The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-02-05
THE NEW THOUGHT.

There is a group of periodicals seldom
seen by the majority of people, which con-
tain great deal of curious information
that the magazines they do read, the big,
be-pictured magazines with much adver-
Using between their covers, entirely ignore.
To this group belong THE Esoteric,' Uni
versal Truth" Intelligence, "Open
Court" Immortality" 1.-The Hypnotist,"
THE Coming Age and the "Arena''-the
last named better known than some of the
others. All of them deal more or less with
occult matters and metaphysical theories,
not as mere abstract philosophy after the
fashion of old time, but in their bearings
upon modern life. Naturally, this adapta-
ton of hitherto vague and sublmated ideas
to practical use creates some surprising
combinations and develops unusual versa
tility of thought A pleasing example of
this is shown in the announcement of two
books by a certain author-of the feminine
gender it may be worth while to say-one
on wrinkles; Their Cause and Cure" the
other "An Inspirational Prophecy of the
Century" A comment on the latter work
reads thus: "The love-thought in it is so
strong and uplifting that it must bring into
ones life all one desires, if held to faith
fully and sent oct to rich and poor alike.
AS matter of course, the philosophy set
forth in these publications concerns itself
to a considerable extent with those singular
systems or practices variously known as
Christian science metaphysical heal
ing mind cure" and the like, but the
curing of bodily disease is regarded by the
more advanced thinkers among the con-
tributors as a mere incident or phase of
mind development. The New Thought
these potent words are always spelled with
capitals-may include the curing of physical
disease, but to the elect they mean much
more. The editorial department of Mind is
authority for the statement that the repre-
sentatives of the various divisions Of the
New Thought movement will hold a conven-
ton at Hartford, Conn, this month for the
purpose of effecting union of forces. Do
you know what the New Thought is? An
extended definition Of the term is given in
the current Arena. The literary style of the
disciples of the cult being diffuse. as well
as lacking in clearness to the uninitiated
it is somewhat difficult to condense this
definition into brief terms 1t appears, how
ever that the New Thought is not only a
mode of healing but is a philosophy of life
and conduct. Its followers are not required
to believe that the body and the world we
see about us are not real, that there
is only mind and not matter in the uni
verse, but they must believe that the
real man is the soul and that the physical
nature is, therefore, subordinate to the me-
taphysical realm. Natural phenomena
that is phases of matter-come and go, while
their laws which are spiritual and. therefore,
eternal abide. Out of this theory comes the
doctrine of mental healing of physical dis
ease and also the regulation of the minds
daily action. To secure this power, concen-
tration or self-control of the mental faculties
must be practiced, and to secure concentra-
ton times must be set apart for silent medi-
tation. This is what is known as entering
into the silence" While in this retirement
the seeker after mental and spiritual poise
must endeavor to fix his thoughts upon spir-
itual matters At first, ot course. these
thoughts will be formulated and definite
Then" says the writer. zone is to think
more and more Of the spirit and less of the
words. assimilating from its living presence,