SCENE IN A FAITH-HEALING CHURCH.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2435, 8 December 1892, Page 4

SCENE IN A FAITH-HEALING CHURCH.

A remarkable meeting was held on Saturday afternoon, November 29, in the Foresters' Hall, Smith street, Collingwood, Melbourne, when a number of persons attended in response to an invitation to Christians to meet and consider the evidence laid before them in answer to Pastor Abbott's assertion that they could thank God for the victory over the great public scandal. Mr John L. Jonas was the conductor, and appeared with a voluminous budget of correspondence with which to combat the assertion just quoted. The pastor mentioned is the controlling medium of a faith-healing establishment known as Bethshan, No. 156 Nicholson street, I'itzroy, where he resides. He also conducts services at the Foresters' Hall under the auspices of the Free Christian Church, the doctrinal belief of which is that Christ may appear on earth at any moment, and all who disbelieve that or do not expect Him, will suffer tribulation immediately He appears. About four years ago a serious scandal was raised at Cork street, North Fitzroy, where a Mr Johnston officiated, and he was succeeded by Mr Abbott. Lately ugly rumours have again been rife, and amongst other stories one gained ground that the domestic relatione of Mr and Mrs Abbott were strained. The conduct and management of Bethshan also came in for a share of uncomplimentary remarks.

Mr Jonas explained that he was acting with a desire to bring about a thorough reconstruction of the Bethshan Institution. He would like to ask Pastor Abbott if he would be willing to reinstate Mrs Abbott in the position of wife and mother. He had an attested copy of aletter sent to the office bearers of the Church, in which Mrs • Abbott referred to a person as " this fiend who has come between me and my husband and caused our separation," and added that " there were many who had done their utmost to drag us apart."

She wrote, " I cried out to God out of the very depths to comfort me in my trial. I have been treated worse in my own home

than anyone outside would imagine, as one who is cast off, a mistress done with, treated with contumely, hatred, malice, made a target for the sneers of those who have supplanted me. How would the women of the Church like to have their homes invaded in such a manner 'I Would they allow other women to take their places and Bubmit to see their husbands showing attention to others that should be theirs. For many months he hats come down to breakfast and said good morning to everyone in the room but me, and kissed that woman who has taken my place always. Because I object, I am called a jealous being, and am said to be a liar and thief, a pickpocket, an impure woman, a hypoorite, and am said to have a devil. Is it possible to have a worse character?" In this complaint she ©numerates her grievances, and points out that what she alleges takes place is done in her home and in the house set apart for God's work. A copy of a marriage certificate was read, which set forth that Albert J. Abbott and Elizabeth Hislop were married in Timaru, New Zealand, on the 25th September, 1876, by J. W. Beawick.

Mrs Abbott was present, and at Mr Jonas's request related her story in touching tones that caused no little consternation. She said that the statements were perfectly true, and she could stand by all that she had said. She could not at any time charge her husband with immorality, because she had never seen it. " Only God knows," she piteously cried, " what I have gone through in that house since the last eighteen months." Alluding to the behaviour of one lady at the Bethshan Institute, she continued, " When I accused her of sitting upon his knee, she said yes, and she would do it as often as she liked." (Cries of " False.")

A letter was afterwards read from Pastor Abbott, in which allusion was made to his wife and her family, and the letter concluded—" but that is a small matter, my character is so buried with Christ that I have lost my identity." A long letter was next produced from a former inmate of the Bethshan, in which she stated that she had resolved to expose the sin and hypocrisy about the place, and wound up by declaring that it would be impossible to write in a letter all the works of the devil that she saw at Uethshan.

Two men, Stewards, next addressed the audience to vindicate the pastor, and then the lady who had been accused of sitting upon his kneo took the platform, and a lively scene ensued. This female assured all present that she was not conscious of Buch a circumstance, and did not remember it, but a gentleman in the room had explained to her that she had tripped, and accidentally fell into the pastor's lap. As for another accusation that she had come out of his room at midnight, it was to be answered by the admission that she had mended his trousers on a certain Friday night and took them to his room. The proceedings occupied fully three hours and a half, and were plentifully inspersed with acrimony. Remarkably strong assertions were made, which, if the half of them are truo, call for an enquiry into the whole ail'air. Prayer was ottered up, and the meeting closed, but the excited people hung about the .building in knots discussing the nauseous pbject for a considerable time.