The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1885-02-21 00:00:00

HEALING BY FAITH IN THE
POTTERIES.

A Potteries correspondent writing: "Some extra-
ordinary faith-healing " miracles " in connection with
the Salvation Army are reported from Hanley.
"Major "Pearson, who professes a power by which
the blind are made to see, the deaf to hear' the lame
to walk, and the crippled to be made whole, is con-
ducting a series of faith-healing services, and, in his
own words, his powers have been exemplified in
more extraordinary manner than in any other town.
On Sunday services were held in the Tontine-street
Circus, some thousands of persons being present.
Over 100 persons of various ages, afflicted
'in all conceivable ways, presented themselves to
be healed. These were placed in the pit; on
front forms. Besides these were several persons
who had been brought to the circus in bath-chairs,
unable to use their lower limbs, and altogether
a more extraordinary scene it would, perhaps, be im-
possible to witness outside of a large infirmary.
After ordinary Evening Service the "faith-healing"
commenced. The major and subalterns threw off
their outer garments and descended into the arena,
followed by a few faithful female soldiers, and every
individual present was urgently requested to pray
without ceasing. A lad who had been a cripple from
an early age was presented to be healed. His imper-
fect limb was bared, and whilst the major was rub-
bing it vigorously with oil, the soldiers were praying
for healing power. They prayed earnestly and long,
and at length the lad, by entreaties, was induced to
rise from his seat. He managed to hobble a little,
and, amid the greatest excitement, it was announced
by the major that the Almighty had healed, and
answered their prayers. The parents of the lad
assert that though the deformed limb has not re-
gained its original shape, it. is of more use to the lad.
He is now, without much trouble, able to scramble
downstairs, which he could not before do. Before
this result was brought about the soldiers had broken
up into small detachments, and each set surrounded
one of the many who had come to be healed.
They prayed most lustily, their vigour and excitement
increasing, and the scene, from this moment to
the finish at midnight, defies description. The
nerves of everyone in the vast building must have
been affected by the excitement and noise, while the
immediate effect on those who were under treatment
it Is certainly not difficult to conceive. As the result
of about three-quarters of an hour's labour, an old
woman, 70 years of age, who represents that she has
been very deaf for 40 years, regained her hearing. In
another instance a young woman went to the building
stone deaf—so she testified—and returned jubilant at
what had been accomplished on her behalf, The
most remarkable case was that of a young woman
whose name and address were given. She was one of
those taken to the circus in a bath-chair. Her friends
represent that for two years she had been unable
to move by herself; that she had been attended by as
many as 15 medical men, and her death at any
moment would not have been a matter of surprise to
those who were familiar with the nature of her illness.
Shortly after the Major had brought his influence to
bear on this poor woman, she was foi:cibly pulled
upon her feet, and, amid a very madness of excite-
ment, she staggered rather than walked a yard or
two. "Wonderful!" "Marvellous !” "The Lord be
praised "Hallelujah !" and many such ejaculations
were used by the onlookers, while the eyes of the
faithful sparkled with triumph and delight. When
a moment or two afterwards the same woman stag-
gered across the building, her bath-chair being carried
over the heads of the people, the throng shouted,
those who could clasped her by the hands, and some
hundreds, perhaps, who went to the place out of mere
curiosity returned home considerably puzzled at what
they had witnessed. In another case a young woman
went to the building with a crutch, and returned
home without it. This young person was present at
subsequent services, and likewise gave praise for the
improvement in her condition. There have been
many other similar instances. A man, a native of
Hanley, was taken to the circus in a bath-chair, suf-
fering from paralysis. Every effort was put forth by
the major and his assistants to secure "the heal-
ing power." The major made the sign of the cross, he
and others placed their hands upon the sufferer's head,
two officers caught hold of him by the arms, and
amid shouts of " Lord, make this man whole," "The
Lord is with him," "He is being cured," "I
feel it," he was lifted out of the chair and placed on
his feet, and staggered a short distance. The result
throughout the building was electrical, and all ek-
pressed in some form their astonishment. The cha-
racter of this gentleman is so well known in the town
that it is impossible to believe that he could be guilty
of any kind of deception. In reply to questions he
says that he has not gained the use of his limbs, but
in bodily health there is a great improvement.
Major Pearson does not profess to be able to succeed
in every case, though he says the percentage of
failures is very small indeed. He has found the
greatest difficulty to effect cures in those who are not
saved. A short time ago he was the only one
endowed with this gift of healing, but now the army
possesses two others—one a female who;n he had
cured of a dreadful complaint, and a local officer of
the army.