New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-05-06
DOCTORS INDORSE
PRAYERS EFFICACY
Clergymen Admit Faith
Healing in Organic Dis
eases Impossible.

London. May 5.-Some remarkable find
ings have been arrived at by the COM
mittee on spiritual healing. or faith euro,
appointed by the conference of the cleri-
cal and medical professions. held In Oc-
tober of 1911. The committees report,
published to-day contains answers from
many sources to a carefully prepared list
Of questions In its conclusions the COM
mittee, which IS composed OF prominent
clergymen and doctors. says:
THE members OF the committee fully
recognize that the operations OF divine
power can be limited only by the divine
will. and they desire to express their be-
lief in the efficacy of prayer. They rev.
erently believe, however that divine
power is exercised in conformity with
and through the operation of natural
laws With advancing knowledge OF these
laws increasing benefits are being Sc
cured for mankind through human IN
strumentality. Especially IS this the case
in the healing of disorders or tho oody
and the mind, and they consider that
spiritual mlnistration should be recoS-
nized equally with medical ministration
as carving Gods blessing TO the sick.
As to Healing by Suggestion.
THE committee is OF the opinion that
the physical results OF what Is called
faith or spiritual healing do not prove
different from those OF mental healing, or
healing by suggestion"
The committee recognizes that sugges-
ton is more effectively exercised by some
persons than by others. which would
seem TO explain the gifts claimed by
'healers. II says the use Of religious
influences does not differ essentially from
non-religious appeals TO the mind, yet
the former are often more potent.
Continuing, the committee says that
faith or spiritual healing can be perrna-
nently effective only in functional disor-
ders, as distinguished from organic dis
orders. and IL warns against resorting to
healers and postponing medical treat
ment.
The committee concludes its report with
this statement:
Spiritual ministrations may contribute
to the success OF medical treatment, and
we desire to see more importance at
tached TO them, but We strongly depre-
cate the independent treatment OF disease
by irresponsible and unqualified persons"
Membership Of tho Committee.
The membership OF the committee in
cludes the Right Rev. Herbert f. Ryle.
Dean OF Westminster; the Very Rev II.
II. Henson, Dean OF Durham; the Very
Rev. William r. Inge, Dean OF st. PauPs;
the Rev. Christopher V. Childs. the Right
Rev. Henry l.. Paget, Bishop OF Step
ney. and Archdeacon Sinclair. Among
the medical members are Sir Dyce Duck
worth, Sir Richard Douglas Powell.
Theodore b. Hyslop and Sir Thomas Cliff
ford Allbutt.
The witnesses examined by the commit
tee differed In their definitions OF spiritual
and mental healing. Some regarded the
former as divine interposition above the
laws of nature while most OF them con-
nected spiritual healing to-day with the
gifts OF healing Of the Apostolic Church,
saying they thought these had long been
dormant, although never wholly inter-
rupted
The witnesses differed widely as 10
whether moral excellence in the healers
or the healed was essential for success.
Many OF them gave convincing evidence
OF beneficial results in functional nervous
disorders and cases OF alcoholism and
drug taking. but not one gave satisfac-
tory evidence OF any case OF organic dis
ease cured by spiritual or faith healing
alone