The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1908-02-04
Preacher to Be Healer.

Preacher to Be Healer.
From Public Ledger, FEB. $.
As result of the visit last week OF
the Rev. DR.. Elwood Worcester, the cele-
brated preacher healer, one of the largest
Episcopal churches of Philadelphia-the
Incarnation, at Broad and Jefferson streets
will adopt the Emmanuel principle
and begin work along the lines that Doctor
Worcester has practiced with such success
In Boston. The Rev. Norman Van Pelt
Lewis, rector of the church of the Incar-
nation, announced the new policy at the
morning service Sunday.
The rector declared that he was cogni-
zant of his limitations as follower of Doc
tor Worcester and that the work at the
church of the Incarnation would be taken
up gradually, as the opportunity occurred.
There will be no clinics like those held in
Emmanuel Church until the movement is
well under way. Mr.. Lewis expressed the
opinion that there was need of such church
work in this city, and that he had been
considering the advisability of undertake
/ ing it for several years.
Appeals from many persons suffering
from broken down nervous systems and
others who "hold wrong views of life" in
fuenced the rector in coming to this de-
cision. He made the announcement now,
he said, because DIR. Worcester's address
es in ST. Stephens Church had focused
public attention upon the subject.
Mr.. Lewis will receive the cooperation
of his vestry and congregation in his new
enterprise. Immediately after the service
an influential vestryman suggested that
the vestry meeting on Thursday night
should be devoted to discussion of ways
and means for launching department of
mental therapeutics in the church's acti-
vities.
The rector preached from the text St
Mark. tx. 90, ''For all things are possible
to him that beIieveth."
Rehearsing the healing of the demoniac
boy, he said that the disciples tried and
failed at healing because of their lack of
faith. Christ had the power which the
disciples lacked, he said, but which He in
tended they should possess. After the
apostolic period the gift of healing was
lost to the church. Hecontinued
1.-THE church protested against the loss
of spiritual power in the Reformation,
which was revolt against Journalism.
The Oxford movement, embodying pro-
test against worldliness, came next in or
der; then, some years ago, the institutional
church, with its protest against the apathy
of men, was established. Now comes an
other and greater movement 1t is pro-
test against materialism and one-sided re-
ligion, an appeal to the apostolic policy
that Christ came to save the whole man.
Christian healing is not new 1t was
practiced in the 1st century by the Apos-
ties; in the 4th century by Athanasius
and Augustine; in the 9Th, by Hillary and
Jerome; in the 9th, by Gregory the Great
and Augustine Of Canterbury, also by
Cuthbert and Bede. 1t is said to have
been practiced by Catharine of Sioma. and
in the 18th century by Bishop Parkhurst
Luther declared that he healed by the
power of prayer. 1t is back of the cures
of pilgrims at the shrine of st. Anne de
Beaupre, of Quebec 1t was practiced by
Doctor Quimby, who really suggested this
method to Mrs. Eddy, and it is used to-day
by physicians and clergymen.
"We are familiar with the power of the |
mind oyer the body in few simple cases,
such as heart palpitation from fear; the
rush of blood to the cheek caused by
blush, and melancholia from pessimism.
1.-The Christian Science movement is a
protest against medicine and orthodox |
religion. While there is much good in it, |
it rushes to an extreme, denying the real
ity of matter, disease and sin. 1t is really |
form of idealistic pantheism. Hundreds |
of persons are leaving orthodox churches |
and going over to Christian Science, be-
cause it gives them something which they |
have not hitherto received.
''The Emmanuel movement demon |
strates that whatever is true in Christian |
Science can be utilized by any church.
With its same theology, 1t believes in the
cooperation of real science and real relig- |
ion. Its purpose is not to cure all forms
of organic disease, but such ills as neur-
asthenia, hYsteria insomnia, some forms
of paralysis, suicidal tendencies, and i'm
moral habits. Its success in Boston has
been marvellous.
Here Mr.. Lewis interrupted his discourse
to read a letter from the Rev L. p |
Powell, rector of St. Johns Church, in
Northampton, Mass. 1t described the re-
markable success of the Emmanuel prin-
ciple in Northampton; how more persons
were applying to the rector for aid than
he had the time to minister to- and men
toned one case of woman who had been
ridden ten years, but who, under the
new treatment, has entirely recovered and
is able to attend church.
Il do not expect to rush into mental
healing" continued Mr. Lewis, II do not
feel equipped or prepared for it. But l
believe in it, and have people coming to
me every day asking for just such help.
l hope that In a small way this ministry
may increase, as the opportunity is pre-
sented for its practice. .
In closing, the rector said:
'"There is latent power to help people
in the Christian religion that we are not
using. Christ did not come to earth sim
ply to show men and women the way to
Heaven. His mission was to regenerate
the whole man. Until we apply religion
to all our experiences we will get only
one half of the value out of life. Christ
came that our joy might be full. This
movement has many signs of great
spiritual awakening and we may yet not
only learn how to die but also how to live.
The time may also come when churches
will be thronged with eager people, for
the spirit and mind of man will dominate
the body"