[10] Good News, vol. 19, no. 1, Jan-Feb 1928

Modern Miracles

Extracts from letters in the "Maryborough Chronicle" (Q.), under the caption of "Modern Miracles." They were induced by the unbelief of an elder in a Maryborough Church.

(To Editor, "Maryborough (Q.) Chronicle.")

Sir,—One Tuesday, about six weeks ago, I visited a home in Granville, and found that the father had a poisoned finger, caused by a fishhook having been embedded in it. That day the doctor had told the sufferer that the finger would have to be opened or the first joint taken off. It was the first finger of the right hand. Both husband and wife were naturally anxious. The husband attends the Christian Mission, the wife is a sincere Roman Catholic. I anointed and prayed for the healing of that finger in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and immediately I had ceased speaking the man squeezed his finger, and declared that there was no pain or soreness left. He also immediately bent the injured finger, and confessed that it was healed. He came to the meeting the next evening (Wednesday), and showed the congregation the finger. I examined it myself, and the skin, which had been filled with pus the previous evening, was loose, and appeared like a finger that had been healing for a week, and had been drawn by poultices. He paid no further visit to the doctor, and by the week-end scarcely a trace of the trouble was left.

A young married lady from Goomeri who had heard of the healings came to her mother's home in Pallas Street, and her husband rang me up. On visiting the home I found that the sufferer was afflicted with a crop of boils, which had been causing her pain and suffering for over a week, and for several nights she had not slept. She could neither lie, nor sit, nor walk without pain. She also had a sore on her shin, caused by a kick from a cow. A lump had developed, and three days previously a doctor had lanced it. Also, there was an eczematious rash behind one ear, which had caused discomfort for several weeks.

I anointed and prayed for the sufferer in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and she immediately walked and sat down without pain, except in one part, where an abscess had formed. I prayed again, and asked God to heal the abscess, and that, also, was immediately made painless. Her husband, who was not a professed Christian, rubbed his hand up and down her shin, and asked if it hurt, and was told that she felt no sense of pain in it. The rash, also, she declared, felt all right. She attended a meeting that night, and, as there was some pain in the abscess after being driven nearly two miles in a cab, she was prayed for again, and was freed from pain. On the following night (Wednesday) she walked about a mile and a half to the Orange Hall, and again said that the walk had caused the abscess to pain. I again prayed for her, and she then said, "It's all right now. I felt as though the abscess gave a jump." After the meeting she said that the abscess had burst, and was discharging freely.

On the following Saturday she told the congregation that the boils had just dried up without discharging, the abscess was healed, as was also the wound on the shin, and the rash behind the ear had gone.

Also, her husband was converted that first evening by seeing the proof of the power of the name of Jesus Christ.—Thanking you, I am, etc.,

G. BURNS.

Maryborough, Q., July 28, 1927.

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Sir,—God's Word in Malachi 3: 6 declares God in this way: "For I am the Lord, I change not." Hebrews 13: 8 also says, "Jesus Christ the same yesterday and today and forever." When Jesus lived among men He went about doing good and healing all manner of diseases and sicknesses. See Matthew 8: 16, 17, which thought is upheld in many other passages. Now God changes not, and Jesus Christ is the same to-day as He was yesterday; therefore, what was performed yesterday can be performed to-day, and is not a new message.

Jesus Christ, after His resurrection, and before He was taken up out of their sight to His Father's right hand to make intercession for mankind, told His disciples to go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature. "He that believeth and is baptised shall be saved." At the same time He said, "And they that believe . . . shall lay hands on the sick and they shall" —what'.'—"shall recover" (Mark 16: 15-20).

Mr. Price on one occasion, with Mr. Burns, was called to the bedside of a lady in this city, who was very bad, and nigh unto death. God's Word (James 5: 14-15) was carried out; they anointed her with oil, and laid hands on her, and prayed for her healing. Three hours afterwards she was delivered from her sickness, and to-day, 18 months or more since, she is still well, and able to testify what the Lord has done for her. Jesus said, in John 14, "If ye ask anything in my name I will do it." Anything includes everything— even praying for the sick.

On Wednesday night, January 5, 1927, before retiring, my mother, M. A. Dakin, of Hart Street, was prayed for according to God's Word by Mrs. J. Lancaster, of Melbourne, for healing of rheumatic pains in her body. She bears this testimony: Ever since that night she has not had a recurrence of them. She was also prayed for that night for healing of a goitre which she has had for 40 years. It was an unsightly thing on her neck, reaching out almost level with her chin, as everyone who knew her cannot deny. About 20 minutes after prayer the goitre started discharging; it is still discharging, and now it has almost disappeared. She has not tasted medicine for many years. We feel sure that, if the doctors had been allowed to interfere with it, she would not have been here to-day.

My wife for five weeks during Easter, 1926, was at her parents' home in Biggenden. During that time she was in bed a fortnight. The doctor at Biggenden treated her during that period, and gave her medicine and powders. She seemed to get all right, and came home. On Sunday night, May 2, she had no sleep, and was feeling miserable. On Monday morning, May 3, 1926, we could see that she had a recurrence of the illness she had whilst in Biggenden. She was moaning with pain. This showed how bad she was. She had to get up about 9 a.m., and only walked about four steps and fell on her back. We put her back in bed, and she had a bad attack of shivers. We put extra clothing on the bed, and when she got warm the pains eased, though .--v she had the pains the whole day. After I came home in I' i the evening she became worse, and was practically doubled up with pain. I made up my mind to see the doctor. Whilst getting ready to go, she became worse, crying and doubled up with pain. This broke me up. I couldn't leave her. A flash came to my mind about praying for her. I thereupon laid my hands on her body where the pains were, and, amidst tears, pleaded with God through the precious name of Jesus Christ. When I had finished praying, instead of crying with pain, she smiled, and said the pains had all gone. It is now 14 months since my wife's healing, and she says to-day that she has not felt the slightest touch of the pains since.

About 140 people one Sunday morning recently, at the mission, saw one of the sisters come into the meeting. The night previously, on her way home with her husband, she fell on the Pallas Street railway bridge, and badly sprained one of her hands. When she came to the meeting her wrist was swollen, and her fingers were straight out; she could not close them. She was

[11] Good News, vol. 19, no. 1, Jan-Feb 1928

amongst several prayed for by Mr. Burns. After prayer she could close her hand, and the swelling went down immediately. The following week she declared that she did all her housework, as usual, herself.

All these testimonies can be substantiated. God is able and does fulfil all His promises if we will hearken to His voice. Thanking you for your valuable space.—I am, etc.,

W. H. DAKIN.

Maryborough, 12/7/27.

* * *

Sir,—The improvement in my health began a few days after I had been to the Van Eyk Mission meeting. For over 18 months I felt very depressed, could do no work, and took hardly any interest in life. Emile Coue's book on auto-suggestion was given to me as a cure, but I got no result. Then the mission meetings were held in the Naval Hall. I attended, and soon found an improvement, and ever since I have been able to do a fair day's work with anyone. Praise God! I do enjoy life now, and feel 62 years young, not old. Furthermore, about two months ago I got bad pains in my side and back, and after about three weeks of suffering I went to a doctor to see what was the matter, and he told me lumbago. He prescribed, and the chemist gave me some powders to ease the pain, also some medicine. I took one of the powders and a little of the medicine. That same night (Note.—It was Wednesday, 15/6/27) I went to the Orange Hall meeting, and was anointed and prayed for by Evangelists Burns and Adams, and I can honestly say I was healed there and then, and so did not need the powders or medicine, which I have nearly all on hand. I found next morning that all the pain had gone, and I could bend and chop wood with anyone. I feel sure in both cases it was the oil and prayer and faith in the healing power of Jesus Christ that gave relief.

F. G. POPP.

July 7, 1927.

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Sir,—If miracles are not possible from God to-day I wonder what you would call my case. I know God has wrought a miracle in my body, so that now I can work hard cutting cane, whereas before I was an invalid. For 15 years I have been suffering with a bad back, and, during most of that time, I have not been able to follow any employment, as many in this town and elsewhere can testify as being a fact. During those 15 years I consulted specialists and several doctors, but none of them did me much good. I was in the hospital twice, and a Maryborough doctor told me that nothing but a very serious operation could do any good. His opinion differed from the others I consulted, who did not give me any hope of my ever being permanently cured. They said their treatment might only give relief. So I decided not to be operated on, and have suffered more or less ever since. While the Van Eyk Mission was being conducted in the Naval Hall I attended, believing that I could get healing through prayer to God, through the mighty name of Jesus Christ. On March 12 I was anointed and prayed for, for my healing in the name of the Lord according to God's Word (James 5: 14-15). On the night of March 14, while I was sitting on the piano stool in the hall, I became conscious of some wonderful power which took possession of my whole body, and for 20 minutes I seemed as though I had been charged with electricity, which I claim to be nothing more or less than a mighty touch of the healing power of Jesus Christ demonstrated in answer to prayer. Praise the Lord!

Before March 14 I had been constantly taking medicine, but since then have never felt the need of it, and my health is splendid. Praise the Lord! Since my healing I am pleased to state that I can now work with the next. I ride a cycle five miles morning and night to and from work, which is general farm work, including cutting cane. I have done this since April 27. This, I think, is a good test, and proves that Divine healing is not a myth, but a reality.—I am, etc.,

WILLIAM BAKER. Maryborough, 18/7/27.

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Sir,—My case—bless the Lord!—has been nothing less than an outstanding miracle, as those 200 people who attended the meeting must agree, and no one can deny it. I am an employee of Sims Ltd. sawmill. On Thursday, June 23, 1927, I was working on a rack bench; about 2 o'clock in the afternoon I was turning a log on the bench, and the log slipped out of our hands and caught my finger on the iron plate, with the result that the middle finger on the right hand was broken near the first joint; the bone at the top end of the finger was also split. A doctor told me how it was broken, after he had seen it through the X-ray. He put splints on it and bandaged it up, and told me it would be about six or eight weeks before I would be able to start work again. The pain was severe, and I had no sleep, because of this pain, on Thursday and Friday nights. On the Saturday night at the Orange Hall I was amongst a number prayed for by Mr. J. A. D. Adams. After prayer Mr. Adams told us that God could knit the bones and heal the finger in an instant, which I believe God did, for immediately all the pain left, and the swelling went down, and I could move my fingers, which was not possible before.

On my way home that night I took the splints off, and —praise God!—the finger was healed. Instead of six or eight weeks off work, I had one week off, and during that week I did odd necessary jobs at my home. This miracle stands out as an actual fact. Praise the Lord! —I am, etc.,

W. G. GERHARDT.

Maryborough, July 19, 1927.

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Sir,—I, myself, can testify to having been instantly healed, and Mr. Price knows, as my father spoke to him of my healing. I had been a sufferer for four years from rupture, and had to wear a support, and could not go one hour without it. I was taken by my mother to a doctor, and he said I was to undergo an operation. My parents were always wanting me to go to the hospital, but I could not make up my mind. At the time of the Van Eyk Mission I was working at Pialba, and my mother sent me a letter, telling me of the Mission; so I immediately came up, and attended the meetings for a few nights. Mr. Van Eyk said to me that, if I believed and had the faith, God could heal me, and I would be immediately healed. I was then anointed in the name of the Lord, and prayed for by Mr. Van Eyk, and the pain left me immediately. Praise the Lord! And this was in February, and I have not felt any trace of it since. Neither have I worn the support. Praise the Lord!—I am, etc.,

MABEL BAUMGART.

Maryborough, July 15, 1927.

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Sir,—I would like to add my testimony to the healing power of God. God has wonderfully healed my body from gall stones and floating kidney, from which I had been a sufferer for years. All glory and praise be to God for the marvellous way in which He has healed me! All those who do not believe in this great healing, and yet profess to be followers of Christ, should just pray for an understanding and believing heart, just stop and think that this Healer is no small being, but the great God, Who is over all. The God that lived in olden times is just the same to-day, with just the same mighty power. Praise God! Beware those who teach against the power of God, against His answer to prayer, for there is a judgment coming to those unfaithful, disbelieving servants.—I am, etc.,

MRS. JONES. July 20, 1927.

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