The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1920-06-17
SUFFERERS FILL
ST. MATTHEW'S
Sick, Crippled, and Blind
Seek Aid Of Faith
Healers.
AN APOSTOLIC RITE
Chicago Rectors Conduct An
Gent Ceremony of .sThe
Laying On Of Hands,.
AN APOSTOLIC RITE

AS earlier Christians gathered at the
Beautiful Gate of the Temple or in
the shadow Of carven cathedrals to
seek relief from pain, the Great
Plague, or the Black Death, SO Keno
shans came to st. Matthew's at ten
o'clock this morning to pray for the
sick and afflicted who had come to the
church for healing. They were led in
in their petitions by the Rev. Norman
Hutton and the Rev. Frederick G. Bud
long, rectors respectively Of St.
Chrysostom's and St. Peters Episcopal
churches in Chicago
The sufferers, seeking spiritual aid
for physical ills, completely filled the
front section of the church reserved
for them. After brief service con-
Quoted by the Rev. Mr.. Hutton and an
were led to the altar for the signif-
cant ceremony Of "the laying on of
hands," an Apostolic rite never before
celebrated in Kenosha. The service
was conducted in strict accordance
with the methods used so successfully
by James Hickson Of London, England,
the most celebrated faith-healer of
the current generation. The petit
TONERS were led to the chancel by
the Rev. Charles Everett Mccoy, rec
tor Of st. Matthews.
No Sensationalism.
The heaf irg-mission was Fck@racteriz-
ed by neither sensationalism nor sem
TIA 5ntality in any of its features;
throughout it was kept essentially
spiritual. The Chicago ministers made.
no startling claims for themselves and
predicted no miraculous cures. They
insisted that they were merely men
using the healing power vouchsafed
to all men according to the acts and
writings of the Apostles. An admir-
able spiritual atmosphere was created
not only by their preaching and
prayers, but also by the sacred melo-
dies played by George Middleton, or
ganist at st. Matthews.
Ministers, Not Miracle-Men.
"The benefits Of this healing mis-
sion," said the Rev. Mr.. Hutton are
offered without money and without
price. It's power cannot be purchased;
it is the gift of the Holy Spirit"
Subsequently he presented his coll
league, the Rev. Mr.. Budlong, who
said in part:
ut is Gods will that men should
have health for the body as well as
health for the soul. This healing mis-
sion is no substitute for any other
channel through which healing can be
brought to man. Nor is it a protest
against either medicine or surgery
God gives the physician, the surgeon,
and tho nurse, their curative powers.
They are one means through which
He heals the bodies of men. But there
are other agencies, mental and spirit
ual. They may and should be used
when medical science has failed to
bring relief from pain. None the less
we most emphatically urge that all Pc
titioners should be constantly under the
guidance and care of wise physician.
"Life is ministered through life.
As the hand is laid upon the head of
candidate to give him deeper spirit
ual life through ordination, so is the
hand laid upon the sick to give them
new life through faith in the healing
life Of Christ.
Neither Mr.. Hutton nor / assume
that there is anything wonderful about
US. We are not wonder-workers or
miracle-men. We are merely what any
man may make himself, a channel
through which the spiritual life Of
God may flow into and renew the ply.
steal life Of men. We claim no in
fallibiIity for our work. With US, as
with you, it is venture in faith, the
power of which is impossible of pre-
diction. 1t will depend entirely upon
the petitioner, his faith of mind, faith
of will, and faith of heart
The "laying on of hands" imme-
diately followed the Rev. Mr.. Bud
longs address and prayer.
Cripples Hobble to Altar.
In the strange procession that fled
slowly, reverently by Mhe chancel rail,
were children with braces on their
limbs, older folk with eyes revealing
hidden pain and blind child carried
to the altar by her father. Tenderly
the faith-healers laid their hands upon
the head of each and asked that the
all-curing power of Deity might bring
relief from pain.
Thereafter an appropriate benedic-
tion, pronounced by the Rev. Mr.. Hut
ton, concluded one of the most impress
sion religious services ever held in
the city of Kenosha. Many thank
offerings fell into the alms-box as
Refrigerated petitioners silently left
the church.