The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-03-18
THE FAITH CURE HuMBUo.
A Memphis Divine Who Has No Con-
alteration for IL.

The Rev. J. r.. Briney. pastor OF the
Linden street Christian church. has no
patience with the Faith Cure" school.
In n recent number Of The Christian Fran
geiid, the doctor says:
From time immemorial there has been
tendency on the part Of mankind TO at
tribute unusual phenomena 10 some sort
Of supernatural Intervention. The ancients
explained eclpses. earthquakes, etc, in
this way: Events which the beholder
could not explain on natural principles,
have been rclcgated TO the region Of the
supernatural. While II may not be gem
orally recognized, tits true, nevertheless,
that the world has always been, and still
II, dominated by, superstition, and this IL
the field from which fortune tellers, spirit
ualists, faith doctors, etc, are enabled 10
gather rich harvcsfs. Nor are their vic
tins confined 20 tho ranks Of the ignorant
and uncutiyated. There h not more In
yiting field for refined quacks Of almost
every kind 10 be found in this
country than tho city OF Boston.
That the phenomena from which the
conclusion IL drawn that there has been
supernatural intervention do really &C.
cur" ID would be unwise 10 deny; but the
phenomena do not necessitate the conclu.
sion. Ecipscs do occur, but tho concu-
sion that they occur because some deity
IN offended Is nj fault so with what are
called spirit manifestations and "iaith
cures" Strange manifestations happen,
but they do not prove the Intervention oi
spirits. Wonderful cures are witnessed,
but they do not prove that they result
from the exercise Of iaiih on the part Of
the healed.
The January number Of the Eclectic
Mogasine rcproduccs from the Ninoiocnl
| Ce,iiHry an article entitled 1.-THE Nerve
Rest Cure" In which the following Incl.
dent Il related: Several years ago the
wife Of a scientiflc man was seized with
what Is called hysterical paralysis Of the
lower limbs. She was informed that hof
inability 10 walk was not the result OF any
organic change. but merely OF nervous de
biIity, and she received the usual routine
advice, via, that she must fight against
her feelings and make constant efforts 10
overcome the paralysis by forcc
IL will. She followed this adj
vice for a long time. but. getting
gradually worse, she gave up all at
tcmpis at walking, and resigned hersell
| 10 the ignominy OF n bath chair. Alter
many months Of rrst. the use OF her limbs
was suddenly restored. One summer day
she Was left on the sea shore by hei
husband, who went short distance for a
newspaper. During his absence hali-in.
toxicatcd highlander approached the lady
and threatened 20 kiss her. In terror she
jumped from the bath chair and made OF
In ,-sarch OF her husband. From the date
of that incident she gradually recovered
her power OF locomolion. What fine
subject that lady would have been ior
some practitioner Of the faith cure school
What a winning card such case would
be- In the hands Of ''Quack doctor" from
Bo~,on, ''or some other hot-bcd Of medical
quackery." Or u might he utilized as q
foundation Cor q new departure In the
science Of humbuncry 10 be known ne the
fright cure. g.