ANOINTING THE SICK

Hokitika Guardian, 21 March 1931, Page 6

ANOINTING THE SICK

A FORM OF SERVICE. SPIRITUAL HEALING. LONDON, Jan. 29. ! Faith-healing received the support of I all hut three of the clergy in the Lower - House of Convocation of Canterbury |at Westminister, when a resolution i which had been discussed for two 'days ! was passed asking the Archbishop to j appoint a committee to draw up a form I of service for the laying on of hands I and unction (the anointing of the c-R j with consecrated oil). ( The resolutions were adopted in the i following form :—-“That inasmuch as

tlu 1 primitive rights of anointing and laying hands upon the sick with a view to t.liei.r spiritual benefit Mid bodily healing are in extensive a net mcreasing use throughout this province, for the most part with full episcopal approval, and favourable recogni ion lias recently been accorded to them by the Lambeth Conference, and seeing that the parochial clergy greatly need guidance for the due and effective administration of these rites, this House rspeet fully petitions his Grace tee President to appoint a joint committee to draw up and submit for appcuml a provisional service for services) tor unction and imposition of hands with-

out unction, for temporary use in the province, until a permanent and fully authorised form can he issued uml. r

svnodica! sanction

"That in the opinion-of Bus House it is desirable that the compilers of such a form of service should have regard both to ancient precedent and what modern pastoral experience and modern therapeutic psychology have to teach concerning the most suitable spiritual and psychological conditions for the effective administration and reception of those rites.

“That inasmuch as unction and Tay-ing-on of hands have from the earliest times been administered not only to the physically infirm, hut. also to mental and nervous sufferers, if is expedient that the needs of such ,sufferers should receive ndqunte recognition in the proposed form of service both in the prayers provided and also in the direct hm given to the minister, “That in order to promote closer cooperation between the Church and the medical profession in ministering to the sick, this House respectfully request his Grace the President to cause to ho circulated from time to time to members of Convocation the findings and suggestions of the permanent committee of clergy, doctors, and psyeholo- j gists, lately appointed, to advise the] authorities ol the Church on these j matters.” i

The first resolution was carried by an overwhelming majority, and on a count being taken only three members voted against it. The other three reso-

lutions were carried item. con. Interviewed on this subject, ( anon King, of Chelmsford, said there was a general belief that spiritual healing

was purely fantastic. "It is positively heart-breaking,” he continued “t:o feel that this j ret licit' lotts power locked up in the Church cannot be brought into general use unless we get some official recognition in the form of a service.

"A fortnight ago I happened to nienI tinned to a doctor tint 1 liad been annulling (lit* sick. He looked at mi' in tlie most incredulous manner and said, •Hut \ ( ;m don’t moan to say it is any good.I’’ 1 ’’ I replied. ‘1 'don’t think so. 1 know it is so.’ The doctor then said: ‘Hut you cannot do anythin"; in the lace of organic disease. It is impossible.’ That is the attitude of the medical profession generally.” i he Bishop of Woolwich (l)r Hough) said medical men were realising more and more the necessity of a spiritual agency in their work. He continued: 'Christian Science has grown because of neglect in our Church. Communicants in our Church say. 'I have Tieen to Church For thirty years. T have never heard spiritual healing mentfon>'d unci'. Imt since I have joined Christian Science I have never heard of anything else. I want to get wind has been denied me bv mv Church.”