The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-08-05
GOTHAM HAS A MESSIAH
HE IS PRESIDENT OF A BURIAL COM
PANY, BUT HEALS THE CN.
Using His Remarkable Powers to De-
Dying from Their Beds.

NEW YORK, Aug. 4.-Rev. Stephen Mer-
rift, president of the Stephen Merritt Burial
Company. of this city, claims that during
the last three or four months he has been
granted the power to heal the sick and re-
store reason to the denented. Mr.. Merritt
Furthermore states that he has actually re-
stored to complete health during that time
hundreds of inValids who have been pro-
nounced incurable by their physicians, ana
in some instances by the process of anoint-
ing with oil he has raised the dying from
their beds and imbued them with the full
vigor of life and strength. The reverend
gentleman does not claim to do all this or
his own personal powers. He maintains
that the Holy Ghost is working through
him as an instrument, and that henceforth
religion is to benefit the body as well as the
soul, and that the miracles of healing are
again to be common through the medium
of the chosen ministers of Christianity. Mr..
Merritt does not say what effect this new
power of healing he claims to have
achieved will have upon the business OF the
burial company of which he is president.
When a reporter saw Mr.. Merritt at his
office he had no hesitation in talking of his
newly acquired powers, and cited many
specific instances where he had almost in
SIMULTANEOUSLY I6SlOI6Q LAC SIN " AACdlllA'
Il have felt that l had this power for many
years." said Mr.. Merritt, but it has been
with me more especially during the last
three or four months. l feel that the pow
er passes through me as electricity goes
through a wire. L do not claim that l my
self heal the sick, but L Know absolutely
that the power of healing comes from the
Holy Ghost through my fundamentally.
Il have made so many physical cures
that it is difficult to select specific cases.
That Of a lady nearly ninety years old was
nnn of thn T11nGt Tnrn1 FK4h IR She WAS SICK
unto death and her end was m"omentartly
expected. All thought that she must die
within a few hours OF old age and extreme
weakness. 1 was called in to see her and |
anointed her. She Immediately arose and
was perfectly well. To-day she goes to
Rhode Island on d visit to some friends Of
hers"
The reverend gentleman was quite will
ing to give the names and addresses of the
persons he has healed, but a desire to ave
them the unnecessary notoriety Of publica-
ton caused him to refrain from doing SO.
The case Of a young woman who was i'll
the last stages OF consumption was mar
Vicious" he said. The physicians had told
her she could not live the night out, and 1
was called to her bedside. l talked with
her some time, and then she asked me to
anoint her. l told her distinctly that il /
anointed her she would live. She was full
of faith, and when her folks had brought
oil l anointed her. She got we'll and to-day
is in perfect health. For three weeks after
her recovery she worked here addressing
envelopes, and l was able to observe that
the disease had entirely left her. She is
now in Cleveland and enjoys the best Of
health"
Mr.. Merritt declares. that he is in daily
communication with the Holy Ghost and
has been given the third dispensation. Il
shrank back from this particular phase of
ministerial work for some years" he said,
but 1 feel that 1 have been called to it. 1t
is not my wish or desire. 1t is the prompt
ings of the Holy Ghost"
AT the Christian Alliance convention, now
in session at Old Orchard, Me, Mr.. Merritt
delivered an address on 'Sanctification,"
during which he explained the healing
powers of which he claims to have become
possessed. I'm the last few months" he
said, God has manifested himself to me
and through me more than in all my for
mer Christian experience. Through me He
has opened lunatic asylums, babe inmates
come forth, and l have seen them depart
clothed in their right minds. He has
touched consumptives on the very brink Of
the grave and restored them to health. The
crippled and infirm have been fully healed.
l believe that under the influence of the
Christian Alliance there is quietly going on
throughout the country one of the greatest
religious revivals the new world ever saw.
Those who believe that God is the Lord
and who believe His every promise can
command the devil to depart from a.
troubled being, and he is bound to obey
their command. They also have power to
heal all manner of diseases"