Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-02-02
Healing BY Prayer

Healing by Prayer
The discussion OF the Emmanuel move
ment has produced many interviews aho
statements in regard to the efficiency OF
prayer In curing diseases.
The Bible declarations on this SUBJECT
have been either misunderstood by oppo-
nents or have been grossly overstated py
advocates. as Il appears 10 me-
Perhaps the real meaning lies between
the two diverse opinions. and II IS wei
10 approach the subject with mind open
10 conviction and seeking only the truth
I know I will state a fact when say
lust here. there has been vitriolic criticism
hurled against that particular tenet OF
Christian Science. and a time IS colnlne
when honest critics will admit an error
OF Injustice and unkind speaking on TINS
particular subject
When Jesus was on earth and his au-
thority respected and His help solicited
His path was Oftentimes crowded VIII
suuplicants who laid the bedridden suiIer-
ers before lsim- Uniformly He healed the
sick and restored The hind 70 sight he
said all believers might heal the sick.
when the people wondered He said: -.
We OF little faith indicating the extreme
power 9f q compelling faith-even 50 that
mountains might be removed and cast
into the sea, II Il was hrm faith.
ST. Paul defines Faith 10 be the sub
stance OF things hoped for. and the evil
dence OF things not seen
II you hope for the recovery OF your
sick ones. and pray IN the right spirh.
granting to the Almighty Glyer, Thy
win be done as Jesus taught us TO pray.
there will be comforting grace in some
quarter. and there are ten thousand in
stances given on good authority Of such
emphatic answers 10 the prayer Of faith
are recorded in healing OF the sick
Because patients die who have been
prayed for does not mean that prayer is
wasted or disregarded at the throne Of
grace. The very hairs Of the believers
head are numbered and even the little
sparrows do not fan TO the ground with
out the notice Of the Maker and PreseFv-
er.
The dilIlculties lie in the prayers We
make, not the waiting ear OF the Almigh-
". Perhaps we pray for recovery Of sick
people. when the Heavenly Father Is shell
tering them from evils TO come. when
they are taken away from US.
I remember a case in point. as told by
a newspaper forty years ago. A number
OF passengers were seated on the deck
OF splendid fast-going steamship to New
York As they sped along, ip sunshine
and gladnesa the subject OF st1pwreclx or
QE1AnH ~ 1AL44cAA. N@AAN 1F- OAN 49,
caught her baby boy to her bosom and
said: II should dfe If nay child should
die. I know should. Z Various ladies
expressed themselves. in regard TO the
subject OF death much in the same strain.
one lady remarking: II pray every day
for my hey 70 i've I'll do my best II God
win leave him 10 me- ----.------
A lady dressed IN deep mourning, who
had listened but had not yet spoken. came
forward and said. Lady. before you pray
that prayer again. hear Rhat can tell
Won. 1 h.fd but one-son. q soeautifll boy.
Ny husband and myself bdohzed hat
child. He seemed TO be the center-ef-ev-
erything 10 Us, when he Was three or
four Years old ne became eritically& IN. 1
was frantie I prayed an earnest prayer
10 God 40 spare the child 10 me, at all
hazards give me his life he was spared,
grew Up 90 bOyhOOd and manhood. His
father died left me widow My SON pc
came dissiDated reckless, dHally killed a
man In drunken. -bravL - -.
When I tell you that ne Was hanged
for murder. yon can estimate my feel
inrs in some small degree. Ten thousand
times ten thousand times have ], prayed
God 10 take MIN dnrfne hose sserrtble
weeks OF strain and anguish. II he had
only gone to heaven when he was q
sweet. innocent baby boy. how my heart
would now be relieved OF this lifelong
anguish and hopeless sorrow Be careful
how you pray for what you 1clamor fort'
As she returned TO her seat not a word
was spoken. The text was short and the
preacher had finished that sermon, and
nobody said amen, 20.
So AZ last we are face 10 face with
what a real PRAYER OF faith stands for
I'm healing the sick and curing disease. IL
means obedience TO Gods will! II the
loving Father. IN HIS wisdom, grants the
prayer OF faith. and the sick are healed,
there may be understood something OF
God's willingness 10 give US comfort and
happiness in such answers 10 prayer;
but We never may understand that our
viii should be set in front OF Gods will
in such miracles OF healing.
St Paul had q thorn in the flesh. which
gave him sore trouble. He prayed thrice
that God might remove it, Whatever-it
may have been. in It's suffering NORTH
cation or humiliation 20 the apostle. And
he tells US i'm his epistle that the thorn
.stil remained. and worked out for him
complete resignation to the divine will.
Death IS sometimes Acknowledged TO be
the best friend that man can have in
the depths OF grief and sorrow. II We
can only find an abundant entrance into
the rest prepared for the true and faith
fuI. Gods viii concerning us Is what
we should earnestly pray for in our
prayers Tor the sick. AZ last we caa only
anchor I'm the Heavenly Masters will as
the thing most needful 10 us. and the
healing comes as the answer to our COM
ne 20 is rxyfU