The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-11-18
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apolis Papers for October
An Interesting Decision.

The federal supreme court yesterday,
through Justice Peckham. delivered an
important decision, one Of deep interest
to the practitioners of the regular
schools of medicine and those Of the vari-
GUS schools of magnetics and mind heal
ers. -
The specific case decided was that of
the American School of Magnetic Healing
against a postmaster for not delivering
the bail Of a magnetic healer on the
ground that, under the statutes, the healer
was perpetrating fraud upon the public
through correspondence. making extraor-
binary claims healer of human ills.
In the judgment delivered, it was held
that no fraud had been committed by
the healer and that the postal authorities
are not qualified to sit in Judgment and
) destroy the business Of one who claims
to be able to cure diseases without drugs,
since there is no exact standard of abso-
lutte truth by which to prove the healer's
statement true or false. Although the de-
cision affects Immediately the status Of
magnetic healers, Justice Peckham ap-
piled it to the practitioners in mental
therapeutics also. The magnetic healer
claims. that, by his process of manipulate
ing the human body, he conveys to the
patient or to the affected part or organ Of
the patients body, a healing magnetic
force from his own constant supply. The
mind healer claims that disease may be
fought successfully by the inner mind
cd wit ,icfj hot
sesses power to maintain healthful bodily
conditions in the body in which it resides,
or In the body of another person pres
ent to the healer or absent. The healing
vital force is within the individual him.
self. The mind healer acts upon the pa
TENTS vital forces by suggestion and d.
rection of the subjective mind Of the
patient. AS the court holds, there is a
difference Of opinion as to the efficacy of
mental Observation-Disclosures as to the
validity Of the "cure al'' claims for, if
some Of the claims Of mental healers were
true there would never be any more
funerals, for death would be annihilated.
But, while difference Of opinion exists,
It is evident that there is strong i'm
pulse to the acceptance and recognition
of the fact Of the power Of mind over
body. The fact was anciently known
and recognized. It is coming, in this
latter day, into more general and bene-
known as regular" as Is we'll known
have considerably minimized the use OF
drugs in many diseases and in neuras-
thenia, for instance, many Irregular" ply
sic1ans rely upon the diversion Of the pa
TENTS mind and the awakening Of his
vital forces by suggestion to his subiec.
tive mind. There are thousands OF peo
pie who have an unquestioning faith ir
magnetic healing, Christian Science, sc
called. with its postulate of mo sub.
stance, no matter, spirit is God, God Is
all; he can have no opposite"; divine heal.
ers, and other claimants for universe.
recognition Of their reputed monopoly OF
therapeutic power, and they present proof
Of benefit received; and there Is no doub,
that thousands have been benefited by the
processes of the magnetics and the Chris
tian Scientists; SO that the supreme cour
may well ask, How can any one Ia,
down the limit and say beyond that there
are fraud and false. pretenses?" People
OF the highest intelligence accept thu
claims Of the leading schools Of mint
healers and the supreme court decision
affirming, practically, the. legality O
magnetic healing and theaaright of it.
practitioners to the use of the mails
concurrently embodies recognition of tn,
legality OF Christian Science and othe
schools of mind healing, although suc1
decision does not carry with it any lega
right of any school to insist upon it,
own remedial activities to the death O
patient from a form of disease wit,
which mental, therapeutics, has clear,,
shown Itself incapable of dealing sue
cessfuly. 49,. q. e X.