The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-10
Tyndall's PRAYER Test,

To THE EDITOR OF THE suS-Sir: Many
NJ your readers whose rerollertions go back 10
tho early seventies will doubtless recall what
was known as "Tvndalls prayer test -
Briefly stated. this had reference to a propo.
sition. originally made by friend OF the omi.
nent man Of science. that the efficacy OF prayer
be publicly tested by making one ward or
section OF a hospital tho special object OF tho
prayers % the faithful. and then AT definite
period comparing its rate OF morality with that
OF other wards for the same length of time.
The suggestion gava rise tn n great deal OF
controversy. but was not regarded with favor
by religious people. Tyndal. who had pub
lishcd his friends letter In q prominent
English magazine and invited cooperation in
the scheme. was denounced as profane mate
rlalist and an lnfdel. DR. Littledalc. one ofths
bitterest OF his opponents smoke OF The degra-
dalton OF worship and PRAYER ito the rank OF n
magical incantation," and made the spsclal
objection that "one petition from some I'M
known saint on behalf Of the neglected wards
might outweigh In spiritual efficacy the agcr.
gate intercessions ofthe forces concentrated on
the experiment" He thought. however. that
"a tabular comparison of the results sevsralIy
attained by nurses who work for God and
nurses who work for money would be of some
value as basis Of calculation"
Prof TyndalPs friend. on the other hand
expressed surprise that his suggestion had NOT
been embraced with that activity md fervo-
which would certainly have been aroused had
he proposed special services for the conversion
OF the heather" instead OF for the recovery OF
the sick. For the benefit OF his orthodox critics
he might have cited the experience of Elijah
with the prophets OF BaaI. since the incident 40
graphically described in l. KINGS, XVIII, has n
very distinct bearing upon the point at issue;
and II sceptios re to I've convinced Il must be by
means Of some SIMILAR manifestation, or series
OF manifestations. free from petty detail and 40
Enthusiastically divine In origin as to have no
room for speculation or doubt,
1t Ia clear that many OF the Incidents in the
career OF George Mailer recorded by your cor.
respondent. Mr., Pierson, will require the fullest
corroboration by entirely disinterestad and
unmpoachable wituesses before being gener-
ally accepted. Nobody. OF course. doubts that
he was the recipient OF large sums OF money
contributed by the religious public OF Great
Britain. among whom his name was n house,
hold word: but what assurance have We that
many OF the alleged special interpretations were
not fortunate condolences unconsciously ex-
aRGerated In MGller's accounts The finding
OF penny at n critical moment seems trivial.
since postage stamp would doubtless have
answered. the purpose. while in any event
Muller might have been trusted: and what arc
veto think OF a loving Father who changes the
direction OF the wind 90 that Mnller's orphans
might not catch cold. yet who In innumerabs
instances has permitted serious epidemics Of
diphtherIa and scarlatina to ravage other Or
phsnages. not because Of any earslsssnsss on