The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-08-30
HAVE FAITH in THE Cult
CHRISTIAN SCIENCE HAS A STRONG
HOLD ON ITS MEMBERS.
Magnificent Temple Costing Over ST.
100000 Soon tn He Opened In New
York-Tenets of Sect Explained.

NEW YORK. Aug. 2S.-There will shortly
be opened in Central Park West, New York,
a magnificent temple devoted to the Chris
tian Science doctrine. The church will cost
considerably over million dollars, and. 1t
is stated, will be the most commodious edi-
flee devoted to public worship in New York,
the seating capacity accommodating 900
persons.
A curious fact in reference to the construc-
ton of the church is. that Notwithstanding
a stoppage of the work on almost all the
public buildings of the city during the past
few months owing to the building strike,
no delay has been caused in the erection OF
this particular building.
There will be no debt on the church when
ii opens in November, the sl.l5i,0O0 cost of
the edifce having been subscribed by MEM
bers of the congregation.
The church is the result of the unremit-
ting labors of the woman who becomes its
first reader. Mrs Augusta T. Stetson, COM
missionaire of Mrs. Eddy. The opening of
this important church is indication of the
popularity of Christian Science teaching
and shows that it's tenets have already
taken firm hold in the metropolis of the
western world.
The specific teachings of the church have
been severely discussed by theological crit
les. Such discussion, however, is not ger
name to any consideration of the success of
an undertaking.
BASED ON SUGGESTION.
Mental suggestion. which is the basis of
Christian Science, has been factor in HUI
man existence for ages. Its marvellous pow
has been misunderstood, except by the
very few. It's possible influence either for
good or evil, gave it a sinister cast; the
early influence of it was shown in the civili-
cations of Egypt, Persia and India. The SUI
perstitious mind Of those times gave II the
credit of the divinity. 1t was the secret of
the divinations of the priests of Osiris. BY
none was this power more thoroughly COM
pretended than by the ancient priesthoods
of India. Their development of mental sug-
gestion passes the comprehension Of the or
binary understanding. Yet they do not use,
nor do they claim to use, anything at vari-
ance with the laws of nature, however diff
ferently these laws may be interpreted by
various investigators.
A theory in regard to it, advanced by one
Of the most prominent members Of the cult,
is as follows: MANS mental organism is
pOoSSSSCS
mental entities, each having separate and
distinct attributes and powers. These enti-
ties are each capable, under peculiar cir
cumstances. Of independent and different
actions. They have been called the objec-
tive and subjective minds. The subjective
mind is always readily amenable to con-
troll by suggestions. and is capable of de-
ductive reasoning only.
1.-THE objective mind possesses such at
tributes and powers as consciousness, will
and inductive reasoning. 1t is the means by
which all knowledge of the external world
is attained, through the medium of the
physical senses
During the activity of the objective mind
the Consciousness is paramount and the in
dividual completely free from outside infu-
ences. When, however, this tension is re-
Taxed and the objective mind becomes in
active the subjective mind becomes Access
sible TO other and extraneous forces.
MIND MAY LEAVE MATTER.
THE ego, or real self, is a distinct en-
tity. possessing powers and functions, hav-
ing a mental organism of its own and being
capable of sustaining an existence apart
from the body.
lit is this subjective mind through which
the influences of Christian Science formu-
las are made to act.
1T must be remembered that the sub
jective mind is as easily open to sugges-
tions from the objective mind as from out
side minds Indeed, from auto-suggestion
many good results are obtainable.
I'm the Christian Science Church, how
ever. as in churches of earlier prestige and
Importance, most suggestions come from
those who by study. have advanced them
selves to position where their ideas can be
of practical value and force when sug-
gested.
These suggestions may be valuable or
suggester or reader.
''To claim that they are Of divine origin
is, perhaps, correct, because all ideas of
value with which the human race is fed
must be of divine superior origin.
CLAIM POWER TO CURE.
THE advance of the Christian Science
Church probably is due to its power TO ef-
feet cures of various troubles with which
the human race is affected and which can
often be cured by mental suggestion.
But that there are cures which cannot
be effected by the power of the mind is an
equally obvious fact
There are cases in which the mental ply
stefan must be supplemented or assisted by
the regular physician. AS a therapeutic
agent mental suggestion has its chief sphere
of action in certain diseases of the nervous
system, especially in functional disturb
ances. The result will be pathological or
physiological, according to the nature of the
mental suggestion. 1t may thus be deduced
that at least only very slow and almost inn
perceptibe effect can be produced in organ
ic diseases of any kind, especially if any
astrological destruction of that organ has
occurred. The cure is especially useful as a
remedial agent where the disturbances have
been caused by perversion of any of the
powers attributes of the subjective mind.
Imaginary diseases form large part of the
disorders of mankind. and next to those oc-
cur others of emotional and hystericai ORR
gin. These can be treated successfully by
mental suggestion. and il is only fair to add
that partial and apparently total collapse
of the nervous powers is often successfully
offset by the timely use of this power.
For fuller clucidation OF the facts of
this proposition it may be we'll to explain
to what extent this subtle influence can be
used in promoting normal physiological pro-
cesses and changing abnormal pathological
conditions into normal and heolthflI nro-