The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1895-10-10
Oklahoma City's Mysterious Doctor or
Healer.
From Oklahoma City Times Journal Of Sep
tember 81, 1891

GFrom Oklahoma City Times Journal OF Sep
tember 81, 1891
Who has for some time past, been
attracting so much attention because
OF bis extraordinary sympathy for, and
untiring efforts in the cause of the
poor, sick and distressed, as well as on
account of the strange and wonderful
cures he has performed; was born on
the gath day of May. 1858. in SIN ough,
county Tipperary, Ireland. His par
ents were Thomas Furlong and Mar
garet Ryan, who were both Roman
Catholics, but they died before the
subject of this sketch was 6ve years
old. lie was reared by his grandpa
rents, who were also Roman Catholics,
and carefully instructed him in the
faith. They sent him to a common
school where he progressed very rap
idly. At the age of sixteen he came
To the United States, and locate Ia
Syracuse, n. V, where he worked for
some time, and after he mad saved
some money he entered the Cazeuova,
N. y, Seminary, where he studied
Latin, French and mathematics with
great success. After leaving Gaze
nova Seminary he went to Toronto,
Canada, where he studied for the
Catholic priesthood under Archbishop
Lynch Of that city. After studying
there for some time he and the Areh-
bishop disagreed on some theological
poin's, or at least the Archbishops
theology did not satisfy the best reason
and lofliest impulses of his youthful
pupil. lie soon after that quit study
ing for the priesthood aud about two
years later he left the Catholic
Church altogether. lie says that
he has impartlally read and studied
the bible, and has come to the
conclusion that, while the bible
contains much that is good and true
and moral, it also contains many things
that require credulity TO believe lie
has also noticed that the older the writ
ings are the more errors and vicious
ness they contain. He thinks there are
in the world today more inspired writ
crs, truthful prophets. more who
clearly discern spirits and more gen
uine healers than there were when ST.
Paul wrote ,he 12th chapter Of his
first epistle to the Corinthians. lie
thinks If people would only investigate
the strar &c phenomena, which are
occurring almost every day around
them, they would get a clearer idea of
the bible and its alleged miracles
When asked in reference to Christ
being the son of God, he said
I'VE are all sons of God" lie says 1t
has been demonstrated TO him beyond
reasonable doubt that man retains
bis individuality after the dissolution
81 the physical body, and that after
the dissolution of the physical body
he has been seen, heard and felt by
man in the physical body. While Mr..
Fur.ong belongs TO no church, he does
not asssil religion nor its ministers,
holding that they are all do:ngthe best
they can considering their knowledge,
environments and development.
lie says that any religion which
teaches the idea OF reward and punish
ment is better for the low, ignorant,
and vicious than none at all. He holds
that people will naturally gravitate to
that religion which is best suited to
their natures and intelligence. lie
holds that all changes in religion and
politics must come through a natural,
moral and intellectual growth, and TO
attempt To force religious or political
principle upon a people before they
have progressed far enough TO receive
II, would be like taking a crude Indian
out Of wigwam, dressing him up Ia
broadeloth and plscing him in y
palace, he would soon gravitate to the
tepee and breeeh-cloth. He holds that
crude person will naturally have u
crude religion and that a slave at
heart will and must have a tyrant for
master hr. Furlong has Travelled
extensively, is a profound thinker and
close observer Of persons and things.
He Is also natural Investigator and
exper'mentor with things and theories
that might better mankind few
years ago he Joined a complete ma
tionalist' Or cooperative colony and
went to California where he, with
some three or four hundred Others,
spent some sloo,o 600 putting the theory
to practical test; he says it proved
success in principle and thinks that had
'tnot been for government interference
be in successful operation now.