Los Angeles daily herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1884-1890, 1889-06-07
CURE BY FAITH.
New Society Formed on This
Doctrine.
JOHN ALEX DOwIE'S TEACHINGS
A Matter of General Talk Among
Religious PeOple-HistOry of
the Treatment.

tralia, to this city, and the subsequent
formation of a society for the propagation
of the doctrine OF Divine healing, has
created considerable ripple of excite
ment among the people who are inter-
ested in religious matters. Mr.. Dowie
came to the coast from Australia about
nine months ago. He appeared in this
city on the Oath of April and
began to hold regular meetings in
the w. G. 7. U. building on
on Fort street. He was here about four
weeks, and toward the end OF his stay
the crowds that went to hear him could
not be accommodated at the hall he had
chosen, and meetings were held in the
Pavilion. After Mr.. Dowie and his wife de-
parted for San Diego, a society was formed
calling itself the Los Angeles Branch OF
the American Divine Healing Associa-
ton. 1t has been in existence only about
ten days, its first regular meeting being
held last Monday evening, but its mem
bership is nearly 900. These are people
from all the orthodox churches ia the
ci y, scarcely single religious organiza-
ton that is not represented in the So
ciety.
The doctrines of the new organization
were explained to- a representative oil
this paper by Mr.. H. w. Mills, who is a
prominent and active member. "It
must not be Supposed" said he, "that
this has any connection with the mind
cure or Christian science, as it is called,
nor is it the same as what is generally
called the faith cure. The Scriptures
narrate the works performed by the
Savior in healing the bodies of men and
instances are given of where he bestowed
this came power on others. The early
history of the church tells of number
OF cures which were performed by the
elders and teachers. The power seems
to have remained among the adherents
of the faith for several centuries-up to
the time when evil crept into the church,
and the purity of the original faith was
debased. From the language used by
Christ it is evident that he intended that
his followers should understand that the
power of healing the physical body
was to come to them through him
if they possessed sufficient faith.
But not until modern times, when the
early purity of the faith came to be re.
stored, have there been many instances
of the use of this power. George Muller
the founder of the system of orphan
asylums which are supported entirely by
faith in prayer, is a notable example.
The work of Dorothea Trondean, in
Switzerland, is another, even more
famous.
"Mr. Dowie is a preacher of the gospel
ef exceptional enthusiasm and power.
He does not claim to perform cures /;
Through his agency, however, a number
of people have came to such a strong
position of faith that they have been
cured by the Savior of bodily ailments. +"
From the explanation given by Mr..
Mills and other members of the new
society it appears that it is not the in
tention to form an organization which
shall interfere in any way with the doc
trines of the established churches, but
rather in a way to supplement their
teachings. Meetings will be held once a
week at the w. G. T. U. Hall, which
will be in the nature of prayer meet
ings. The special doctrine taught by MIR.
Dowie will be discussed and elaborated
and it is believed by the members that
the result will be number OF cures,
which to medical science will seem quite
unaccountable. During Mr.. and Mrs.
Dowie's stay in San Francisco and the
northern part of the State, it is alleged
that large number Of remarkable cures
were effected. A pamphlet entitled
american First Fruits" has been pub
lished, which gives complete record OF
those, giving full names and addresses OF
all those who lay their recovery from ILL
ness to this source. Since the Dowies
have been in Los Angeles number OF
people suffering with various ailments
have attended the meetings, and, under
the religious faith engendered there,
claim that they were made whole. One
of these is the Rev. Chss. G. Uzzell
who was apparently at the point of death
from lung trouble, and is now almost
quite restored. He has become a con-
vert to the doctrine, and expects to
preach it in this city. One case is that
of lady living on Boyle Heights, who
is said to have been cured of cancer.
The religious people of the city are
very far, however, from being of one
mind on the subject of the teachings Of
Mr.. Dowie. Many of them protest that
the doctrine of faith thus practically ap-
piled is not in accordance with the estab-
lished canons of the church, and that ii
is contrary to scientific evidence and fact.
The matter has been adverted to from
several pulpits, and the aims of the So
city have not always been commended.
Mr.. Dowie has come in for some severe
criticism, and his past record has in one or
two instances been impeached. The
statement has been published about him
that while in Australia he spent some
little time in Jail. 1t is admitted by his
friends that he was sent to Jail, but it is
claimed that it was for the offense Of
preaching temperance upon the streets.
The movement appears to have OBJ
tanned a considerable hold throughout
the State. In San Francisco the Rev.
Mr.. Pond is a very active worker in the
field of faith. Among the members of
this society here are Lyman Stewart, DIR.
Robert Todd, III. W. Mills and large
number of other prominent men and
women. The members Of the society
assert that the doctrine to which they
hold is not essentially different from that
of DIR. Simpson of New York, one of the
foremost teachers of the Presbyterian
faith.
Mr. Dowie will return from San Diego
in q few weeks and will reply to the
statements made against him. The
rumor that large sum had been sub
scribed for the uses of the society is not
true.