"Faith Cures" in America.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 312, 31 October 1888, Page 3

"Faith Cures" in America.

Thk faith-cure meetings which have been in progress at Oalc Ridge Park, jusb north of the Springfield city limits, for more than three weeks, says the 4 New York Herald," are beginning to attract wide attention. They are conducted by Mrs Maria B. Woodworth, who is extensively known as an evangelist of tho faith-euro order. She is assisted by her husband and two young ladies, Allie Daggett and Emma Eisenberg, who were converted under Mrs Woodworth's ministrations over two years ago, and have ever since devoted themselves to the propagation of the faith held and taught by Mvp Woodworth, and aro most zealous co labourers with her. They baA r e a tent on the ground in which all their meetings aro held, and have quarters near by, in which they live in a style as modest as that ot the primitive Christians, depending almost entirely on the contributions ot bhoir Mends in the faith for their subsistence, and, labouring on, day after day, for tho conveision of souls, giving little thought as to how they shall bo fed or wherewithal they shall bo clothed : but ay Mrs Woodworth proudly puts it, taking- no thought for these things, knowing the Lord will pro\ ide. Airs Woodworth makes no pretence ot having any education for the work ot a preacher boyond what tho Holy Spirit, has given her. She does not even pretend to know what she is going to pieach about when she comes to the meeting, and trusts to the inspiration of the time to put words in her mouth. Sometimes she docs, not attempt a sounon, but merely evhorts, hears the testimony ot those present who have experienced bodily or spiiitual benefit, or both sings, a few hymns and then calls the shineis to the altar for prayeis. The crowds winch come forward at these calls day after day may be said to bo e\en painfully interesting to see. They cmbiace people apparently with all the ills to which human fle&h i.s heir — -=ome, indeed, which ordinarily one would say even tupiome power could not remove. Against all these terrible ills she marches forth \\ ifch more than heioic fortitude, sa.ung, ' (4od em cuie the very worst disease?. He made this wondorful machine, the bod\ , and do you suppose He lias not machinery enough in His shop to keep it in repair If He cannot do that, how is it possible for Him to cuie the soul, which is infinitely more complicated and is ciisordeied from the beginning? It meiely. takes prayer and faith to biing the power down. Trust in Clod, and the worst that can happen this poor body ot yours will flee away. And then suppose it shouldn't — but it will -isn't the sahation ot your soul worth the effort? For at the te*unection God will .straighten out all your bodily deformities, and you'll be all right then anyway.' Thus she runs on interspersing hei talk with bale 5*5 * of marvellous cures that have taken place under her ministrations, winding up each with ' Bless the Lord !' or '(live God the glory !' Changing her manner, and shouting, ' Let everybody sing now, and see ho>.v good it is to praise the Lord.' she strikes up, ' 'Tis the old-time religion, it can cure the soul and body, And it's good enough for me." Then she strike out again with fresh \igour, warns sinners not to come bo their meetings in hopes to secure the alle\ lation of thpir bodily pains merely to be able to live a w hile longer in -in. The stoiies of lepeated faith cuicsab this meeting are almost endless, and aie told with all the particularity ot the miraculou.s. Among them are the lestoration of cripples and of the blind. It would be easy to multiply the stories these people relate as their experiences, but one only need be given, and that because it contains the claim of an infant child' 5'5 ' being cured through the f.iith of its mother. Mis James Howett, of llhcrton, brought in her little gill, who was apparently a hopelest cripple from the effects of cerebro-spioal meningitis. The little thing, she says, had not been able to stand for neai ly a year, and for torn months past had subsisted on milk and occasionally a bit of sugar or candy. She chums it was almost instantly healed, in answer to the prayers of herself and Mrs Woodwoith, and is now running around every wheie and growing fat and rosy.