The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1908-04-18
ALAS, FOR HUMAN FRAILTY.

A singular fad that is a curious combination of
religion gone mad, of esoteric medeciae and men
tai suggestion has been for the past year spread
ing throughout the New England states. Boston
like Athens. the mother of religious novelties for
tune teers and mental eccentricities. claims the
maternity of this misshapen babe which. like 'the
four-footed beasts of the earth and wild beasts and
creeping things" of St. Peters vision is unpleasant
first the eye but after time seems acceptable
to the New England stomach. The fad has in
vaded Brooklyn and threatens to become fashion
able in the towns and cities of the eastern states
and those of the middle west. Its opponents and
defenders. like the followers Of Christian Science
and Theosophy, loudly proclaim that before dec
ade it viii embrace the entire country.
This peculiar cult has appropriated to itself the
high-sounding name of Emanuelism in compliment
to the Church of the Emanuel Boston, where the
founding was delivered, and its paternity acknowl
edged by the Protestant Episcopal minister of the
church.
If We are to believe its sire and sponsors. the
basic principles of the birth are: Moral sua-
sion. re-education. evokng suggestion and spiritual
hypnosis" 1t is also maintained by these individ-
uas that Man is very suggestible animal and
from his subconscious region a wealth of dynamic
energy may be evoked"
We may incidentally remark that. from the high
faluting language and big words used in the official
proclamation of this latest cult its mysteries are
concealed from all but high school graduates and
university professors
Only IN one important respect does Emanuelism
differ from Christian Science. and that is when it
processes to work hand in hand with the medical
profession 1t claims to cure psychoogically: that
IS by mental suggestion; all nervous arrangements
1t has ample scope for the exercise of its religio
medical skill in fashionable Boston, where the
Emanuelsts assure us: "Melancholia moral ia
tigue hystera, suicidal mania. pscopathic sexuaHs
Neptomania and psychonneurosis" are quite com
mon among the great but decreasing non-Catholic
population.
At present, the followers of this twentieth cen
fury heresy attend the weekly services in the
churches where the cult is followed and the fad fash
lonable and whose pastors are It's opponents and
project health thoughts" that operate on the "usb
conscious mind" in manner entirely familiar 70
the travelling faker if not to the reputable pbvsi
clan.
Emanuelism processes to teach the wisdom and
utility Of confession. 1t returns partially to the
Reformation doctrine of confession of sins de-
nounced by Cranmer the invention Of the devil
The patient is taken into retired corner and is en-
to lay bare his mind his Utmost thoughts
and actions to his or her pastor In these intimate
conferences, the minister, who is always on the
alert claims TO have better opportunity than the
doctor to ascertain the real cause of the trouble
he fact that the poor minister himself is. in many
cases. hollow-eyed. sallow complexioned man with
receding chest and notceably narrow shoulders ,
physical weaklng walking the rim of the nrec;-
pee OF collapse, seems to make no impression on
the minds of the nervous wrecks seeking the prom
sed aid of Emanuelism
he contention of the Rev. DIR. Rob Macdonald,
If the fashionable Washington Avenue Bantist
church, Brooklyn, N. Y, that THE older apnoaI
was only to the soul and mans preparation for
eternity while this movement takes hold of his mon