The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1894-07-07
Faith Cure.

A remarkable exhibition of that faitI
spoken of in the New Testament that re-
moves mountains, closes the mouths of lioni
and does other wonderful things was seel
last night or our streets. For some time
past, Miss Blanche Rothrock, a very religion
young lady, a member of the Salvation
Army, and highly respected for intelligence
and amaible traits of character, has firmly
believed that the Lord would restore hei
eyesight in answer to prayer. We are in
formed that she had received direct rev.
elation from God that at certain time In a
particular place the miracle, if such 1t may
be termed, would be performed. Last night
at half-past s o'clock was the appointed
time and hour, and this becoming known
throughout the city soon after s o'clock
crowds began to gather at the corner of
Second and Court streets to witness what
would happen. They did not wait long be-
fore the young lady made her appearance,
and In the center of the north crosswalk on
Second, at the intersection of the street
named, dressed ia the army bonnet she
knelt in the humble attitude of prayer. For
some time she remained in this position,
watched by the throng of people that had
congregated on the corners and streets,
when she arose, and, before leaying, with
explanations of Joy, declared that God had
given the desired boon. She then exhorted
those around her to haYe faith in God and
to follow Christ, and for some time claimed
the attention of the audience by religious
devotions. Our reporter was not present
at the close of this exhibition of great
faith. but from persons present derives his
information.
This morning we made occasion to call on
her and asked her the direct question
whether her eyesight was restored. Her
answer was that she did not desire to talk
about the matter at that time, but would
write an article for the TIMES MoUNTAINEER,
which was handed In today, and which we
willingly published.
1t Is Hamlet who tells his companion
"There are more things in heaven and earth
than are dreamt of in our philosophy, Hora.
tito, and 1t may be that restoring sight to
this woman was one of the things that
were not noted in Hamlet's and Horatio's
philosophy. Sight may be impaired by
various causes, and aside from those scien-
tifcallY taught in anatomy or physics, there
are other reasons that the reflection of the
object on the retina of the eye is not In
tellIgently discerned by the brain. The
nerves, the telegraph lines which connects
every bodily function with the mind, may
shock or the strain caused BY the conoen-
tration of will power in a certain direction
as an active faith in the performance Of anv
act requires-may replace these in 3 normal
condition. We are not fully informed if
this lady received her sight last night while
in the act of praying; but if she did it may
be accounted for in hundred different
ways according to the laws of physics. 1t
was not mlracle-in the common meaning
of the term that it is an occurrence con-
trary to existing phenomena and contradict
ing the well.established rules of cause and
effect. The grotto of Our Lady at Lourdes
in the south Of France is dited with sey.
eral wonderful cures, and all resulting from
the exercise OF faithi but which, minutely
analyzed by abstract reason, are simply
natural results from natural causes. Faith
is yery curative. for nearly half the ills to
which human flesh is heir are caused by
fertile fancy or diseased imagination.