El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1900-11-03
THE MODERN OCCULT.
A Scientific Examination of the Va
rious Forms of the Occultism of
Today, and the Duty of Science
In Connection Herewith

Today, and the Duty of Scienc,
In Connection Herewith.
The Popular Science MONTH"; New
| York; prints the most valua BILE scien-
tific article of the month. an examina-
ton of all forms OF modern occultism-
theosophy.. spiritualisrl. Eddyism. as
, trology. phrenology. mental healing
etc.-by Professor JaStrOw. of the Uni
versity of Wisconsin. To the decep-
| tive nature of the argument of ana
/ logy; to the dominating sympathy with
a conclusion and the resulting assimi-
! latiOn and overeStimation of apparent
evidence in its favor: to the frequent
failure to understand that the forma-
, ton of valid opinion and the interpre-
/ tation of evidence in any field of in
luiry require somewhat of expert
training and special aptitude. obviously
so in technical matters, but only mod
erately less so in matters misleadingly
regarded as general: to bias and super
stition. to the weakness that bends
easily to the influence of contagion to
unfortunate educational limitations
and perversions and. not the least. to
defective grounding in the nature of
scientific fact and proof-to these caus-
es and to mental prepossession result
ing in the distortion of mental vision.
as well as to the presentation of a prac-
teal doctrine ON Immortality. and of
the spiritual nature of disease in con-
junction with an accepted religious
system. Professor Jastrow attributes
the spread of drugless isms and psy-
chic sciences.
He thinks il would be Utopian to
look forward tot he day when these
occult sciences" shall have disappear
ed. but he urges that it is. nevertheless.
the duty of the scientists constantly to
oppose the dissemination of irrational
beliefs Professor Jastrow. of course.
recognizes the function of the mental
factor in the control of normal as of
disordered physiological functions.
The well-informed physician requires
no instruction on this point. But
when all is said and done the funda-
mental fact remains that the utiliza-
ton of the mental factor in the allevi-
alton of disease will be best admins
tered by those who are specifically
trained in the knowledge of bodily and
mental symptoms of disease. Such APP
plication of an established scientific
principle may prove to be jewel of
worth in the hands of him who knows
how to cut and set it.
The difference between truth and en-
ror. between science and superstition,
between what is beneficient to man
lies in the Interpretation and the spirit
as much as or more than in the fact.
The utilization of mental Influences in
health and diseases becomes the one or
the other according to the wisdom of
the truth and the insight into the real
relations of things that guide its ap
plication. AS far removed as chem
istry from alchemy. as astronomy from
astrolosy. as the doctrine of localiza-
ft.<.r
phrenology. as animal magnetism
from hypnotic suggestion. are the crude
and perverse notions OF Christian
scientist or metaphysical healer re-
moved from the rational application of
the influence of the mind over the
body.
The growth and development of the
occult forms an interesting problem in
the psychology belief. The motives
that induce the will to believe in the
several doctrines that have been passed
in review are certainly not more easy
to detect and describe than would be
the case in reference to many other
general problems-philosoph scien-
tific religious. social. political or ed
ucational-on which the right to an
opinion seems to be regarded as an
inalienable heritage of humanity or at
least of democracy. Professor James
someone lse's faith. and in the great
est matters this is most the case.
Certainly the waves of popularity OF
one cult and another reflect the potent
influence of contagion in the formation
of opinion and the direction of conduct.
When we look upon the popular de-
lusionS of the past through the achro-
matte glasses which historical remote
ness from present conditions enables
us to adjust to our eyes. we marvel that
humanity could have been so grossly
misled. that obvious relations and fall
lacies could have been so stupidity
overlooked. that worthless and preju-
diced evidence could have been accep-
ted as sound and significant. But the
opinions to which We incline are all
colored DER with the deep tinge of emo
tional reality which is the living eX-
preston of our interest in them or our
inclination toward them.
What they require is Il more vigor
Gus infusion of the pale cast of
thought; for the problem of the occult
and the temptations to belief which it
holds out are such as can he met only
by vigorous and critical application
of n scientific logic. AS logical acumen
predominates over superficial plausi-
bility. as belief comes to b formed and
evidenced estimated according to its
intrinsic value rather than according
to it's emotional acceptahility. the prop
agandum of the occult will meet with
greater resistance and aversion.
rho fun IinntynaS in Tho Harn a