Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1910-10-13
HEALING SICK BY
PRAYER REJECTED
Majority for the Resolution in
Clerical Branch of House
of Deputies.
LAl7Y, HOWEVER, AGAINST IT
Belief in Supernatural Power to
Cure the Sick Proved Wide
spread in Protestant
Episcopal Church.

Cincinnati. oct. u.--h resolution giving
the sanction OF the Protestant Episcopal
Church to the healing OF the sick by
PRAYER Vas adopted IN one section OF the
house OF deputies of the Protestant Epis-
ropnl convention to-day, but was defeat
cd In another section Of :he house 10y tn,
marrow margin OF five votes. The voting
was lay dioc"ses.
That a majority of,the house of deputies
was II favor OF the report was shown
clearly when the clerical branch adopted
it by vote Of Al ayes to Il nays, with
nino dioccses not voting or divided The
laymen Of the house. however, killed the
report BY vote OF o ayes, 3. nays, four
dioceses not voting.
1t required majority in both orders
% the house to carry tho report. While
he question viii come up before the
house Of bishop. at some future date.
II is regarded AS improbable that the
upper house of the convention will take
any action on It.
The Rev, l.ucius Waterman of Han
over n. H., presented the report In
doing so, he explained that he had no
fear of the word supernatural"
no LIMIT TO GODS POWER
lie continued: "lf Jesus did heal tho
sick in the first century in "a s,rerua,ur-
al way, lie can dc so to-day. AMI TO re-
cognize that fact is rot to put III" churrf
In the position of not recognizing moderr
science. While the limits of moGcrr
| science have been reache'.. We have no,
reached the limits of the power of God. :
The Rev. Fl. VI. s. I.awlcr of Atlantis
| endorsed Dr Watermans resolution. II,
| said the Episcopal church had been II
the dark In the matter of divine healthy
1T is our own fault" he declared. "foi
| this magnificent gift was given to -.
hy Our Blessed Lord in the beginning
| This power Of restoring the sick bl
| prayer was thrown away by our church
and q woman picked up that jewel Now
| | say. let us take back our own am
use this magnificent gift in the name o
the church.
The laity of the house of deputies as
| rule opposed the resolution It was
! brought out in the discussion that the
belief in the supernatural power of heal
| ing Is widespread in the church. The
report of the committee dealt with the
| history of the relation of the church tc
healing and made the following recon-.
mendations:
TENT OF RECOMMENDATIO
In view of the widespread desire ant
earnest longing for gone recognition o.
the possibility OF healing Of the sick
! through the power OF prayer with sym
boic amounting. manifested by bishops
and in view Of the very general seeking
after divine healings by faith cure peo
pie, Christian Scientists, followers o
spiritual healing and others. it seem.
eminently fitting that a suitable prone
and wisely prepared office for the unctio,
Of the sick should he put forth by the
church on true lines.
"l-Lookin to and praying for
restoration to health, not in anticipa
t,on for death.
"o--AvoidinH comparatively reccn
diversion toward tho idea ,i;at tn
scriptural JUNCTION Of the sick Is tri
sacrament
Your committee would therefore
recommend that commission Of tw
bishops. two presbyters and two lay
mon, be appointed TO prepare and re
port an Office for the junction Of tin
sick on the limos II the scriptural an
Catholic usage. avoiding any appear
ance OF n sacramental rite immediate
ly preceding death
MEET NENT iN NEW YORK.
Both the bishops and deputies to-da
! decided on New York as 7he next convo,
5 tion city