MR MILLNER STEPHEN'S HEALING EXHIBITION.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1082, 13 March 1883, Page 3

MR MILLNER STEPHEN'S HEAL—ING EXHIBITION.

On Saturday afternoon this gentleman gave another publio exhibition of his healingpov er.°, in the Gaiety Theatre Christchurch. The attendance of patient 8 was again large, the body of the hall, which was set apart for their exclusive and free b?ing well filled, but the attendance of spectators was uofc so numerous as on previous occasions, but this may have been owing to the fact that on Saturday a fee of one shilling was charged for admission to the circle. Among those who patronised the exhibition were many ladies, and patients and spectators appeared to take a deep interest in the proceedings. Almost at the outset it was manifest that a sceptical feeling in regard to Mr Stephen's powers was abroad among some of the audience, and they gave proof of this by manifesting a markedly hostile spirit, and by repeatedly interrupting him. This naturally led to an exchange of personalities between Mr Stephen and some of the audience. Mr Kiddy, hotelkeeper, and another gentleman, put questions to Mr Stephen regarding the alleged case of the daughter of another hotelkeeper. Mr Kiddy was supported by one of the audience, aad then Mr Stephen referred to the two of them as par nobilefratum, which led one of the audience to inquire how much Latin Mr Stephen knew. It appeared from the dispute which followed that the father of the girl referred to, believing that his j daughter had been cured of lameness, bad paid Mr Stephen £2 2s for his services, and had also given him a testimonial signed by a number of witnesses. It was dow stated that the girl was no better, and in proof of this one gentleman said he was prepared to produce her. Mr Stephen read a letter that he had received from a firm of solicitors, who were instructed to take proceedings in the R.M Court unless the £2 2d were returned and the testimonial destroyed ; but he also added that the case was not to be gone on with, and that he knew the £irl was not completely cured. Another case was referred to, in which it was stated that the patient was now worse than before Mr Stephen had touched him. Mr Stephen spoke of some of his audience as • roughs,' and said that one of those in the body of the hall had * taken too much and had better go and take some ,' but what he did not 3»y. The windows of the hall were open, and Mr Stephen said that there was one person looking in, and who was ' as drunk as he could be.' As the result of the hos-

tilifcy and the inteimptions-to which he had Leon subjected. Mr Stephen said lim' he would not give aix'lher hiding exlii bition in Christchurch, and this announcement met with the rejoinder that private ones would pav better. One of the circle occupants interrupted Mr Si- pV n by exclaiming, "ironically, 'Good,' and the latter responded by saying that he was »fra;d that the gentleman who had spoken was •bad.' In proof of his powers he again exhibited a boot, which he said belonged to a lady in Victoria whose leg he had lengthened, and f this led one of the audience to the remark that the production of the boot was no proof that he had effected the cure he claimed. The recriminatory part of the proceedings having been concluded, Mr Stephen as usual offered up a prayer, and went on with the healing exhibition. The first patient was a lady said to be suffering fiom rheumatism. After the u:ual passes by Mr Stephen she said, ' The pain is gone, and I feel quite happy.' The next patients treaie \ were a man suffering from an ossified knee, and lung disease ; a girl with a twisted foot ; a paralytic patient; a man afflicted with rheumatism 'or paralysis. In none of these cases could it be seen that the slightest improvement had taken place. Indeed Mr Stephen professed his inability to dissolve bones, but he told one of these patients that although he could not cure h's ossified knee, thank God he could cure him of the lungs, and he placed a piece of magnetised flannel on the cfcest of the patient who thereupon said his breathing was better. The proceedings were of a very monotonous character, and in none of those cases which we witnessed was the slightest visible beneficial result apparent.—Press,