The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1896-01-17

in his weakened mind. Wherever he is
now, he still believes in that one idea. ana
will probably continue to so believe so
long as life lasts. This belief in divine
power to heal will grow upon him con-
Stantly, and he will in time be ready 10
assert positively that he is the Messiah,
the Son of God. While here he eVaded
questions as to his divine birth and posi-
ton, but admitted always that the Father
gave him the power to heal. After while
he will no longer evade, but will be ready
to assert with positiveness that he is the
Messiah. His faith in his powers Will
grow until he will even attempt to arouse
the dead. 1t is hard to say to what extent
he will go in his insanity.
Now, the next question you will ask me
is whether it is possible for him to effect
cures. / answer frankly that he can cure
diseases which are the result of imagln-
alton. Chronic diseases he certainly can
not cure or alleviate. The blind, the deaf,
the permanently lame he did not beneflt,
though thousands went to him. lie al
ways laid stress upon the faith which the
person must exercise. To many people
who had strong faith in him the currents
of thought changed SO that people were
even able to throw away their crutches
and walk off. 1t was only another form
of hypnotism. I might cite illustrations
by the score to prove this view OF the
lustration of the person suffering with
toothache, who, when he approaches the
dentists office, through fear Of yet
greater pain and suffering, changes the
nerve force to such an extent as to quite
drive away the ache in the tooth. Yet
the pain returns to plague the sufferer
later.
"a woman of sensitive nerve complains
of sleeplessness. She obtains a blessed
handkerchief, lays it upon the pillow and
instantly drops off into sound sleep. A
man by overwork or ill-health begins to
find his eyesight growing dim and indis-
tinct He seeks an OculiSt and obtains
some simple lenses and Immediately his
vision is improved. He takes a vacation,
is restored to health and returns to his
work a different man, yet he retains the
glasses from habit. His eyes have become
accustomed to them and they adjust them
selves to the lenses. Now such man go
ing to Schlatter and securing the healing
touch takes off the glasses and goes about
his business, seeing as well as ever. He
has gained confidence in his eyes through
q hypnotic or imaginative influence. Every
case which may be presented as an eX-
ample of Schlatters work can be account
ed for in a similar manner.
"Now again you will want another
question answered. Do think Schlatters
cures will be permanent? l answer that
the individual imagines that he is free
from q return of his weakness, which was
affected greatly by the influence OF mind
over the body, so long will the trouble stay
away. 1t will return to plague him when
ever his mind runs back to his former
complaints. All physicians know such
cases where the patients do not exercise
a mental power to assist in a cure. Con-
valescence is a fruitful time for the for
nation of mental impressions which re-
tard or hasten cures. The woman who
had scarlet fever and for two years after
ward was unable to speak secured the re-
turn of speech by going to Schlatter. Some
other mental impression could have caused
her to speak if it could have firmly divert
ed her imagination from her ailment So
with the young child who was said to have
been unable to see out of one eye, and Of
the totally blind, who, after Schlatter had
treated him, imagined he saw objects as
in shadowy outline Schlatter benefited
many persons by their faith in him caus-
ing their imaginations to alter their cur
rent"
Paralysis and rheumatic troubles SEEM
ed to be the most important troubles
which this man cured, if the testimony
of the patients is to be accepted in good
faith. The Republic correspondent pass
ed hours at the scene and conversed with
many people. Never did he get a case
WIFI oil previous symptoms QennltelV
diagnosed. There was always an indef-
mite, vague and uncertain statement &C
companying the patients explanation Of
his previous conditions. Hypochondria in
women was another fruitful field for this
man to gain converts. Women who I'M
doubtedly believed that they were ill Of
various disorders were relieved by going
to this man, their normal health improv-
ed and their appetites returned, causing
them to greatly rejoice in a renewal Of
spirits.
Out Of the $4,000 people who were treat
ed by this healer, there is not a single
northumberland case of cure from anv
chronic trouble. No blind person was re-
stored to sight, no totally deaf person
was made to hear, no case of absolute
lameness was relieved.
The fact that Schlatter continued to re-
fuse tenders Of money won his converts
and added to the conviction of the medi-
cal world that he was crazy. He began
at first to take great pleasure in answer.
ing the letters which came to him, but
when the number increased to thousand
pieces day he grew tired of the work
and refused to answer any more, saying
that the Father had blessed all those
who had written, so that they could find
relief If they had faith without having
to await an answer. He even tired Of
blessing handkerchiefs at last and con-
tented himself and his supplicants by say
ing that the Father" had blessed them
without his having touched them.