The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1909-02-26
The New Road
A COmmOn-Sense Inquiry Into the
New Movement Of Mental Healing

"old" and the new" thought is
shown in the different attitude which
the individual assumes towards the
old thought" theories. every human
being was subject 10 outside condi-
tions. and circumstances over which
he could have little, il any. control.
Things happened just because they
happened. Ill-health. failure in busi-
ness, and every other variety OF mis-
fortune, depended upon an element Of
chance that detied our best laid plans
and endeavors. AS the result. peo-
pie came 10 believe In luck" or
fate They talked about good
luck and bad luck" as though such
terms were descriptive OF unavoidable
conditions.
The new thought" attitude to-
wards these problems OF life is very
different. for the eXponents of these
modern theories deny that chance. or
luck" plays any part in human eX-
perience. They refuse 20 accept the
theory that We are controlled by cir
cumstances outside OF ourselves, in
sisting, instead, that we possess the
power TO overcome any adverse cir
cumstances, if we but know how 10
exercise that force. This force. of
course, is thought-the thoughts we
think, and the emotions We feel; and
courage, hope. confidence are some
OF the thought-elements that shape
our lives most beneficently. That Is
TO say, the new systems teach us that
a man may be what he wills TO be
Thus, to keep in good health, he must
think health. To achieve success, he
must think success. To be happy. he
must maintain a cheerful and conf
dent attitude towards life. BY up
holding the theory that we get just
what we are looking for in life. the
new philosophical systems have
sounded a note OF inspiration that
has enabled thousands of people TO
face obstacles and misfortunes. the
depressing effect OF which might
otherwise have proved fatal.
AS we may readily see, there is
nothing in this doctrine that is con-
trary either Il the standard OF COM
nonsense or TO the recognized tenets
of the most orthodox Christianity
1t simply teaches us that every ex-
perience in life, however disagreeable
il may seem. is actually working for
our Jwn good, and those of us who
take the trouble 10 look back over
the record Of our own experiences.
will undoubtedly be forced to admit
that there is a firm foundation OF
truth behind this so-called law of life
1t is because this rule proves true
il is because we know that the com
plexion Of our experiences changes
when we view them retrospectivp!y.
and can see their purpose-that the
new thought idea has taken so
firm a grasp upon the intelligence Of
thoughtful men and women.
Another principle contained by
this new philosophy is the import
ance of the mental picture, and this,
too, is founded upon common-sense.
According &c this theory, every act or
achievement must have an actual ey-
istenCe in the mind before IL can be
realized in any material sense. BY
this the new thought" teachers
mean that the best way TO accomplish
an object is to know precisely what
We want TO do before we commence
TO do It. Just as the artist views his
picture mentally before he attempts
to put It upon canvas, 50 every act of
life should be clearly pictured in the
mind before an effort is made to ac-
complish It.
It is not difficult TO see that this
must be a good, sensible theory 10
follow, for ordinary experience
teaches us the necessity Of seeing our
goal before We aim at IT. what
would we think OF a marksman who,
instead OF aiming at his target,
should close his eyes tightly and shoot
at random? Yet this is exactly what
many persons do every day OF their
lives. and this is the practice tfat
the new thought" systems endeavOr
to prevent. BY completing the men
tai picture before attempting 10 re-
produce it in reality. we can protect
ourselves against many misfortunes.
for the possibility Of failure Is thus
reduced TO a minimum. This MAJ
be new thought" but IT is also ordi-
nary ccmmon-sense.
A third principle advanced by the
promoters q these systems Of
thought is the value Of concentration
and % this idea nobody can possibly
object To accomplish a definite pur-
pose in life. il is admittedly necessary
that we should comply with two con-
ditions: G) We must know just
what we desire 10 do, and (2D vo
must be able 20 concentrate our at
tention upon the effort 10 do Il.
There is a very simple illustration
that shows the value OF concenlra-
tion. but it is a test that anybody can
try with practically no trouble or ey-
pense. The only thing necessary g.
-. -.