244 THE ESSEX NATURALIST
During their early use of this chapel, they considered the
words of the Epistle of James, V, 14 : "Is there any sick
among you? Let him call for the elders of the church and
let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name
of the Lord : And the prayer of faith shall save the sick,
and the Lord shall raise him up". Cases of sickness were
brought "before God" in open Meeting, and astonishing
cures resulted (as, of course, have often been reported at
gatherings of persons with intense and simple faith). Thus
occurred their first "miracles" at Rochford, and from these
arose a settled belief among them in the value of "laying-on
of hands upon the sick and anointing with oil in the name
of the Lord" which became a third point of doctrine
essential for all Peculiars to accept before admission to the
Church.
Not only did the Peculiars resort to faith-healing as a
panacea, but they regarded the employment of orthodox
medical men as opposed to Holy Writ, and refusal of
medicine was held responsible for several deaths among
Peculiars and their children.(6 & 7) Therefore, for many
years the medical aspect of their creed met with a vigorous
opposition from the administrators of the civil law, and
condemnation by the general public, and more than one
Peculiar has had to witness to his faith by an enforced
imprisonment for neglect, or even for the manslaughter of
his child. (4)
During the first 15 years their numbers greatly increased,
and the Church of the Peculiar People was given a definite
Constitution. In 1852 the "Elders of the Congregation"
made James Banyard a Bishop "by laying-on of hands, in
the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost", and he
immediately afterwards ordained Samuel Harrod, David
Handley and John Thorogood, Bishops. (1)
Under the active administration of these four Bishops,
the extension of the Peculiar People was much advanced,
but three years later, in 1855, the Movement was split by
dissension concerning the "medical" article of faith.(5)
Having a child of his own taken ill, Banyard sought the
aid of a doctor, who cured the child. From that time forth
he began to advise using medical skill in addition to the