The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-08-20
PresbYterian Union.

Most of the time of the Presbyterian
Ministerial Union was given to discussion
of whether or no representatives of the
press should be excluded from the DELHI
erations of that body. The reconsidera-
ton was brought about largely through
the intervention of DR.. Ellis, who pro-
posed it. A motion to admit reporters
was passed by vote of eight to six, many
of the ministers declining to vote
Z. A. Surge MD. read a paper on
Faith Healing" He said:
No careful observer can fail to notice that
faith is factor In the cure of disease. All re-
alize that there is much better chance for
the patient who believes he will recover than
the one who feels that he is soon to shuttle off
the mortal coil.
In some strange way the mind controls the
physiological process OF the body. Physicians
realizing this feel that 1t is quite iustifiabe in
water to stimulate faith and thus to aid re-
covery.
It seems to me that all cases attributed to
Christian science, mind cure, divine healing,
sacred shrine, ETC., are due alone TO the faith
OF the patients. That cures are thus effected
most OF US are ready to admit. While the
writer was medical missionary in Siam a
pool of water, supposed to have wonderful
healing properties, was discovered in certain
sacred cave.
Laughable as the thought of benefit from
such source seemed at the time, it now sp-
pears quite likely that some were really
helped-not from any curative property pos
sessed by the water, but from the faith OF the
persons receiving the same. We know that
the doctrine of the so-called Christian Scien-
lists is ridiculous, for according to the teach
ings of the founder they held that there is no
such such thing as matter; but only mind. We
hear the Great Physician say: "Your sin is
gone. have taken It away. l have borne it
In my own body on the tree. Now you are
whole" 1t depends entirely upon our raith
w hat xUnf find To-, lie
us that the prayer of faith shall save the sick.
Does not all hinge on that little word faith?
believe firmly in prayer and realize that the
Almighty could heal the most difficult case
but the question is 'Does he do it If means are
neglected OF natural laws deied?' Faith is
only one means of cure. Faith and work in
healing should go together. If vaccination
and our water supply and other sanitary
measures were neglected no amount of faith
would save us from fearful epidemics.
The object OF this paper is to show that faith
possesses elements of truth which we would do
well to recognize, that we may give to it its
proper place and make use of it as one of the
means of lessening the ills of the present life
and of blessings to our fellow-men.
Rev. Campbell Coyle said he considered
Christian science a counterfeit OF the di-
vine healing of the age of miracles, but
that it is now under the direction of the
devil.
DR.. Alexander was of the opinion that if
a man is dangerously i'll sweetened water
and bread pills will be of no avail. and said
that many Christian Scientists should be
tried for murder.
Methodist Preachers.
Devotional exercises at the Methodist
preachers meeting were conducted by
Chaplain Macomber of Angel Island.
Rev. ]. J. Martin read a paper on 1.-THE
Trichotomy of Man" Mr.. Martin gave
the triple elements of mans constitution
as body soul and spirit. He said:
The soul indicates the person of the man, but
not man as a person The capability of self
in man is the Light of God" 1t
IS the spirit which constitutes man, and that is
where the work of grace should begin. The
orch of science cannot give us the relation of
soul to spirit. The torch of inspiration gives