The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1909-05-11
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upon the effort you are making
think OF nothing else-and you will
be astonished at the result.
And the lesson that this experiment
teaches applies just as forcibiy to
every act that we perform. One of
these new systems attempts to make
this point clear by advancing the
theory that the power to make plans.
and carry them into execution, is due
to the operation of an electrical force
which is constantly being generated
I'm the human body. While the body
may generate great deal of this
force, however, 1t is the brain that
acts as the switchboard, and which
determines the amount of this force
that may be utilized. Thus, while It
is possible that the body might create
great deal of power, it would not
be OF the slightest use to us unless
1t could be turned on at the brain,
and the mental process exerted in
turning on" this power is what we
define as concentration"
AS a matter of fact, it makes little
difference what theory we accept, so
long as we realize that concentration
is one of the elements that is most
necessary to success. No matter what
we desire to attain-whether 1t is
health, happiness, or material pros
perity-there can be no realization
of our ambitions until we have
learned how to devote our attention
to the object at which we are aiming,
and the extent of our success will de-
pend upon the degree to which we
can exclude all other thoughts and
purposes from the mind. 1t Is for
this reason that the study of concen-
tration is taught as one of the vital
principles in all these systems. and,
though it may be new thought" in
one sense of the word, 1t is too great
truth to be restricted by any bounds
of creed or cult.
Now that / have pointed out 80
much that is of merit in all these
systems, you will probably wonder
what there can be OF evil in theories
that promulgated so many things that
are good, and yet, despite all this.
there is a danger-line in the new
thought"-an element that must be
avoided IL we are to derive any bene-
fit from the lessons that we have
learned. That danger-line Is "inac-
tivity." BY this mean that students
| of new thought" by discovering the
wonderful powers of the mind, are
apt to become possessed OF the idea
that the mind is everything, and that
1t is unnecessary to supplement it's
| operations by any physical effort upon
our own part.
To succeed in anything that we
undertake we must have courage, and
confidence, and hope, but they alone
| are not sufficient. We must know
just what we want to do, and we
must be able to give our attention to
the performance of that purpose,
but, in addition to all this, we must
be willing to work for what we want.
In fact, without this willingness to
contribute our part, the goal will
never be reached, for mental pic
lures" and concentration" without
the added element of physical en-
| deavor, never have brought health,
success OF happiness to a single in
dividual. To recognize the part that
the mind plays in the affairs of life
is an indication of wisdom, but to ac-
cept these doctrines at the expense of
personal effort is to shut the very
door to regeneration that these
truths would otherwise open to U.s.
John r. Meader, in American Home
Monthly.