The Washington herald., 1907-01-06
FOR MENTAL HEALTH.
Unique Classes Conducted by Boston
Clergyman


person who applied later at the Public
/ Library for that book was told that there
had been twenty-seven calls for the vol
ume that day.
! The Wednesday night meeting Of
class has nothing Of the extraordinary
about IL. though IL IS not exactly Ike a
meeting OF any other klnd. A hymn is
sung. The Apostles Greed is read There
IS prayer for Gods blessing and favor.
An address on neurology is made by q
person well fitted to make g. Only half
an hour Is taken up by the speaker
experiences are recited briefly from the
floor The class closes its exercises with
social intercourse and a simple luncheon
The heavier part Of the work comes at
other times. in the church are books
treating Of nervous diseases and their
cure DR. Worcester and Dr. McComh
hoid themselves in readiness for consul
tauon most OF the time The creed or
tne person who applies for treatment IS
OF Httle, If any. consequence.
There have been unbeIievers among the
callers. Whether a belief in the divinity
OF Christ is factor IN helping to i'm
pfoFenent, Dr. Worcester does not at
| tempt TO say but if "A MOhammedan, ia
moving turkish raimeut should apply T.
Dr. worcester for treatment for nerves
ne would receive as much and as careful
/ treatment as the founder Of q score OF
Christian churches.
Medicine Made Use Of.
/ But there is always one essential II
must be with the consent Of the appIi-
cant's physician that the appeal for help
is made. Medicine and surgery are not
ridiculed or sconed at. but are counted
| on as assisting factors
In many cases the patient can be helped
quickly. He is told that he must get
away from himself. avoid introspecti0u.
and cease thinking that the world OF any
particular section OF II has singled him
out for its buffets. He must find some
thing to do = keep himself from think
ing Of himself. even II that something is
only labelling the library books
Il may be that DR.. McCOmb OF DR..
Worcester can handle the case IL the ap-
plicant is genuinely interested IA trying
TO cure himself Or it may be that the
situation IS too battling for either or bota
In that case, the problem is for the ad-
visory board, consisting Of gentlemen who
consider similar cases Of other persons
for pay. a mode Of life may be sug-
gested for the average patient, a course
Of reading prescribed. the ban put on
certain little Incidents in his life. = cold
blooded cLeerfuIness recommended. other
calls invited, and invitations issued 20 at
tend the Wednesday evening classes and
be with and Of the self-healers. Nine OUT
Of ten persons afflicted with nervous and
mental troubles may respond 10 The treat
ment Of the TWO Clergymen If the advice
gratUitOusly given is followed and there
are extreme cures for the extreme cases.
HypnOtism Sometimes Employed.
DR.. Worcester says that in an urgent
case the advising board may be compelled
to resort 20 most heroic treatment but i
Will be only after -the usual means have
failed. There viii probably be no oc-
casion to employ hypHotism except II
such cases. and in those IL is found at
times impossible 10 exert the sleeping in
iuence on the patient Dr. Worcester
and DR.. McComb are in principle opposed
TO the use OF hypnotism, except in such
extreme cases as dipsomania and the
morphine habit They believe that suc-
gestion in the waking state, II properly
applied, is for the majority of neuras-
themes almost limitless in beneficial r--
suits The enthusiastic belief Of thess
men create the faith they demand. Ons
Of the best known neuro.0giSts in Boston.
a gentleman whose philanthropy is as
vice as IL is quiet. said at recent meet
ing that IL often seemed as if the only
means by which man could be cured
permanently were philosophy and religion.
Aren't your methods somewhat the
same as those Of Christian Sciencer" Dr.
Worcester has been asked by one iuterro-
gator.
They are almost the exact opposite he
replied. We DO not discard ma5i-gDe or
the physician. We do not ask or accent
money. We are proceeding along strictly
scientific lines. and We have the advice of
competent physicians We accept only
neurotic patients There must be- 4 per
sonal examination by your physician or a
clergyman IN order thar We may determine
II there IS any probability OF successful
treatment. and may Keep records.
AUtO-suEEestfOn Helps.
Our class has been called health
class. Our pupils meet Tor educational
purposes, for the acquirement Of useful
ideas and valuable knowledge about the
mind and the body. We strive TO take
them out Of themselves. to make them ex-
ercise their strength Of Will, and to work
for others than themselves. When faith
becomes strong and doubt is removed.
autO-suggestion continues to help them
help themselves
As TO the reports that the members Of
the classes go through what corresponds
to confession. Dr. Worcester says that
the only feature in which the conferences
with the pupils resemble confessions is the
nyiolate secrecy with which everything
that IS told TO the physician OF clergyman
IS guarded from the outside world. Il is
not in disDaragement of the Christian
Science belief or Of any other religion that
DR.. Worcester speaks, but simply to cor
rect misstatements.