The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-02-12
CITY NEWS. |
IS THERE DANGER
In "EXHORTING p
WOMAN HAUNTED
BY FACE OF REVIVAIIST.
A Peculiar Nervous Condition Which
She Believes Due To Hypnotism Has
Affected Her Ever Since She Felt
e That Strange Influence.

| II can see that mans face in the
night About the house. at my work,
| it appears before me. 1t mocks me;
his eyes seem to seek mine and can
see them, no matter where I am or
what 1 am doing. That face has
caused me to lose my interest in
church and religion. It will leave me
for time but it comes back and both
| ers me again." n+.
These were the words Of Mrs. Eliza
| beth Swanson, 1S47 Monroe street
NE, as she attempted to explain a
condition which she says has made her
| life unhappy for eight years.
Mrs. Swanson is the wife Of Nels.
Swanson, a prosperous coal and wood
dealer, 1881 Central avenue. She is
| an intelligent looking woman, 43 years
| of age, and members of her family de-
clare that she is mentally sound.
Her general health is good but. her
statements that she continually sees
the face of a preacher who exerted a
strong influence over her eight years
ago, have baffed the skill of num-
Der of the leading physicians Of the
city. >...
About eight years ago T. started
from my home one evening and went
to a church near by" Mrs. Swanson
explains. st had been of a devout, ma
ture since my girlhood and always
| took pleasure in attending church.
There was a revival in progress at the
time, and all of the way to the church
I had presentiment that something
was going to happen. After the SER
mon the preacher asked for mourners
to come forward. Then felt the first
symptom of the trouble which has
followed me for eight years. Impelled
by some strange impulse, went for
ward to the altar, altho I was already
a church member. I felt drawn there
and fairly went against my will. There
was something in that mans eyes
which drew merto the altar. g.. - -
II have seen those eyes ever since:
| AFTER I reached the altar I was
weak and had to be assisted home that
night. I did not go back again, and
have apparently lost all my interest4in
the church and in religion. I feel as
tho if I went to church would make
fun Of everything. 1 feel that that
man exerted some control over me,
and it has ruined my life. He is now
out Of the city, and I have not seen
him for several years, altho his face
haunts me day and night = -. -
One Of Minneapolis leading special
lists in nervous troubles, In discussing
the case, said to-day: 1.-THE preacher;
| may be to blame for the woman's con
dition. In fact, he is b1anae1ess in the
matter. My explanation Of these con-
gave the invitation to mourners eight
years ago, it was a general one, and
the man may never have seen the wo-
man in. his life. Her mind was in
such a condition that the invitation.
came to her with all Of the force of q
direct suggestion. Her mind seized
the suggestion, and it has been grow.
ing and adding other features. It has
evolved from a, thought to a reality
! with. the woman, and is causing her
the trouble she describes. No possible
blame could be attached to the
preacher, but it is one Of those unto :.
tunate cases which specialists encoun-.
ter occasionally. The trouble goes
back to the weakened condition of the
| woman's nervous system, by which her
mental equilibrium was disturbed until
she seized upon a general invitation,
such as Is extended by every revivalist,
and converted it into a personal and
| individual suggestion" -