hæmatemesis occurred regularly every three or four weeks, and the patient was several times at death's door in consequence. The eruption also reappeared as badly as ever. In July, 1845, she was discharged as incurable, in accordance with the verdict of all the physicians who had been observing her case, and as a last hope was sent for a few weeks to Wildbad, but without the slightest effect. Up to December her condition remained the same, and then the patient came to seek help from Pastor Blumhardt. Immediately after her first visit she felt herself considerably relieved, and in three months' time, after several visits to Mr. Blumhardt, all symptoms of her illness completely disappeared, and the undersigned, to his great astonishment, found the patient in perfect health in May, 1846, where he saw her leaving the church in Möttlingen. The particulars of the case may be found in the clinical department of the Tübingen School of Medicine; and the patient, after such continued unsuccessful treatment there, must be looked upon as having been incurable. The truth of the above is hereby certified.

66

Möttlingen, May 24th, 1846.

"K. STEINKOPF, Med. Cand. " 60

(43) Pastor Blumhardt

(Cure of an Unbelieving Workman)

"An operative, living about three miles from Elberfeld, was suffering from a disagreeable skin-complaint, a sort of leprosy, from his description. After giving up all hopes of a cure, he was told that a famous pastor, whose prayers and intercessions had brought deliverance to many from their diseases, was coming to Elberfeld for a festival; and the man, who generally had little respect for godly' people, determined to walk to Elberfeld. He came across the pastor, just as Blumhardt was putting on his robes before preaching in the church. The man's disease was one of those which had for long weighed upon Blumhardt's compassion, and he recognized the symptoms at once; for scarcely had the man begun to

60 Dr. Steinkopf came to Möttlingen with the avowed object of enquiring into the cures. Zündel, Op. cit., p. 208.

describe his sickness, when Blumhardt said, 'My friend, you see I have very little time, and I can see how wretched you are; go into the church now, and be very attentive, and may the Saviour help you.' The man could scarcely control his indignation and fury at this rebuff. He murmured to himself, 'There's your merciful Blumhardt! there are your pious people! I'm to go to church, am I?' However, he resolved to go in, hoping the pastor might say something for his guidance in the sermon. Blumhardt preached on the text: 'Ask, and it shall be given you.' The man was quite unconscious how much Blumhardt's words impressed him; he still kept on murmuring to himself: 'He does not talk of

·

me or for me,' and half in admiration, half in anger, he left the church and the town after the service, and began his walk home. These pious people,'' this compassion,' reiterated themselves in his mind, though joined now with many of the words of the sermon. But soon these conflicting thoughts were mingled with a new sensation: he began to experience a peculiar feeling in his skin, which seemed to start and spread from certain spots; and the feeling waxed stronger and stronger with the thought,'Am I being healed?' Full of excitement, he hurried home, demanded a light, went alone into his bedroom, and saw that the healing had begun. (Blumhardt says that the process took a fortnight.) The man waited till he was quite sure of the result, and then hurried to Elberfeld, to send word to Blumhardt, through some friends of the latter, of the joyful news.'

99 61

FATHER JOHN OF CRONSTADT, 1829-1908

We will conclude these historical instances by printing some cures wrought by a saintly man but lately gone from us, whose name will also illustrate the fact that works of healing have always abounded in the Orthodox Church of the East. Father John's reputation for sanctity in Russia is well known: he was so beset by the crowds who thronged him for his healing power that he often had to escape by side-doors after celebrating the Holy Communion.

61 Zündel, Op. cit., pp. 437-8.

(44) Father John of Cronstadt

(His Own Account of a Cure)

"A certain person who was sick unto death from inflammation of the bowels for nine days, without having obtained the slightest relief from medical aid, as soon as he had communicated of the Holy Sacrament, upon the morning of the ninth day, regained his health and rose from his bed of sickness in the evening of the same day. He received the Holy Communion with firm faith. I prayed to the Lord to cure him. 'Lord,' said I, 'heal thy servant of his sickness. He is worthy, therefore grant him this. He loves thy priests and sends them his gifts.' I also prayed for him in church before the altar of the Lord, at the Liturgy, during the prayer: 'Thou who hast given us grace at this time, with one accord to make our common supplication unto thee,' and before the most Holy Mysteries themselves. I prayed in the following words: 'Lord, our life! It is as easy for thee to cure every malady as it is for me to think of healing. It is as easy for thee to raise every man from the dead as it is for me to think of the possibility of the resurrection from the dead. Cure, then, thy servant Basil of his cruel malady, and do not let him die; do not let his wife and children be given up to weeping.' And the Lord graciously heard, and had mercy upon him, although he was within a hair's breadth of death. Glory to thine omnipotence and mercy, that thou, Lord, hast vouchsafed to hear me!'" 62

(45) Father John of Cronstadt

(Prayer at a Distance)

"In October, 1889, in Moscow, in the family of a certain Mr. Sff, two children fell ill of diphtheria. Notwithstanding the measures at once taken, the illness developed rapidly and increased. A consultation of doctors was held, and it was decided to resort to tracheotomy. One can imagine the despair of the children's parents. Having lost hope in human aid, they sent a telegram to

62 Father John, My Life in Christ, translated by E. E. Goulæeff (Cassell), 1897, p. 201.

Father John of Cronstadt, begging for his prayers. The Reverend Father received this telegram in the morning, at the time when he was performing the early Liturgy, and, as he usually does, immediately after reading the telegram, he addressed his earnest prayer to God. Meanwhile, what was taking place in Moscow? It had been decided to perform the operation of tracheotomy at two o'clock on that day, but already at nine o'clock a. m. (at the very time of Father John's prayers in Cronstadt, some 500 miles away) the doctor who remained on duty noticed an improvement, which progressed as rapidly as the illness had previously developed. The doctors, having assembled at the appointed time of two o'clock p. m., found such certain improvement in the condition of the children that the operation was pronounced unnecessary. In three to four days both children completely recovered." 63

63 Father John, My Life in Christ, quoted in translator's preface, p. ix.

APPENDIX II

TABLES OF CASES TREATED BY MIND-CURE

In this Appendix we will reprint lists of cures and failures from trustworthy sources, representing simple Suggestion (Dr. Parkyn) Hypnotism (Drs. Van Rhenterghem and Bernheim), Mental Science" (per Mr. Goddard), Faith Healing (Lourdes).

I. DR. PARKYN'S CASES

The value of mental treatment in certain nervous disorders is universally acknowledged. Let us begin, therefore, with the report of Dr. Parkyn, who treated Nervous Prostration only. Here is a list of sixteen consecutive cases treated by suggestion at the Chicago School of Psychology, without a failure: 1.

1 Herbert A. Parkyn, M.D., Suggestion an Infallible Cure for Nervous Prostration: Qu. H. H. Goddard, American Journal of Psychology, X, No. 3 (April, 1899), p. 474. 2 Gained 12 lbs. first week of treatment.