HEALING DISEASE BY FAITH

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 199, 16 April 1887, Page 1

HEALING DISEASE BY FAITH

] Auckland, April 10, The modern expounder of the above doctrine in Australasia, the Rev. J A. Dowie, of Fitzroy, gave his second address in Auckland last night at the Choral Hall, when there was a large atteudance. Mrs Dowie, who works with her hu&band in the " healing room " and takes part in the preaching of the doctrine, ie a plightlybuilt, delicately made lady, with a remarkably attractive face and expression. The audience, when in well-measured accents Mr Dowie is telling of the cures effected by faith, is perfectly silent and attentive. Mr Dowie is a man who impresses one at once aa betDg full of vital energy, and who can be very paseionate at times. With carefully trained voice, flashing dark eye<?, and splendid expression, he is a born orator— a power which he has further developed by long practice and training. After the usual devotional exercises, during which Mrs Dowie led in prayer, Mr Dowie explained his mode of carrying on his mission. His mission of healing through faith began at his Free Christian Tabernacle near Melbourne, and wherever he went preaching the same, any funds over his travelling expenses went towards supporting that. He obtained in each town visited some well • known gentleman to act as Treasurer during his stay, Mr F. W. Boynton had kindly consented to act in Auckland. All the meetings were free. He never "laid hands" upon anyone on the stage. Persons wishing to be healed could see him and Mrs Dowie privately. After more devotipns, Mr Dowie took the 16th and 17th verses of Matthew viii , " When the even was come, they brought unto Him many that were possessed with devita ; and He cast out the spirits with His word, and healed all that were eick — that it might be fulfilled that was spoken by Bsaias the prophet), saying, Himeelf took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses." Healing represented the great part of our Lord's work upon the earth. That this healing of diseaee by faith was lost for centuries oy the impious acts of men who wiehed to use tho power for their own ■ends there was no doubt, but there was just as much power in faith now as then. He then, by a long ingenious argument, attempted to show that in no way did our Lord show that sickness was a visitation from God. " No, it was »he devil's work l" The devil was the cause of ill health as well as of sin, of which it wan the outcome. That faith would cure all ilia was amply exemplified in himeelf; hehadhadnosicknesafor2s years. If he had even a slight toothache, he Bought relief not in medicine but in faith, and was healed instantly. He then told how he discovered that the power of faith still existed, during the epidemic of typhoid in Melbourne, fi v e years since, pointing out that nont of those who had *' hands laid upon " them died. Many doctors row sent patients to him to be healed. Mrs Dowie then delivered a brief address on " Four and a half Years' Experience in the Healing Boom," relating a number ot cases where the blind had been made to see after many years of darkness, the lame to walk, the diseased to become whole. The final hymn and the Benediotion closed the eecond service of the mission at 10.20.