Sketches of imposture, deception, and credulityDavenport, R. A. (Richard Alfred)
History
Sketches of imposture, deception, and credulity
Davenport, R. A. (Richard Alfred)
Common fallacies; Impostors and imposture
The most recent thaumaturgist with whom we are acquainted bears no
less a title than that of prince, and worked his wonders within the
last thirteen years. The personage in question is Prince Alexander
Hohenlohe, whose miracles have made much noise in the world, and
given rise to no small portion of angry controversy. His highness,
who appears to have previously been practising with much success in
Germany, first became generally known in England by an extraordinary
cure which he was said to have performed on a nun, at the convent of
New Hall, near Chelmsford, in Essex. It must be premised, that it was
by no means necessary for him to see or be near his patient; prayers
being the sole means which he employed. Accordingly, he did not stir
from his residence at Bamberg. The nun at New Hall had for a year and
a half been afflicted with an enormous and painful swelling of the
right hand and arm, which resisted every medical application. In this
emergency, the superior of the convent applied for the aid of Prince
Hohenlohe. The answer which he returned seems to prove that he was a
pious though a mistaken man. It also affords some insight into the
cause of the effect which was undoubtedly sometimes produced. “At eight
o’clock on the third of May, I will, in compliance with your request,
offer up my prayers for your recovery. At the same hour, after having
confessed and taken the sacrament, join your prayers also, with that
evangelical fervour, and _that entire faith_, which we owe to our
Redeemer, Jesus Christ. Stir up from the very bottom of your heart the
divine virtues of true repentance, Christian charity, _a boundless
belief that your prayers will be granted_, and a steadfast resolution
to lead an exemplary life, to the end that you may continue in a state
of grace.” Whatever may be thought of his miraculous pretensions,
it is impossible to deny that his exhortation was praiseworthy. The
following account of the result is given by Dr. Badelly, the physician
to the convent:--“On the third of May (says he) she went through the
religious process prescribed by the prince. Mass being nearly ended,
Miss O’Connor not finding the immediate relief which she expected,
exclaimed, ‘Thy will be done, O Lord! thou hast not thought me worthy
of this cure.’ Almost immediately after, she felt an extraordinary
sensation through the whole arm, to the ends of her fingers. The pain
instantly left her, and the swelling gradually subsided; but it was
some weeks before the hand resumed its natural shape and size.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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