The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1888-01-18
HE WAS CURED BY FAITH.
TIE VERY REMARKABLE EXPERI
ENCE or a CHICAGO CLERGYNIhN.

tho Physicih. = Had Failed, and WHOM lie
Had Declined Human Aid.
Chicago Letter to the New York Hcral,1
Tho Rev. DIR. John Williamson is one
OF the best known clorgymon in Chicago,
having served as pastor in Methodist
churches here for fourteen years. Ho is
sensible, level-headcd man, 100, and
not given to isms. Yet he has q story to
tell which is out Of the ordinary way. 1t
borders upon the marvellous.
At Il recent meeting Of the Methodist
ministers Dir. Williamson related his OK
poriencc with the faith cure. lie was
very sick, but he didn't go to doctor.
lie took his trouble direct to God, he
said, and was cured. He took no mcdi-
cine, for God cured him without it.
His statement naturally created SEN
sation among tho other preachers, and
knowing the speakers as well as they did
they could not doubt his word. DR..
Williamson is not given to sensational
ism III tho pulpit or elsewhere, and his
earnest, impressive manner carried CON
viction with it.
Dr. Williamson said that health came
to him after "a sweet and understandable
communion with God" during which he
was assured that ho would be restored.
lie believed, and he had his reward.
The Herald correspondent waited on
the clergyman and asked him to give his
experience. Dir. Williamson is man
iorty-seven years of age, strongly built,
but wearing traces OF hard work upon
his features. His life has not been en-
urely sodcntGry one, though ho has
devoted many hours day to his desk
for several years past.
81 haven't much of story to tell"
replied he, "but you arc welcome to it
as TAR ~ it goes. | feel assured that |
was cured III consequence of my prayers
to Cod and my communion with Him.
My allmcnt was an urmmic intoXication:
my liver was also affected and ! was in
u bad way generally. ] knew also that
was oYerworked, and sometimes felt
that, perhaps, might never be able to
regulate work in my pulpit sgain.
81 consulted some of the best physi-
cans III Chicago and they advised me to
rest | did not want to give up my
labors, but nm enough of physician
to know that nature will assert itself.
am graduate of Rush medical college,
though | have never practised.
"lhcn it was | went to God. | prayed
a l had never prayed before a. felt
that | WAS in close ana perfect com
munion with Him. l cannot describe
it. told God al my troubles and ro-
ccivcd assurances that everything would
be well. Ny plan OF action was TO lay
down three rules, if they can be SO
callcd-praycr to God, relaxation from
work and physical exercise. | under
stood, of course, that rest and exercise
would not effect the complete cure
wished for"
"What was the difference, Doctor, be-
tween your prayers at this time and those
proviously?" WAS asked.
81 had something definite to ask for;
that was all, " lie replied. 81 wanted to
be cured" hc added with smile. "Tho
trouble with too many people is that
when they pray they don't know what
they want. | knew exactly what [
wanted and got it.
"Iou feel that your restoration to
health was tho direct result OF prayer?"
"Nlost assurcdiy it was. j did not put
myself under the care of physician as
might otherwise have done had | not
had 30 much faith in the efficacy of pray or
and the willingness and readiness Of God
to answer it.
"You felt differently, then, during tho
time you were praying for health than
bcforc?"
"Ics; ] knew 1 Was in the very pres
cncc Of God, and could almost see and
feel His personality. 1 cried aloud to
Him and was rewarded with His COM
partnership. / cannot tell you how /
felt. 1t was communion never granted
me before, and one, l feel certain not
often vouchsafcd to men. | had Il great
load upon my mind, for it would have
been the greatest sacrifice of my life had
been compelled to give up my work
for year, as tho physicians advised.
"How soon alter your prayer to God
did you realize that you had been an
swered?"
almost Immediately. / have been
able to work right along, with the ex-
ception of u short time when / was at
Bay View. | took rest thcro in the
summer and spent my days in rowing
and praying to God. While / avo no
regular charge now l fill the pulpit Of
some brother nearly every Sunday, and
have other labors in addition, so that |
cannot say that | am not busy"
"Haye you any idea, Doctor, what
might have been the result had you de-
pended upon ordinary physi cal treat
ment and taken the years rest tho physi-
clans recommended"
81 would simply have lost a years
work, and probably not felt so well as /
do now. In fact, might not have re-
covered at all, though L do not assert
this. But my recovery has been won
derful in this, that ] did not follow the
advice of my physicians, and took no
medicines. My cure is tho direct result
Of divine healing, and so | have been
free to proclaim"
''lt was case parallel to those given
out by the faith hcalers, then?"
"Not exactly. There was no amounting
or anything Of that sort--no ceremony
of any kind. | laid my troubles at the
feet of God and He relieved me OF them
and raised me up. God knew what L
wanted and granted it. go about my
labors regularly now, whereas had He
not come to my aid / would not have
been able to do anything"