The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1921-04-11
GREAT THRONCS
AT OPENING OF
HEALING MISSION

To attempt to describe C:e 3.c~23
attending tho opening of the Chris
tian healing mission in All Saints
I Episcopal church Oil Siuadav morning
/ is mething next to impossible. Ney-
or before had the little church held
such a great congregation, aisles
chancel, vestry and Transcripts being
occupied by the sick, the ailing, the
MANNED after these had been ac-
commodated before the service began
others were admitted but preference
was shown those seeking aid. At the
opening of the service there was bare
ly room enough for the choir to find
seats.
AS for the missioner, Henry Bland
ford, a layman of the Episcopal
church, naturally IN him was centered
The greatest degree of interest.
Scholarly in appearance, most affable
and gentle in manner and by every in
stinct the personiiication of sympathy
and compassion, lie ia just the type
Of man to draw and hold attention
Ills methods as revealed Mt the open
ing service, are transformations, SO
very quiet yet SO extremely effective
The rector of All Saints. Rev VIM b.
Curtis, conducted the shortened serv-
ice, giving as much time as possible
10 Mr.. BlaNdford vino made an ad-
dress lasting probably an hour, in
which he stated the fundamental
principle of his work to be a reyiviag
of tie power given by Jesus Christ
TO heal the sick. His reasoning and
logic were all-conyincing as he point
cd out that by faith, simple faith in
the blessed Master, suffering human
~ can find relief He emphasized
again and again chat we cannot prop
2rly think Of Jesus if we fail to think
of him as going about doing gcod,
healing the sick in body and 8. 1t,
bringing relief to stricken ones and
uplifting those who are down.
The singing of specially selected /,
hymns and an appropriate offertory
by Mrs. Julia Culbreath Gray. was the
anthem, THE Lcrd Is My Shepherd,
preliminary to period OF u solemn
intercessi6n for the sick, that God
would be plea ;ed TO use the mission
2r in His service for the relief Of the |
offering and fer Ills honor and glory. /
Then came the invitation to came TO
az altar rail For more than an hour I.
people came and knelt, many having
to be assisted by their friends or b.
the usheTs It was indeed a patheNC 1
and moving spectacle, one never be
fore Witnessed in Lakeland. In each
case the missioner laid his hands or
head and shoulders and clagped hands. /
following which the rector pronounced
the blessing. 1t was well on to : /
o'clock before tho morning service
ended.
Announcement was made by MIR. 4
Curtis that services would be held
every day at 10 o'clock in the morn
ing and 1870 in the evening. The mis- !
sion, il was emphasized, is for all the
people OF Lakeland who desire 20 eX-
ercise their faith in God and feel the
need of spiritual and physical healing.
The evening service commencing at
1880 o'clock and lasting until after
10 O'Clock, was almost repetition OF
the morning service, the church again
being filled to overlooking, special
attention and reservations having
been planned for those sick or bodily
infirm. More than one hundred went
60 the altar rail to receive the laying
Oh Of hands.
The rector announced that there
will be a celebration of the Lords
Supper every day this week. The hour
for Monday, Wednesday and Friday
is 9:15 and on Tuesday, Thursday and
Saturday, 1880 a. NJ.