The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1891-08-17
DYING In SPITE OF FAITH.
York Hun-

New York Sun.
Although William Carr Foster, who is
slowly dying of cancer at his home in Jer-
sey City, is q believer in faith cure. and
has requested oil tho brethren in all the
faith cure churches in the city to pray for
him. he has ~steadfastly refused to see any
of the prominent opponents of tho faith
cure doctrine. Many of them have called,
but no one has been permitted to see him.
Fosters family consists Of himself, his
wife. a son. n two daughters. They live
on the second floor of q nice fiat in q very
respectable neighborhood. Mrs. Foster is
not at home. When q Sun reporter called
ut the house yesterday afternoon he was
admitted by John Foster, the eighteen
year-old son of the sick man. Two elderly
women were in the room. They were
evidently strangers, but young Mr.. Foster
come to pray for his father and cure him.
Others were expected, among them Brother
HancOx. Sister Jackson and Brother Ben
nett. of the Tabernacle of the Testimony,
in Bramball avenue. and the Rev. Samuel
Fellowship. in Bergen emu None
Of them came. however. Outside
of the family, the only persons
who put in an appearance were
the two elderly women and the Sun re-
porter. No one was permitted to go In the
front room where the sufferer was. After
waiting patiently until nearly 5 o'clock the
two elderly women began to pray i'm the
kitchen. They prayed ~fervently, and evil
IDENTIFY with the most absolute faith that
their prayers would be heard.
When they had gone away. Mr. Fosters
son explained his father condition. The
young man Is under the impression that his
father will be cured by faith. He said his
father was a machinist and IN invoterate
smoker. In his business he had occasion to
use a blOw-pipe. and he is I'm decided wheth-
er the blow-pipe or smoking brought on the
cancer. The disease first appeared about
two years and q half ago in the form of a
red pustule on his lower lip which looked
like u pimpie. Foster thought it q trivial
matter n paid no attention to it. The
pustule gradually spread. and Fosters fam
lily aud friends advised him to have it at
tended TO. He refused. He was one of the
first attendants at the Church of the First
Born, at Sixth and Erie streets, Jersey
City. where Brother Hancox n Sister
Jackson first held forth in jersey City. and
was one of their warmest odherents. He
had implicitly faith in the efficacy of prayer
to cure all diseases.
When he was advised to call in a physi-
clan he secuted the idea and repeatedly
said that God sent him the aff1iction aud
God could take it AVA il he chose. If it
was not taken away he realized that il was
Gods Will that he should be afflicted. The
cancer gradually ate away Fosters lip,
spread around his LETT cheek INC presented
such q repulslve appearance that he
shrank from going out into the street.
At intervals his family and friends
urged him to call q physician. But he re-
cure him. When the pimple first appeared
on his lip he weighed ITO pounds: nova he
is reduced to q nero skeleton. He prayed
constantly, and had the brethren pray for
him. h prayers had no apparent effect.
The cancer continued to spread, and Foster
gradually became worse.
About three months ago he began to fail
rapidly. The family was then living In
Grey street. Foster was able to walk ont
ent apartments in Monticello avenue.
Three weeks ago he found himself unable
to eat any solid food. The flesh had been
eaten away from the left side of his face
more than half way to the ear. SO that his
left of his lower lip. and the disease had be-
gun to spread to the other side of his face.
His family and friends again urged him to
call In q physician. but he refused. He re.
peated over and over again that God had
sent the atflict;on and that God would take
it away If He so desired. For the past five
weeks Foster has been fed by placing q tube
in his throat and pouring down, sometimes
beef tea n sometimes milk. His son re-
ports him as being very weak, but says he
does not suffer any pain.
Brother Bennett called at the house on
Wednesday. but Foster refused to see HIM.
He sent out word for hiIato call some other
time. Brother Bennett remained in the
kitchen for some time praying for him.
Foster prays continuously himself. His
son, last night, informed q Sun re-
porter that the united prayer-meet-
ing of the faith curlsts woul take place
some day nex week, but the partic-
ular day had not been selected. He and
~. e;.<ar. xr,II xvorf for n faU dova altar
that, aud if there is NO perceptibIe i'm
pr0vement in their fathers condition they
will call in q physician in opposition to his
wishes. Judging from Fosters condition
it is doubtful If any physician would be
able to do him any good now. He is unable
To sneak axcept in the faintesI whisper.