The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-07-05
BOMB FROM Mr.. lido
Says Christian Science Is
Merely HypnOtism.
HE ATTACKS HEALERS
Says Their Power Is the Least
Scientific.

New York. July 4-Georse T. Ladd,
professor Of Moral Philosophy of Yale
University, has written an article on the
subject: us Christian Science Hypno-
tism?" which is causing a sensation. so
called Christian Science he says. bases
its claims upon two kinds of evidence.
One Of these is a mystical metaphysics
which discourses N way to confuse
uniformed persons about mind and mat
ter. and about the relations between the
two, and between. both and Cod. The
other consists of the cures of various
diseases to which it thinks Itself entitled
to appeal. 1t is the latter of these kinds
Of evidence which now propose briefly
to examine. assert, and-so far as can
be done in such brief space-I shall show:
First, that TIE healings of Christian Sci
ence are not at all a new affair; second,
that the same f0alings are better per-
! formed by hypnot.sm or therapeutic sug-
gestion and various other forms of men
tai influence; and, third. that of all the
many mental forms which mental healing
has ever taken, that Of these modern IA
natics is perhaps the least scientific -
The learned professor thus concludes
his argument:
IF anything could be accom- pIished by
telling marvellous stories, there is an
abundance Of them of an entirely credi-
bic sort that may be collected from the
records Of experiments with hypnotism
Nor is there any reasonable doubt that
most Of the patent medicines, as well as
no small proportion of the doses given
heretofore by the regular practitioners,
so far as they are really productive Of
any beneficial results at all, operate up
on precisely the same principles as those
which control the cures Of hypnotism and
Christian Science alike
Now, one Of the most notable and dis
creditsble things about the behavior of
hte devotees Of the latter is this: they
are peculiarly bitter in denouncing and
discrediting all other methods OF healing
which are most closely akin TO, and even
substantially the same with, their own.
Faith cure hypnotic healings, the bread
Pills and colored water of regular prac-
uuoners, prayer cure quack medicines.
and even the calm and cheerful trust in
God that owes no allegiance to the vaga-
ries of Mrs. Eddy, are particularly OBJ
noXious to the Christian Scientist Of the
more pronounced type.
But perhaps It is argued that most OF
these other cures imply a dangerous and
even immoral submission to other infu-
ences than those which Christian Science
uses. This is not at all necessarily true.
For healing Of ones self by seIf-sugges-
ton and self-control is not peculiar TO /
Christian Science. All the way from the {
philosopher Kant, who would not al
low himself to think Of the pain which.
when he gave attention to his chest. was I
always there, down TO the nurse Of good /
common sense who tells the child. Dent /
mind it and it won't hurt you or from /
the Indian Logi who by mental influence /
thinks to separate wholly his soul from
its dependence upon the BODY. down to
the chief practitioners of this American
Losism, one principle operates all the
way through
Christian Scientists are, however. Of
all these forms Of healing by sugres-
ton, about the least scientific Do they
not perform cures? Undoubtedly they do.
But in no respect scientifically. The sci
ence OF the Indian Logi is much more
elaborate concerning the control Of the
body by the mind than is that Of the
authorities among Mrs. Eddy's follow
ers in this country. The knowledge Of
what they are about possessed b. the
leading hypnotists in Europe and this
country is incomparably superior to
either. The doctors who emhody sug-
gestive therapeutics in their prescriptions
after all that is worst and vet true
about them has been said-are much SUI
perior in intelligence to the mental heal
ers Of the Christian Science order.
Indeed, one OF the chief objections TO
the use made OF mental healing bv the
so-called Christian Scientists IS its jgno-
rant and indiscrlminate character. This
character IS the source Of its alarming
and, as well. Of the mischief
10 the bodies and minds Of men which II
s working, and which it is sure to work
Increasingly IN the future
I may be asked two questions IN view
II the position which has been taken IN
ny previous statements. Do YOU net
mink that Christian Science has some
ruth on its side. and has done real good
o many in relieving their bodies and =
minds? And would you advise subztf-
utlng hypnotism, or quack medicines. or Z
indian Logism in its stead2 To the first ;
question / answer; Yes, undoubtedly. ]
5ut for this very reason. among others. 7
Is rnischieyous tendencies are the more / ]
powerful To the second question I an :
wer; No. scarcely. What should rec I
mmend IS. Of course, the intelligent ard I
discriminating use Of the great principle =
Z the control OF the mind over the body !,
But as to the cure OF Christian scl- l.
ntists themselves, ss wei as o. many :
[ their more virulent opp0nents-th4t IS 4
mother matter