The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1881-04-29
d nInIsrEaIAL pIaCuaaIoN
In Regard to the Imeasy Of Prayer In the
CuFe Of Disease.
y v Ttrss NJ Anil Nth

In RsgaFd to the Ialeaey OF Prayer In the
CuFe Of Disease.
y. Y, Tlmsl. Of April 2slh,
After an opening prayer Yesterday, the
Baptist ministers elected the Rev. DR.. ].
B, Thomas, CT the First Baptist Church,
Brooklyn, Moderator for the Summer
term. Mr.. Hindman Barney, who was
for some years an actor, but more recently
has been q temperance lecturer and been
converted to Christianity, was introduced.
On Sunday he was baptized In the Hud'
son by the Rev. O, s, CUR, Of Hastings.
he made 9 short address, and then the
Rev. DR.. l. W. Binkerhof, Of Staten
Island, presented Q paper on Prayer for
the Sick" To substitute proyer Tor sub
stantial means, he declared, was to tempt
God. Medicine bears to prayer exactly
the same relation that wiahes do 10 faith.
Instances Of remarkable Iecoveries, re.
coyeries reported 10 be In answer 10
prayer, were referred 10, and the opinion
sustained by argument, was advanced that
reCoveTies declared to be strictly miracu'
lous were not to he too freely received.
Almost always can be traced q means
aside from the prayer-somstimes hidden
though 1t may be. When the paper had
been concluded the Rev. John Quincy
Adams remarked that he considered 1t q
matter OF regret that such q paper should
have been presented to the Conference,
that It's tone was calculated to do
harm by sustaining Obi6ctoTs, already nu'
merous, and by weakening faith among
believers, No doubt, said Mr., Adams,
when Christ was on earth, He wrought
many cures which the wisdom Of that time
felt quite able 10 explain by natural
means. The Rev. Dr., W, W. Evarls Sus.
tanned the objections oil Mr., Adams, and
declared that the efficacy OF prayer 'or
siCk persons was beyond dispute, and TO
question II was to stultily Gods emphatic
promises and deny the testimony Of null.
litudes. Brother Foots attributed much
power 10 prayer, but was inclined, with
Dr.. BrincEerhof, TO doubt that any In.
stance oil recovery was on record where
any organic disease had been cured.
Brother Grimmell characterized the essay
90 common sense paper, Just such 90 this
age demands. Rev. DR., Miller aRid he had
AhoWh GAAGu - kuNa bhtL NAA ~
application oil hog'slard had worked greater
thinRs than anybody could claim for medl.
cine or prayer. Another brother was certain
that his prayer bad proved eifsCtual when
promptly backed up by hot cloths, satur.
Gted with turpentine. In answer 10 the
brother who had criticised his opinions,
the Rev. DR.. BrinCkerhof declared be
wanted lt.understood that be believed 10
the full in the efficacy Of prayer, and only
questioned miraculous" Cures. Exprest.
Ing surprise that any unbeliet could exist
In the, Conference, he declared himself at
loss to understand how his views could
strengthen that unbelief or shake faith.
However" he said. "wers l to have pre-.
pared any paper for the public press 1t is
probable that should have treated my
subject somewhat differently. Let US I'm.
dsrstand though, once for all, that God
walks In paths Of his own, and not as we
prescribe"