THE MISSION OF HEALING.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 2650, 25 October 1923, Page 2

THE MISSION OF HEALING.

The opening of the spiritual healing Mission conducted by Mr Hckson in All Saints’ Church, Palmerston North, on Tuesday morning presented a heart-rendering scene. Inside the church on stretchers about the vacant floor space, were those who were incapable of moving while lines of invalid chairs conveying mostly elderly people, faced the altar rails. - After receiving the hand of the healer, the patients were removed to the rest rooms, and were attended to by many nurses and attendants. As a result of the morning service, several patients declared themselves to he considerably improved in health. The chief case is that of a lady, who resides in the Feilding district, and who has not walked for over If) years, and during that time has been unable to place her right foot on the ground. After the service, she was able to discard her chair and walk into the lest room with the assistance of her attendants. She smiled with tears of joy in her eyes as she related to a “Times” reporter how she. e'ould now stamp her right foot firmly on the floor. She declared she was feeling considerably better, generally, and was qiitte firm in the belief that a little while would see her well again. Another ease was of a younger lady, who has been unable to walk for a long time, but after the service, she walked unassisted from the door of the room to her seat across the floor.

One little boy, who had been suffering from a defective limb, i was returning to the rest room when he was heard to remark to his mother: “There is no pain now mummy.” This is significant of the little fellow’s feelings. Several other cases of improvement are reported among the patients. Some of them, however, arc rather reticent to relate their cures, remembering the advice of the healer that all cures-are not instautaheous, but the majority are gradual. However, it is obvious that those who have not yet received physical benefit, have profited by a spiritual uplift, as one lady said to a “Times” reporter from the depth of her invalid chair: “I feel happier than ever I did.” PARALYSIS COMPLETELY REMOVED. One of the most remarkable of tiie cures effected in Palmerston N. is that of Miss M. Hargraves, of 22 David Street, who had restored to her the use of her right arm and leg, after having suffered, acutely for three months, as a result of a paralytic stroke. Here is her story told to a reporter ou Tuesday evening:— “Three months ago 1 had a paralytic stroke and as a result my right side was affected —including my arm —as well as my voice. I was in hospital for a time and persevered very, hard with the affected limbs, hut could only move my arm slightly and at great pain to myself. My speech was difficult and sometimes impossible, and I walked with a limp, - my toes being quite useless. •The fingers of my right hand were quite powerless and I could not, pick up even a pin, my friends having to cut up mv dinner for me as one would for a child. Lately I have suffered acutely through this affliction and my arm felt as if borne down by a great weight. “This morning, however, I went to the Mission firmly believing I would derive benefit. When I was in Church awaiting the laying ou of hands my arm, side and leg burned very much and when the healer touched me I conld feel the circulation returning to the arm. As soon as I reached the door I took t he am from the sling and to my great, joy, could move it all about me and over my head. The strength has returned to my fingers and as soon ns f came home I cut up my own meat for dinner. My speech is also much improved and is gradually returning to normal. The doctors gave me twelve months at least to suffer the loss of the use of my arm. I do not limp when I walk now and my toes are no longer paralysed.” Miss Hargraves demonstrated the return of strength to her right hand, by the hearty handshake she accorded the reporter. She expressed herself as feeling better generally and professed to have implicit faith in the Mission. SOME REMARKABLE CURES. Some remarkable cures were reported to have taken place at yesterday’s healing mission at Palmerston North. Mr Tostevin, of Sanson, 'yesterday declared he had been cured of blindness of one eye. Some years ago he met with an accident and as a result, totally lost the use of his right eye. The nerve alone was affected, and although outwardly, the eye appeared to be perfectly normal, yet in that eye Mr Tostevin was stone blind. He said he had been attended by many doctors, but could obtain no relief. When the healer laid his hands upon him he rose, and could see with the affected eye. A lady from Masterton, 69 years of age, has had her hand straightened. For two years her hand had been turned right in, and the fingers twisted badly. When she arrived at the home of her hostess after the service her hand showed decided improvement, the fingers having straightened and gained much strength. When leaving for Masterton yesterday afternoon she was jubilant over the fact that her hand was almost normal. No less remarkable was the cure of her sou, who suffered from a paralysed leg. He walked home after the service. Hilda Wright, a little girl of 14 years, residing at Rongotea, was re-

ported to have regained the use of her leg, which had been affected by infantile paralysis and she has now discarded the supports to her limbs.

Beneficial effects were also received at the hands of AH’ Hickson on Tuesday by Mrs J. Cross, a young woman, of Masterton. For two years she had been absolutely powerless in her back, being consequently bedridden. After the laying on of hands, she sat up, and remained in that position for three minutes without help. She is stated to he progressing steadily. A thanksgiving service was held at All Saints’ Church, Palmerston North, last night, in connection with the Mission of Healing and s, was attended by 1,-400 people. Bishop Sprott delivered an address on “Some Reasons for Thanksgiving,” which he summed up as “the witnessing of the dawn of a new day; getting a grasp of a wider, ampler gospel, equal to all human needs;, learning the power of corporate prayer; learning the joy of unselfish service; and learning afresh the presence of the living Christ.” v. LOCAL PATIENTS.

Thirty-seven cases were treated from Foxton, including infantile paralysis, deafness, rheumatism, blindness and other physical deforma ties. From what we can gather, direct benefit has followed in a number of cases and all express hopefulness for the future and thankfulness that they were privileged to attend the healing'inission.