THE LATEST “HEALER.”

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Dec 12, 1895

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 21, No. 49.

THE LATEST “HEALER.”

Francis Schlatter, “the Healer,” suddenly closed his work in Denver, two days before the time appointed, and with nearly a thousand people waiting in line in the chill morning for his supposed magic touch. At first it was a mystery where he had gone, as he left in the night without warning, but he has been found on a ranch near by resting. It is said that he will go to Chicago next.

What is he? and what are we to think of him? Dr. Addison Blanchard, pastor of our Second Church, Denver, writes us in a way to dissipate much of the extravagance concerning him. When he talks about being “Messiah,” it is evident he means to use that term in the sense in which it is used by those who believe in Theosophy or the various forms of “occultism,” so common now in this land.

That he claims to be “Messiah” in any such sense as the Christian understands it, is not true. He has dabbled in Spiritualism, and has studied Christian Science, so called, and does not claim to be a Christian. Much has been made of his alleged resemblance to the great masters’ representations of Christ, but he does not speak of Christ at all. That name is entirely ignored. He is claimed by the Spiritualists, and those around him are of that persuasion apparently. He is a mediumistic healer, possessing whatever of power of an evil kind such people may have. Stories of healing are magnified as they get out from Denver, but some do claim to have been helped. With all that Dr. Blanchard has as yet seen, it has not been marked or abiding, but there are many reported cases of alleviation. That is, however, not the crucial question.

When it is remembered that our Lord said that when the Holy Spirit came, the Spirit should glorify him, and testify of him, we do well to distrust any man who comes ignoring “that name.” When he utterly leaves out the name of Jesus and claims only to do these things in the power of “the Father,” we do well to inquire who his father may be, and to study John 8:38-44. Our Lord said, “No man hath seen God at any time; the only-begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.” We do not get the Father save by knowing the Son. He that hath not the Son hath not the Father.

Remembering 2 Thess. 2; 1 Tim. 4:1; 2 Peter 2:2, it is probable that 1 John 4:1-3 is in point, and should be carefully considered in judging the claims of this man. He seems to be himself the most deceived of all, but he is not the simple-minded, ignorant peasant that he has been represented to be. Our cities are overrun with various forms of “occultism,” which is none other than heavy

old heathenism from the Orient. True Christians will not be led away when they know what it is, but many who know not their Bibles will for a time run after such men as this “Western healer,” so called.

Peter, when he healed the man at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, was exceedingly careful to state and to define the source of power. This man, utterly failing to honor “the Name that is above every name,” shows in this very fact sure marks of his character.—The Advance.