wholeheartedly to tlie Will of the Saviour. But it was not until he began to prav that the full power ol his wonderful gift revealed itself. The words Ol ineffable gentleness and devout humility filled the silent building with a deeper silence, as he appealed to the Divine and living Presence ol bis Master. On Tuesday morning was the first Healing Service, and the Church was again crowded with people—patients and intercessors; the former of all ages and with all kinds ol iidiruiiltthe aged, the crippled, the lame, the blind, tlie deal' and dumb —little children, grown men and women -row alter row—pew after pew- fill one wondered whence they came--scarcely believing that so mm h suffering and disease could exi-.l ill our midst, and yet they wore hut a small proportion of Westland's sick population. From our post near the pulpit d was impossible to be blind to the scene before us; and as the low and gentle music “stole soltly o'er the ear. I,ike the Sweet South, which breathes upon a haul; ot violets. Stealing and giving odour. —one could not help hut leel a deep wondering admiration for tlie Spirit of Faith and Hope which bad brought together these people. I rout tlie North and the South. from the near-by towns, and front the farthest corners of the Province. Bet the mockers and seorners chatter about auto-suggestion and hypnotism. let them blasphemously deny the Healing Power of Christ : hut they (an not cllare the impressive beauty mid pea efiil expectancy of that scene!

The Faith and earnest convictions ol the Alissinucr were again retlecfcd in the hearts of his hearers ; his firm belief that .leilsils of Nazareth was resent in their midst willing and

yearning to help them enminuni' sued ! itself to their linilei'standiiig. il he j di'l not believe that Chri-t was with them in |ars oi w I dess tin in and give tin.-m Hi Uw n Divine healing life —lie eimid not and would not lay his hands upon l hem —for such an aei would iii.’ of itself of no significance. He appealed to the Intercessors to hold up the sick and suffering that they might receive the blessing of Health and Wholeness of Soul and Body which (hid bad provided for I hem. Muring the laying-on of bands, the .silence was unbroken save by the voices of the Ali-sioner and the Bishop as they passed I'r.un patient to patient. The double line of kind-eyed, w bite-robed nurses, below tin- .dlur—the’ unhurried inovemeiils ol the attendants. as they guided the people to the Chancel Stops, and tlie silent sympathy of those who led them out !o the Vestry door, were Imt. cogs in the wheel of Sacred Reverence; as necessary to the Service as were the earpels on the floor—and as silently devoid of any disturbing element so that there was no ((infusion of thought or action—no halting hesitation to provoke doubts find misgivings that would silence the voice of prayer. AVhen the last, of the patients had left the Church—some smiling, some weeping bitterly, others lull ol a strange calm: yet all equally touched by an indefinable ioy: the nurses, the clergy, the stewards and the intercessors were likewise blessed—-receiving themselves the inspiral ion. the effects of which they had already seen manifested on 11 io face- of the patients. Then the service closed with the singing of the Doxulogy—-rising trout the hearts of the people to the Holy I’rvsenee and tile blessing by the Bishop of Nelson. Outside in the sunlight was discovered a radiant happiness, and inside the bright, comfortably arranged Best Room were (lowers, strength, and a quiet atmosphere of gratitude.

All day long silent prayer continued in the Church—and to enter there was to become aware ol a new ami wonderful understanding—perhaps an awakening of the mind to a better realization of the Truth. The Evening Intercession Service was remarkable for its direct simplicity, it- appealing sincerity and stronger faith. There was something of impressive nobleness in the sight of the strong and healthy praying so notedly for the weak and distressed. The clear unshaken faith of the clergy, all strung tuen of great and kindly hearts, their deep and earnest unselfishness recalled, us never before, the compassion ami Love ot Hint to whose service they are given. Oil Wednesday was held the last Healing Service, and the number of pit fill eases was even larger than on the day before: hut, strange as it. may seem, there was less sadness and tt greater joy. The sunshine streamed it at the northern windows to mingle with the light which was already there, and a great, peace reigned.

Throughout the Mission tlie spiritual side was emphasised rather than the bodily; Mr Hickson’s great work is to revive the Spirit of Healing in the Church which has neglected that part of Christ’s teaching for so long, a neglect which lias given rise to the idea that some diseases are “incurable.’’ However, the services held on the Coast were not without result as regards bodily cures. Several blind people have received hack tlieii sight: and many of the deaf their hearing. .Little children, paralysed and crippled, have had tlieir limbs restored to norma! health; a little paralysed girl, who has not spoken for years', is now speaking and beginning to move. Then there is the ease ol one, with a weak heart, who a few months ago was seriously ill; and who

is nenv able to move, and do active things, which were previously impossible. A boy w 1 1 v for five years has had to be fed artificially, ami who. during the last few weeks has been able to swallow his food : a baby with a deformed foot in which the hone has commenced to grow, where there was no hone before; and several who were formerly half crippled are now able to walk about unaided. These are only a few examples of actual happenings: but wlmt is of greater importance is the fact that the healing ot the afflicted will he carried on. Mr Hickson has gone on his way ; but his work endures. The Church, to whom the gitt was given at the beginning is now to continue the work; and no one who stops to think can fail to realize the enormous possibilities and the glorious opportunity which lias been revealed to us.