HICKSON MISSION.

Hokitika Guardian, 5 December 1923, Page 4

HICKSON MISSION.

, lit TKLfOI'.AfIt — I’l.U fIIKSS ASSOCIATION .J (IRENS AT DUNEDIN. DRNEDrX. December E • From an only hour thi.. morning a. >: i in I>- r. of observers gathered io lront of the Anglican Cathedral to watch the } Icliinil ia ry proceedings in comiccticu with the Hickson Spiritual Healing Mission. which, opened at Dunedin Hus u morning. A little later a stream of c i it ■” ears bringing their pitiable fieiglit,-. of stricken humanity balled at the doers of the Cathedra!, and was ~ met by a band of nurses, clergy, iiner- .. (■•-.-si i.s and ether helpers, and they were taken in to their allotted places j- in tiie building, l’.v 9.30 there were several hundred in their seats, whist . in front of the sanelnary were several I stretcher cases and a i,umber of alriioted were in invalid chairs. lews to i Ik- right hand side were occupied by , children and their parenis, and the t wistful appearances of many of these I poor little Milfereis added a mo-t ja- ■ tiieiic touch to tiie scene. Unit in many respects, was most lieart rending. Alost oj the front |:oivs were oeeupied by elderly people, whose physical disabilities in most instances wile uiy too manifest. After the service, whi, h wa- similar to those conducted in other towns visited hy the Mis.xioner, the living on cl hands began. Mr Hi-k----son lirsl went round the slictcher and chair cases, and those patients who could not go up and kneel at the ail ir. IR> placed both hands on the L.ad of. each patient at. the same time .saying a! si ert prayer. He was followed by file | Bishop, or one of the clergy, who gave , i In; church's blessing. Little children '•'-ere in the meantime seat into the j sanet-aary where they .received Hie j ministrations of the Missionor. and Ja.er tin 1 same [‘rocedure was followed in the (ase (,! adidl-. those in the front ps ■ - ; going forward first. (York went on j quietly and with method and precision. ! After a patient had received the .Mis- ; sion’s ministration, each, passed out ol i the hall by a door on the left hand side of th.e .sanctuary, and proceeded 1 to the two marquees at the rear of , the Cathedral, where refreshments woe; j supplied. The majority of the patients. : a- they left the Cathedral, appeared to .- be greatly affected, and many of them ; en ie ted the marquees with ■-liming' taies. and talked cheerfully with tiie; attendants and others, though one ce : two collapsed. There were about thirty j noise.- present, and the patients highly eulogistic of their kindly as-i-t- ! a nee. j Inquiries made this afternoon eluded the fact that already some loc.d ; cures have been reported, hut they Imre : not been authenticated. One woman • vho lias been blind for some time is I stated to have been able to read her card in the refreshment tent. Ai'ier ) this morning's service another patient- j who lias been unable to raise bis arm. - is reported to have received consider- : able benefit, and a third who was deaf. ! i- able to hear as the result of the lay- j :ng on of hands. i