The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1927-06-25

One. two. three. four count
them. Twenty Of them. Little
broken and crooked human bricks
from the great garden wall circling
about the earthly Kingdom Of Christ.
Ready to be- rnended and made
straight by the woodworking
tool Of spiritual healing. What an
inspiring. moving sight!
Last Sunday night the writer
stood in a corner Of st. Paul's Par
ish Hall, Just off WASHINGTON Circle.
on Twenty-third Street, and for the
first time saw '.the healing church"
set in edifying operation by the
Rev. william Thomas Reynolds.
Some years ago. James Moore Hick.
son. the prominent English lay
healer. discovered the local clergy
mans power. Mr.. Reynolds has
since held clinics in New York.
Pennsylvania, Maryland. and Wis.
consin as part Of his church
activities.
Nothing could have been simpler
than the stage upon which last
Sunday evenings drama Of primi-
tive Christianity was enacted. A
bare. undecorated hall. with q plain
table at the front, table, bearing
vase or two Of garden flowers
and d wooden cross. Before 1t two
long kneeling benches. These were
constantly being filled and replen.
ished with sicklV youth and infirnn
age. Moving to and fro. the kind
faced. youthful.looking clergyman
In surplice and stole. The laying
on of hands. FlutterinR white
hands that rested like butterflies
on the bud of this little head and
rhe blossom of that larger one.
Bud and blossom alike were motion.
less. And always the soft buzz OF
the ministering PRAYER ana the
choir's murmured chanting OF mel
low. restfuI hymns. The prayer
and music made only a golden
throne for the gentle silence" OF
the place.
There were hundred and more
IN the awe-struck congregation and
Of these at least go went forward
for healing. Young as well as old;
white as well Ms colored; Jew as
well as Gentle. There was no dis.
tinction, either social or racial.
Faith was in the heart and hope in
the bearing of all of them. Even
the score of little folk, who moved
one most, appeared to sense the
solemn significance Of the. occasion.
More than one of these was Graded
In the arms Of a loving father or
devoted mother, They were tear
compelling company, those tender
children. piously petitioning through
themselves or their elders for re-
lease from the burden Of deafness,
infantile paralysis or detormlty:.
Two professional nurses and wheel
chairs provided their share OF help
and comfort. Not ali asked for phys.
zeal healing. Some Of the grown-ups
prayed for the correction Of spirit.
ual ills or the alienation OF mental
fret. The two colored women were
blind.
The atmosphere, the scene had a
unique and overpowering religious
charm 1t was ike a glowing. liv.
ing chapter out Of the too often
dead volume Of Biblical times. One
felt one could even visualize a
country road around Galilee. thick
with the lame. the blind, the ieper
and the halt. Those who could were
kneeIing. but all were humbly, faith.
fully waiting for the healing touch
Of the Masters or apostles hand.
These healing services will be
conducted by Mr.. Reynolds in st.
Paul's parish hall every Sunday
evening at o'clock. They will al.
ways take the simple mission form
and will always be open to the
sick and afflicted Of any religious
denomination and to the unchurched
as we'll. Although the healing min
lister himself is a clergyman Of the
Episcopal diocese Of Washington,
there is no religious sectarianism
in the undogmatic primitive christi
anity Of the laying on of hands. Mr..
Reynolds has worked with Mr.. Hick-
son at some Of the latter's clinics