The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-12-13


, and only Mind. Thus we may prove
| that the supposed benefits derived
| from the use of drugs and mental sug
gestion are in reality harmful to the
spiritual growth of the individual. The
tendency of such benefits is to fasten
| the individual to erroneous beliefs and
| thus interdict his seeking and finding
| the better way. This, however, should
| not be looked upon as hopeless con-
dition, for Christian Science offers a
way out of the dilemma, after he event
| ually fails In his make-believe benefits.
Here it may be well to mention that
sometimes when an individual is suf-
fering too greatly to grasp the spirit
| ual thought sufficiently to gain relief
| therefrom, he may find it lesser evil
to seek temporary relief by material
remedies in order that he may regain
| position from which he is able to ef-
fectually demonstrate Christian Sci
| ence. In the case Of broken bone,
he may, because of his limited under
standing, find it advisable to resort to
surgery, and in her text book Mrs.
Eddy advises that surgery be left to
the fingers of a surgeon
1t is advisable and in accord with
! the teaching of Christian Science that
we practice absolute Christian Sci
ence as far as possible. Beyond that
we choose the lesser of two evils, and
ha
becomes necessary for a Christian Sci
enlist to resort to material remedies
| as an emergency means.
A Curative Suggestion.
DR.. Worcester defines curative sug-
gestion' rs IAN effect obtained
through the conviction that it is about
to take place. A curative argument
in Christian Science is one that is
| based upon the everlasting truth that
man is always at rest because he lives
and moves, and has his being in God.
DR.. Worcester says, Il earnestly tell
him that in few moments he will be
asleep" adding 'if he knows that hun
dreds of other persons have undergone
| this experience, he will be more certain
to accept my assurance and to obey
| the suggestion Thus he bases his as
: surance of results upon prospect, a
mere speculation. He has no assur-
ance that the patient will be asleep
He pins his faith to the belief that he
will be able to produce the result. This
is not depending upon God, but upon
oneself. This is in direct opposition
to the Masters healing, who prayed
not as l will, but as thou wilt" Again
DIR. Worcester declares, II convince
myself that the patients inability to
move does not proceed from true par
alysis, and I assure her that she can
rise, and earnestly command her to
do so. which she proceeds to do How
or by what means does he convince
himself? There are only two ways
of answering this question; either he
must declare that he has or that he
has not reason for this declaration
Ii he affirms that he has a reason
therefor, he must explain either that
| he bases this declaration upon a mere
hope or that he rests upon the under
standing of the spiritual facts of being
and the unreality of paralysis.
He declares, Il divert her mind.
place my hand on the suffering part
to heighten the impression that some
thing is about to be done for her. and
] | confidently inform her the pain
is diminishing. that it is going down
by degrees, and that in a given time
five minutes, it will have disappear
7 q in, oSl-
has he that the pain will disappear?
Upon what ground does he conf
IDENTIFY inform" the patient that the
pain is diminishing and will
disappear? Why will the pain
have disappeared? Has pain al
ways disappeared under such treat
ment? Statistics of results which
DIR. Worcester has offered to the pub
lie indicate that a large percentage of
those treated were mot perceptibly
influenced" How does he know that
this patient will not be one of those
not to be Influenced? How does he
know that he is arguing the truth ?
To declare something as truth which
one does not know to be true and prob
ably does not even believe to be true.
is not Christian practice
| 1t is certainly very plain that the re-
suits just mentioned are effected who'll
ly by the will of the operator, and in
contrast to such practice, it may be
well to note that every effort of the
Christian Scientist is plea in behalf
of the omnipotence Of God. good. The
Christian Scientist pleads only that the
divine will may be done" and leaves
the consequences to God.
| Auto Suggestion.
When the Christian looks away from
earth to his infinite heavenly Father