The morning times., 1896-07-05
PROPHETS WlATHRBAYs
Many Have Arisen Who Claim
: -, Miraculous Power.
THEY CURE BY PRAYER
Christian Science Healers Exert a
Wife Sehiatter and
Others Command Many.


| disciples on the bank OF Galliiee that proph-
els and heliers without number would visit
the world and perform all gel miracles in
! Ills name, the world has never been free
| from so-caIled Laith cures. The prophecy
| QT- The saviour. caIpe true within short
| time after his crucifixion, ana has been veri-
fled countless times since, the closing years
| OF this century probably exceeding all
! Others in the number or hea!ers and the lie
g. ri,,ns pftriracleS wrought by them IN the
removal or disease by the removal of the be-
lief that Ills exist, lys the Chicago Chron-
| ic,c.
The laying on of ha nds the blessing OF
| articles or personal wear and the'efiicacy
! of faith tn curing all the ills and pains
| resultant from The TALL OF Adam have beer
assduously believed by the followers of
these men, For it is an astounding fact
| that no prophet has been so iowiy, no healer
has been SO thoroughly exposed as to lack
Il large number OF blind, fatuous follow
| ers. .Fatt without works Is dead
is IA maxim OF the Christian religion which
these bea,ers cast aside, IL all OF Lde reports
| of their doing bc true. This maxim is the
| sheet anchor OF the medical profession
| in the struggle to conquer disease.
| Whether or not there is any foundation
| in truth for the cures attributed to the
| men who have visited the earth from time
!
| foundation for the verify of the cures at
| trihuted to the various shrines throughout
the world, it is undeniabIe that millions OF
| persons have firmly believed. and In spite
| of the filings OF science and the attacks OF
| denominational organizations. they con-
| time 10 attract and hold their followers.
FAITH CURES.
| For many years after the crucifixion the
| manifestations were largely confined to the
| miracle working power of the shrnes OF
| saints. Then healers began to appear, and
| for many years OF the Christian regime
| there have been histories OF cures per
| formed without the aid OF physician or
drugs. In recent years this feature of re-
| ligious life has assumed proportions al
most startling in their extent and vari-
! anCe.
| Differing in name and essential features,
| the work of the various sects or following
| of some personal ''messiah" have had the
| same basis. They have all depended for
| success ON faith. Most OF the messiahs care
| but IiI,ie for the expression of faith on the
part of those who come to them. They
maintain their ability to perform the cure
| without the assent of the sick man. They
| rely upon the cure to work conviction OF the
truth of the assertion. generally made 10y
| sorle follower, that they are invested with
divine powers and that their doings are not
| frauds and delusiuns. In this land or free
| dom OF thought and action. it is singular
| that more heaiers have appeared than In
| any other on the face of the globe. More
| stories OF the miraculous cures OF people
| are published in the daily press OF America
than of all other countries combined.
| Probably the most prominent OF all the
| secls. If they can he called such, Is that of
| faith cure or Christian science. founded
| by Mrs Eddy OF Boston. Mass This woman
| teaches that sickness is purely mental: that
| II does not exist excepting in the morbid
! Imagination of the victim
| GIVES NO MEDICINE.
| By concentrating the thoughts upon the
| belief that the disease does not exist and
| denying that there is anything TO produce
| the pains aided by prayer and faith In God,
| she holds that all the ills which the tabled
| Pandora turned loose on the son OF man
disappear and the sick man is made whole
! without resort to the nauseating drugs
| aud harsh treatment OF the medicine man,
| This sect is the most proininent because OF
| the growth Of its societies and the increase
| in the number of its votaries.
| Originating only n few years ago, the
| Society of Christian Science has spread all
| over tue land. until 1t is small community
| indeed which boast no branch. The society
! mas contiuue to grow in spite of the attacks
| OF the unbeIeyer and the efforts OF the
| mcdica! profession, through the agency
| of the boards of health. to stamp it out.
| This is probably due to the historic fact that
| persecution and this is what the votaries
| call the fight being made only increases
| the number OF the adherents OF the belief
| attacked. Courts have been called upon to
| punish faith cure or Christian science doc
| tors because OF the death Of patients, on
| the ground that the doctor has failed TO
| take ont q license and has not shown any
| accepted school OF medicine. Thefaith cure
| people have maintained the right OF the
| people to such treatment as the sick de-
| sire and have generally beaten the regulars
IN their fights.
| MRS. EDDY'S METHODS.
The methods used by the followers of
| Mrs Eddy's cult are simple in the cx-
| treme. and unarestionably good to the
| patient in one respect. The doctor in
charge OF patient uses every possible
| device 10 divert tile mind of tile sick per.
| son from the ailment and the accompany
| ing pain. Cheerful conversation and the re-
| pcated denial oe the existence OF disease
| is used, and then the patient Is urged to
| have faith that illness is not. and by this
| means i: is expelled from the suffering
| body. In minor ailments OF a nervous
nature this treatment has the Endorsement
| OF the medicai profession. Dut tnc reg
uiars'' say that faith will not remove
| tnmor or restore an amputated limb. no
! matter how firmly the victim may be con-
! yinced that the limb Is still there in its
! proper place.
| Whatever the virtue Of the teachings OF
/ Christian science, 1t L. unauestinably true
! that the number of its adhcrents is much
! larger than that Of any other cult outside
| Of the regular denominations of the great
| church IT Is only one. however. of the
\ many manifestations and assertions OF mir
! aculons 10 wcrs over disease of mind and
| body. Hcalers are numerous and spring up
! In the most unexpected localities. The
| hcalcrs nearly always have some OF the
| features Of Christ They wear the hair
and beard long. and have a resemblance Of
the accepted portraits of the Saviour which
I