MR. MILNER STEPHEN.

Southern Cross, Volume 1, Issue 46, 10 February 1894, Page 6

MR. MILNER STEPHEN.

FAITH HEALER. ISTews was recently received of the death in Sydney of Mr. Milner Stephen, who some years ago made a tour of New Zealand in the capacity of magnetic faith healer, and whose visit to Invercargill will be remembered by a good many of our citizens. We learn from an exchange that his though illness was brief Lis sufferings were so intense that an operation was decided upon, not Avith any definite hope of prolonging his life, but to relieve his agony. The operation disclosed the fact that he was suffering from an exceptional case of stone in the bladder. The calculus, it is surmised, had been forming for probably 50 years. He ivas a man of firm and positive opinions as to the existence of the other A\ r orld and its influence in and on the lives of men, and in his last hours this faith did not desert him, for his last Avords Avere “ I knoiv I am going up there, and am glad to go. I never did harm

to anyone.” His death took place at the residence ot his adopted dangler, Mrs Ralph. Ward Tomlinson, where he had been since his return from Hew Zealand. It may be observed, in reference to statements which have appeared in reference to the deceased gentleman’s early career, to the effect that he was involved in criminal charges of which he was acquitted, that the affair in question arose out of an action for libel brought by Mr Stephen against an editor for criminal libel. This took place in IS3S, 56 years ago, and resulted in the editor’ being convicted and fined £6O. Immediately after the editor laid an indictment against Mr Stephen for perjury, but the case was abandoned after hearing the evidence of the complainant.