Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-01-13


IIas the Power-Patients In Evil
dence.
In Norwalk, Conn, the Rev. De Witt
Talmage Van Doren OF the First Bap-
fist church is looked on as a worker
of modern miracles. He has made the
sick well, the lame sound. and the be-
levers in his powers today number
hundreds. Other persons profess 70
regard him as n charlatan. but they
are unable TO explain the seeming
cures he has performed, says the Sew
York Journal.
One of his most remarkable cures
was upon Mrs. Archibald Sheffield,
who lives in New York. For years
Mrs. Sheffield was almost helpless. In
der the influence OF Mr.. Van Doren she
has completely recovered.
Mr.. Van Doren calls himself n self
taught metaphysician. He is said TO
be u good pulpit orator, and since he
was called 10 NOrwalk last May his
congregation has become one of the
largest in the Connecticut village. He
is n cousin of the Rev. T. De Witt Tai
mage, in whose honor lie was named.
Although an orthodox believer in the
rejects absolutely the thought of faith
cure. 1t has been said that he pro-
fesses to heal 10y the laying on of
hands. but it IS not so. He has no re-
sort TO hypnotism, which however. he
says. first suggested to him the true
course of mind cure. His system. he
says, is the exact opposite of hypno-
tism, which might be effective. only
that the power" is applied in the
wrong direction.
The underlying principle upon which
Mr.. Van DOren RELIES is that of dual
mentality in every individual. 1t is
upon the subconscious mentality that
he excrts influence. This subconscious
mentality is. according to Mr.. Van
Doren. located in the solar pleXus.
In diagnosing n case Mr.. Van DOren
resorts To what appears To be trick,
but what. lie says. is common sense.
He simply places the palm of the pa
tents right hand against his ear. 1t
acts. he says. as q telephone. and he IS
able to listen To the circulation of the
blood and To the flow of nervous ener-
gy. BY this simple device Mr.. Van
Doren asserts his ability to understand
the trouble. Having done that, thought
transference and thought influence. act
ing always upon the submerged men
tally. accomplish a cure. he says.
Certain muscular exercises are re-
sorted To, and Mr.. Van Doren goes so
far as to accept the services OF drugs.
1t is Mr.. Van Dorcn's argument that
metaphysical therapeutics are based
upon laws that may extend beyond the
domain of pure intellect. but are capa-
blc OF scientific adaptability. He indig-
nantly dscards the idea that meta
physical healing is in any way akin to
the mystical. occult or magical. He
says that he Is simply Il minister OF
the gospel of Christ. who believes that
lie was instructed by the Master to
heal as we'll as To preach. Believing
that. lie made study of the mind or
minds. which carried him over n period
of u years before he first put his
theory into practice.
After treating successfully many
cases that have been declared hope
less by skillful physicians" says Mr..
Van DOren. Il am prepared to say that
| have the power to cure any case of
sickness. no matter what its nature, if
l can have the hearty cooperation of
the patient and if there yet remains
enough of the Substructure for nature
10 build upon.
My method of healing is by thought
transference and is a purely spiritual
process. / do not ignore the value Of
correct breathing and diet and proper
exercise. My patient is instructed how
to come into my thought. so that there
is perfect agreement, and our joint
thought is as the thought of one per-
son. The instruction is then COM
municated TO the proper nerves, and
the work of rebuilding is under way.
am convinced that there is no dis
ease of whatever nature that can re-
Sist this form of treatment. Surgical |
cases cannot be so treated. That is
one OF the points which l reject of the |
theory of faith cure"
Mrs. George K. Howell, national lee
turer Of the W. &. I. L, credits Mr.. |
Van Doren with saving her life |
Elizabeth Taylor. a 9-year-old child, |
was rid of the ricketts, by Mr.. Van |
Doren with only three applications of |
will power. Charles Byington of East |
Norwalk believes that one Interview |
with Mr.. Van Doren cured him of d |
chronic case OF consumption of the |
bowels Miss Edith Allen. also of East |
Norwalk. was brought from what was
thought to be her deathbed to a state
of perfect health.
Mr.. Van Doren is about 40 years old.
He was born in Chicago, educated in
Colgate university and began his work
as n pastor in San Francisco. After
nine years OF successful work there he
brought his family east and for eight
years occupied the pulpit OF the First
Baptist church in Albany He left |