The morning journal-courier., 1908-02-29
CHURCH CLINICS.

In these days of investigation in ev- cry field that invites the human mind to enter it is not surprising that at last the field that is offering some promise of success is the mind itself, The study of psychology has made consid- erable progress in the past twenty-five years. Then 1t was largely pursued by the textbook and memoriter method. Now, as a subject it has its laboratory and is studied in true scientific fash ion, with delicate instruments for measuring thought-speed and doing other things that seem surprising, But the whole study, pursued with new vigor, has given incentive for investi- gation in ways not at first contemplat- 1 ed We are hearing occasionally about psychic therapeutics. There are facts about the mind itself and its re- lation to the body, we are told, that reveal psychic law that may he used in a curative way in diseases, especial subject has been attracting the atten- ton of an increasing number of cler- gymen. What is now called the "Em- manuel movement" in Boston has for sometime been watched. A Protestant
 Episcopal church has introduced
 clinics for nerve troubles as a part
 of its work for the past two years
 The pastors of the church. Rev Drs
 Worcester and McConnb, have found
 plenty to do and have met with con-
 siderable success This Is the particu-
 larly interesting thing about it, Bish-
 op Fallows has established a clinic in
 connection with prominent Episco-
 pal church in Chicago. Now a Baptist
 minister of Brooklyn is taking hold of
 the subject.
 There is a certain fitness in Chris
 tian churches seeking to minister to
 sick bodies as well as sin-sick souls,
 In way it is return to the ministry
 of the early church There is much
 evidence concerning the practice of
 the Apostolic church in healing min
 istry But the earlier practices doubt
 less placed more reliance on the
 miraculous than on the scientific pro-
 cedure. However, the methods of these
 church clinics differ in certain respects from Christian Science or New
 Thought" The Christian Scientist de- nies any dependence on matter or
 mortal mind" and finds only spirit to
 be reality and the direct spirit of God
 heals. The New Thought" devotee al-
 so believes in spirit and the power of
 divine spirit but that it nterpene-
 trates every atom of the body, and when one is conscious of it and at one , with 1t, healing results. In work like , the Emmanuel movement" on the : psychological side. apart from the r service of the religious element it is l apparent that the power of suggestion , Is used when needed, and connected < with the church is a regular physician for consultation and to effect examina- 3 tion of the disease an applying patient ' may have.
 i If I were asked" said Rev. Mir Q McComb "to tell in one sentence f what the Emmanuel movement is, f between the great reckoning force ol $ the Lord Jesus and the most ad. . vanced medical science of our time . in the interest of suffering humanity. e It is clear that this kind of service t will appeal to many people because { they can see what Is being done foi e them. There is something that ha' t meaning for them right here on thu
 plane of earth, more than the prom Il ise of release after death, undel F some particular theological guaran Q tee. It is wise in any church to fint e every good thing under the sun ant q harness it to the church's savin, - work