The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-01-09

huu we are lnrllneu 10 tnlflk mat tnc
church about which our inquirer writes
must belong to that creed
The chief cornerstone OF the new sect,
according 10 our correspondent. lis their
brotherly love-" This feature we are glad
to hear Of. We trust that it is something
more than matter of talk. Does II dis
play itself in the daily conduct Of these
people toward each other and toward the
world at large If II does, they do not
wrong one another In their business trans
actions, small or great; they are not
tempted into any sort OF falsehood or mis-
representation; they do not indulge in
backbting or in SANDER; they do not give
way to sehshness; they refrain from all
chcatery, in word and deed; they do not
take advantage of each other; they scrupu-
lousy observe the commandments and the
moral law; they are not men OF cruelty. or
OF drunkenness, or Of corruption, or OF du-
plicity, or of sham. or of riotous living; for
all these ways and traits are incompatible
with the practise OF brotherly love which
is said to be their "chief cornerstone" II
the founders and ndhorents OF the new
sect in Virginia really and truly build their
boast, we can say without further examin-
alton that we have heard OF less admira-
bic sects. Their ideas about the true
method OF baptism, or about the earthly
paradise may he nssailed by those who
differ from them; but when these assail
ants are tired Of their assaults, they should
look TO IL that their own religion brings
forth practical fruits as excellent ms those
that must grow upon the branches Of the
new sect.
There is still another feature OF the new
Virginia sect mentioned 10y our cor
respondent. They claim the power to
perform miracles by amounting with oil and
laying on Of hands aud say that thus they
can heal the sick give sight TO the blind,
and make the lame to walk Now, this is
u claim that should be examined with
great care, under the light OF reason and
science, by those who feel inclined to JOIN
the new sect. II, for instance, any of its
founders or members assert that he or she
has given sight TO any blind man, or
woman or child by amounting and hand
laying, the facts OF the case should he
thoroughly Investigated. Investigators
should reqyire the subject of the miracle
to be produced before them. They should
enter into his history, and find out whether
he was born blind, or became blind through
disease or accident They should scrut-
nize vigorously all the statements put IN
evidence. They should ascertain whether
the blindness had been total; If il was pre-
natal; whether il had been in consequence
OF the destruction of the optic nerve, or
of the crystalline lens, or of the iris
whether II was the result Of cataract.
or Of any other malady; or whether
1t came from the total absence or
cxcision of the eycball. These points
should Of course be settled under the
supervision of some competent physi-
elan or other scientific expert. Then sup
pose, for example, It were shown that the
blindness Of the person had resulted from
the destruction of the optic nerve. il must
be ascertained whether the nerve came
into existence with the miraculous coming
OF the sight which had been brought by
anointment. Or suppose. again, for ex-
ample, the blind person had been totally
destitute of an cyehall, IL must be ascer-
tanned whether this organ made its ap-
pearance, or took on its fun size, simulta-
neously with the creation of vision upon
the application of OIL. If either OF these
things. or any of the other things above
mentioned, took place, the fact thereof
can be scientifically demonstrated. though
science might he unable to trace the man
ncr of working such a miracle II there
arc occurrences Of the sort in Virginia,
within the experience Of the new sect, We
shall not be surprised to hear Of its rapid
growth.
The same line Of INVESTIGATION should be
followed in the eases of cripples who have
been made 10 walk, or diseased people who
have grown well through agencies that
operate outside Of the range of the ordi-
nary natural laws.
We have said that the facts OF the vari-
Gus miracles and kinds OF miracles which
the Virginia sect profess TO perform should
be investigated by scientific experts. THIS
is perfectly fair TO all parties. These men
normal or abnormal conditions. with its
peculiarties aud the movement of its
subtle forces. with the ways through
which it is ordinarily affected, aud with
the uncommon results that follow from
the action of certain influences. They
are also likely TO DO acquainted with the
laws Of evidence and the means by which
it NAV be drawn out. There need be no
fear that they will seek TO underValue or
distort any facts that may be presented
TO them. The spirit of true science Is the
spirit of pure truth; aud we could men
ton no class of men more DESTROYS OF
reaching correct conclusions than those of
genuinely scientific mind. If n body of
such men, after thoroughly investigating
any one of the miracles Of the new sect,
should report in favor of its authenticity
ms miracle, their Judgment would assured
ly carry great weight with It.
II the founders of the new Virginia sect,
after submitting one or more of their mir
acles TO scientific inspection, should desire
to have their claims put beyond doubt,
they could easily get some OF the clergy
men of this city to look into them. We
are sure, for example, that the learned
and kecn-wittod Rev. Father MCGLYNN,