FAITH HEALING

Hokitika Guardian, 9 December 1932, Page 7

FAITH HEALING

INQUIRY MADE AT AUCKLAND

COMMITTEE ISSUES A WARNING

AUCKLAND, December 7

The report of the committee of inquiry into alleged cures at the Revival Eire .Mission, conducted by A. H. Dali limore, was released yesterday. The inquiry was conducted by representatives of the churches and the medical profession. Reports on forty-four cases are sub mitced by the committee, which states that the cases, while thoroughly representative, form only a fraction of the numbers known to medical practitioners. In the course of a very lengthy statement the committee says that, on the evidence before it, members are of the opinion that there is nothing in the physical results of what is here called “faith healing” which differs from those of “11011-religious” mental healing, or suggestion. The reinforcement

of suggestion by religious emotion is t’ e more potent form of this method, but treatment by suggestion-, whether religious or non-religious, is effective only in cases of what are termed functional nervous disorders. The committee earnestly warns those who resort to healing by faith of the danger of postponing until too late medical treatment, which is essential if organic disease is to he arrested. It is stated that in the Revival Fire Mission all the cruder arts of suggestion are employed under the cover 0 f re ; lig.’ous appc-M, one section of t’-’e report concerning eighteen cases in which subsequent death or insanity was the fate of the adherents.