The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1911-11-06
PRAISES CHRISTIAN SCIENCE
CONGREGAT TTONAL PREACHER
SAYS IT Cured CANCER.
Mentions His sister In sermon as One So
Bencnted -- Describes Anonymously
other Cures DEDICATION OF scien-
lists Hears and Thanks the Pastor.

other Cures --Delegation OF scien-
lists Hears and Thanks the Pastor.
Somehow word got around Saturday
nj yht that the Rev. Willard +. Ottarson
OF Bethany Congregational Church. Tenth
avenue near West Thrty-fitth street,
would preach on Sunday on Christian
Science. II was also reported that Mr.
Ottarson's wife or some near realtive
had been cured by Christian Science
and that tho Congregational minister
would shortly resign his charge and join
the ranks Of Mrs. I'd ly's followers
So when services opened yesterday
morning in Bethany Congregational
Church there was a pewful Of reporters
and quite representation Of Christian
Science faithful and practitioners. Among
the latter was Eugene Cox. chairman Of
the publication committee. and Practi-
toner Willis Vernon Cole.
In a talk with the newspa per men after
the services Mr.. Ottarson denied any in
tention Of resigning from the church
or leaving the Congregational ministry
aud asked to be excused from speaking
for publication about his family affairs
His sermon was on The Church and
Healing" He mentioned anonymously
several cases which. he said. had come
under his personal observation where
persons had been cured OF cancer and
other organic diseases by Christian Sci
ence.
Death and disease said the preacher
would not be present except for sin
All the evil in the world is the result of
sin and as we believe that sin can be
destroyed IL follows that death will he
destroyed also. Our fathers used to
believe that we sinned by necessity Just
as so many now believe that we are sick
from necessity. believe that men
will assume dominion over disease. for
all truth will come to its own despite
opposition. Man may he able TO reject
disease. accident and death.
We believe that God can cast out sir
but we don't believe that He can cast out
disease. We have become bond slaves
to drugs and a large part of the money
a workingman brings home goes out to
the druggist for medicines a large part
of which is alcohol"
The minister then went on to speak OF
the cures of Christ and the early church.
There was as much need for them now
as then, he continued. an it seemed
to him that the church OF to-day had
| lost its healing powers and it might bt
that the new era now coming on would
See them restored. All truth. he said. il
not possessed by any one generation or
church.
Coming to cures by prayer Mr.. Ottarsor
recalled instances in his own experience
"A New York pastor" was one W no hao
been healed of a cancer by prayer, and
woman -bedridden from paralysis for
twenty years" had been made well in
few DAYS. My sister had a cancer
on her face he stated. she told me
that she had heen to famous doctors and
they explained TO her that there was nc
help. Then she prayed and had MEM
bers Of her church pray for her. The
cancer was cured and that was fifteen
years ago. have seen the slight scar
on her face where il was.
when | hear men scoh at Christian
Science Ottarson here mentioned
Christian Science by name for the first
| wonder if God is not revealing some
thing 10 them. Jesus said: 'Ye shall
know them by their works"
! The pastor then went on to give IN
stances: A we'll known New York woman
whose brother, is very prominent, and
! by Christian Science. was one. A woman
given up 10 die by eminent specialists
was cured of blood poison and another a
cancer cure. where the patient had been
given up by the most skilful physicians
in New York"
When Mr.. Ottarson reached the doors
of the church 10 greet the departing
congregation Mr. Cox introduced him
TO the score OF Christian Scientists who
had attended the service.
Wasn't ii splendid" said one Of them
grasping the pastors hand, that you had
the courage TO deliver such a fine sermon?'
There was nothing unusual about my
sermon said Mr.. Ottarsop.