Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-01-20
THE EFFICACY OF FAITH j!
THRILLING SCENES IN A MENNONITE
 CHURCH AT READING.

Sufferers Who Believe Led to the Altar,
 and After Prayer Arise, Claiming That
 They Are Healed-Intense Excitement
 During the Services,
 READING, Jan. 2O.-Yesterday was the most exciting day of the week in the faith cure convention i'll the Mennonite church in this city. Crowds were turned away, and those inside the building remained all the afternoon and evening, intensely interested in the strange scenes presented. Sufferers were led to the church and brought in carriages The Rev. William Gehman opened service by preaching on the 84th Psalm The Rev. Mir Trum. bower delivered an elaboration on faith cure, and Revs. John Fohl and Abel Strawn fol lowed ill brief but earnest invitations to all sufferers having faith in the Lord to come forward and be healed. The Rev. Mir. Trun- bower started a hymn, and the excitement began.
 Adam Showers, aided with cane, advanced to the altar and exclaimed: II place my case ill the hands of God" He sank on his knees, praying aloud. Then Miss Cora Ritter, of Bethlehem, with a lost voice, came forward hurriedly and knelt, sobbing and praying. The singing and clapping of hands continued, and the excitement ran high. Then Showers two sisters approached the altar. led by friends. The young women were ailing with rheumatism. They were received with loud prayers and singing, and soon after they had fallen on their knees they were overcome with the excitement, and fell over on the floor, singing and praying.
 The scene was thrilling. Many were so overcome that they wept aloud ill their joy. The minister exhorted the people to remain steadfast in their faith, as God had promised fo1 Iii; l,o11y not go back on his promise. The dozen minis ters had formed circle, and placing their hands on the heads of the penitents they prayed loudly and fervently that the Lord would heal them of their afflictions and make them whole The congregation joined ill the prayers. Three more women were then led to the altar One young man was carried forward by his two brothers. ''Glory to God" shouted the near friends of those supplicating to be healed. Prayer upon prayer quickly followed, and hundreds wept aloud.
 Miss Ritter was the first to arise and clap her hands, shouting, My voice has already been restored. Thank God!' Then followed a shout of ''Glory, hallelujah!' which made the weilSn ring.
 Adam Showers next arose and exclaimed 'Thanks be to God, I am healed" He seemed very happy, and was rejoicing by
 
 is already much better, and has been helped by his faith His two sisters, who had also been suffering with spinal disease, and wht had fainted before the altar under the strain of the great mental excitement, returned to conscious condition and fell into each others arms weeping and crying, ''God be thanl1edn They say that they have been healed by the wonderful power of the faith cure
 The other applicants arose one by one, and as each in loud tone of voice attested the great help given them through ''the grace ci our Lord Jesus," loud prayers ascended from many portions of the church, and verse of a hymn was jubilantly sung Weeping friends met them at the altar rail and conducted them to their seats With prayers and hymns and applications the afternoon service was closed.
 Last night another packed congregation filled the church. A half dozen afflicted per- sons were led to the altar The service ot prayer and hymns, invccations and appeals were kept up until a late hour, with the same results as in the afternoon.
 The preachers are intensely ill earnest, and claim that faith cure is the coming doctrine and that it is entirely as the Master taught it to his disciples