"These signs shall follow them that believe"

Archibald McLellan

The following interesting item is clipped from the Cleveland Leader of March 14:—

"An organized effort to resist the encroachments of various healing cults is to made by the Church of England, according to information obtained yesterday from Mr. Henry Holden Colpus of Philadelphia, who is in this city in the interest of the movement.

"The healing of the sick through the instruction of their minds and by means of spiritual ministrations, is believed to be possible and practicable by many eminent divines. Mr. Colpus said that it was the intention to organize guilds of health throughout the British Empire and also to extend the movement so as to include the parishes of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States.

"Simultaneously in London, Eng., and in Denver, Col., Mr. Colpus said, the necessity for some radical movement to counteract the tendency of church members to sever their church relations for enlistment in the ranks of various healing cults, was recognized.

"The Guild of Health was the suggestion of Rev. Dr. Conrad Noel, vicar of St. Mary's Church, Paddington Green, London, Mr. Colpus said, and this cleragyman, with the assistance of Canon Scott Holland, vicar of St. Paul's Cathedral, started the movement in London.

"The object of the movement to establish the guilds, Mr. Colpus explained, was to arouse a dormant interest in spiritual religion and to strengthen faith in the power of God to cure men of their infirmities. Religious instruction, in purifying the mind and soul from disease, Mr. Colpus believes, will make it possible to promote the physical well as the spiritual well-being of all who have faith. Sympathy for the movement, Mr. Colpus said, had been expressed by Queen Alexandra of England. Mr. Colpus said that he looked for a great spiritual revival throughout the church.

"In Denver, Co., to which Mr. Colpus said that he was directing his steps, Rev. John H. Houghton, M.A., rector of St. Mark's Protestant Episcopal Church, had begun work along the same line as that undertaken in London.

"His presence Cleveland, Mr. Colpus explained by saying that his mission was to arouse interest in this new movement, which is yet in its infancy. He said that he had not yet conferred with any of the Episcopal clergy here, but that it was his intention to do so."

Since 1875, when Mrs. Eddy first published Science and Health, there has been a constantly increasing recognition of the fact that inasmuch as the churches have not healed the sick they have not practised and preached the complete gospel of Christ. This news item indicates that at least one of the older religious denominations has finally been compelled to acknowledge, in a semi-official way, its remissness in this regard. How long it will be before other denominations undertake the healing of the sick as a part of their Christian duty, is a question not easily answered, but we believe the day is not far distant, notwithstanding the violent opposition to Christian Science which has been manifested by so many clergymen of the so-called orthodox churches.

The space which the account of Jesus' healing works occupies in the New Testament certainly indicates the importance of these works in the establishment of Christianity. That our Master considered them an inevitable accompaniment of his gospel is proved by his words in the last chapter of St. Mark. Archibald McLellan.

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Intelligent Obedience

March 25, 1905

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