The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1909-09-03
FORMER MANKATO PREACHER ES-
TABLISHES A CHURCH.
He Has Been Practicing Spiritual Heal
ing in Duluth; Dissension Among
His Pensioners; So He Quits and
Is to Conduct an Independent In
stitution; Will Follow Out His
Own Peculiar Ideas Unmolested.


of the First Christian church at Fifth
avenue West and Fourth street, has re-
signed his pastorate and will establish
church which will differ from his for
mer denomination, principally in the
matter of healing. The Rev. Mr.. Black
came to Duluth last November from
the First Christian church of Mankato,
where he had been for three years.
During his pastorate here he has been
practicing what he terms spiritual
healing" but because he wished to
avoid discussion in his church he re-
Trained from discussing the subject in
the pulpit and avoided bringing it to
the attention of the people as far as
possible. But a large number of in
valids have been benefited through Mr..
Blacks efforts and in the exuberance
of restored health, they spread the
news abroad.
This developed the fact that there
We're members of the Christian church
who believed the church's mission was
"to preach the gospel" and not "to
heal the sick" Therefore to avoid dis
cussion their pastor resigned. A part
of his former church members, as well
as people from other denominations
who have become interested in the
healing phase of Mr.. Blacks work,
urged him to establish an independent
church, based on the life and teachings
of Christ and considering healing as an
important part in its mission.
When the Rev. Black was asked by
a News Tribune reporter concerning
his new mission he said:
Il have long felt the need of the
work which we now propose to do
The development of the spiritual life
to the highest expression possible in
this line is our desire. There are many
people today who are dissatisfied with
dead Journalism and creeds and are
earnestly struggling for the higher
truths. The greater student of the
life of Christ one becomes, the more
dissatisfied he feels with present at
tainments. The divine ideal of that
life will never permit us to be sat
isfied with some formal statement of
threadbare doctrine. Our land today
is being swept by this movement for
true spirituality. 1t is movement
which holds in positive contempt any
religious teaching which fails to bring
nearer to the cosmic consciousness. 1t
does not necessarily demand new truths
but it does insist that all old truths
shall be so interpreted as to meet the
needs of our every day life. This in
no way intrudes upG-- the work which
is being accomplished by the establish
ed churches. Unquestionably they have
field of labor and are accomplishing
great good in that field. Personally I
have felt the need of greater liberty
to speak these truths than has been
permitted me heretofore.
Our attempt shall not be so much
to meet the masses. The masses can
never be met until they become awak-
ened to their needs. Only their own
suffering will produce within them this
awakening. In the search for the higher
truths there is no need to sacrifice
those truths which we already have.
In other words. one does not have to
become hereto because he is disciple
of all truth.
"One of the most prominent features
of this work will be the mission for
healing which will be established. The
natural consequence of this higher spir-
ituality is a perfectly restored body.
The promise of Christ, of lige in album
dance assures us that that life will
express itself in our entire being. The
results obtained so far in this line as
sure us of a marvellous field of useful
ness to suffering humanity.
For our direction in this work the
scriptures and the life of Christ are
all sufficient. We need not new book
or a new teacher, but we certainly do
need that promised spirit in the under
standing of the Christ and His works
We preferred to be spared the hind
RANGES suffered in the past by an or
extended to all who are desiring to
exemplify the life of Christ. 1t will
be a beautiful fellowship that is per-
mitted lis in this work"
Will Not Follow Emmanuel Movement
When asked if his healing mission
would follow the methods of the En-
manuel movements, Mr.. Black replied
in the negative The main difference
is that he will not use hypnotic sug.
gection in any form, but will heal en-,
tirely through divine power. The new
church, Mr. Black stated, will not ig.
more materia medica as does Christian
Science, but holds with the Emmanuel
movement people, that as certain dis
eases can be reached only with medi-
cine. The Rev. Mr.. Black does not
consider the power to heal a special
gift but something that can be ac
guired by all who attain sufficient
spiritual development and understand
ing. In the new church he will be
free to discuss healing in the pulpit
and as a result of many requests
classes will be established for the
teaching of healing.
The first service of the new church
was held at l0:45 yesterday. morning
at the X. p. hall, on West superior
street The subject of the sermon was:
"Tba Craatasf Rlaccin0 in tha World y