The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1909-04-05
Jesua Net q PsYehoIoaist.


Rapids. Mich. declares that Under
lying the success OF Christs ministry
lies nothing more nor less than the
laws OF psychology, the power of mind
over the body" and the gentleman's
further discussion of the subject in
dicates that he places the exalted work
Of the Master on the basis of human
suggestion, the force of his will over
material things and conditions and
over the minds of others. Jesus attrib-
uted his demonstrations not to him
self, but to the direct influence of the
Father.
Another clergyman has declared that
Jesus healed the sick through magnet
&c manipulations, still another claims
that he was controlled by good spirits.
Or. Elwood Worcester expresses an
opinion that IL there had been prof.
cient medical practitioners in the day
Of the Master, he would have had
physician to diagnose the cases OF
sickness which came to him, and that
he would have turned over the cases
Of organic diseases to the medical prac-
titioners. It appears that each parttcu-
lar indivnal Is prone to bespeak the
Masters commendation OF whatever
The individual himself would recon-
mend and to credit the Masters good
works to whatever means is required,
In his judgment, to produce given
result. Inasmuch as Jesus was unin-
numbered by any sort of material
means Or methods 1t follows that he
had the most expeditions and conven-
tent method the world has ever known.
He certainly would not have acted the
part of wisdom in seeking or using
Sny imperfect means when he already
had In his possession the perfect
possession which he demonstrated by
The perfect results which he obtained.
DR.. Godolphin is right in his declar-
alton: 81 believe when some Of US
Tail to get an answer II Is because
we are lacking I'm faith. We have got
to lern to submit our lives to Cod"
This leads US to say that Christian
gcience contributes very largely to-
wards ones faith in God by enlarg1ng
pne's understanding OF Him. Our
confidence increases as our acQuain-
tanceship enlarges. If we know only
q little about God we may have a
small faith. If we have misapprehen-
sion of God and look upon Him as
the author of discord and calamity
we may dread Him rather than trust
Him. The understanding that God is
Love, that He is infinite Mind, an ON
nipresent intelligence, that constantly
upholds, sustains and protects His
creatures fosters a strong faith in
Him. 1t would be impossible to enter
tain this infinite and exalted con-
seriousness of God without having in
Unite and abiding faith in Him. Such
faith amounts to understanding and
destroys evil and disease.
Suggestion.
One authority on mental suggestion
declares There are two-auto-sugges-
tions that will cure most cases of in
somnia. The first is this-when you go
to bed make up your mind that you
are going to have a good sleep. Say
to yourself, I am going to have a
good sleep tonight The other idea
is that if you don't sleep it doesn't
make any difference" This authority
says he explains to his patients that
sleep is a bad habit, very wasteful
OF time"
We are reminded Of the convenient
method of the man who sought to
prove the obedience Of his dog. The
master said to the dog, which was
under the bed, "Gyp, come out here"
Gyp did not move. Then his master
said, "Gyp, stay under the bed" Gyp
remained under the bed. Now said
the man to his friend, Did not
tell you that Gyp was an obedient
dog?"
DR.. McComb declares that the pa
4ient needs to assert again and again
to himself 4 will Sleep This is
about as simple a dose of human will
as one could imagine. 1t is sheer hu-
man determination without even a
material basis for its utterance and
is certainly in striking contrast with
the Masters declaration, "Not as will"
II IL is said "You are in a good at
mospheres in a comfortable bed and
therefore you win Sleep" the answer
may be Il acquired the habit of in
somnia in this very atmosphere and in
this very bed" Thus We might name
one suggestion after another until we
have exhausted every argument which
human consciousness is able to pro-
duce and still not find one which has
q logical, truthful and substantial basis
OF any feature whatever that could ra-
tionally be expected to convince the
patient that he will surely sleep. and
yet the suggestionist informs US THAI
gestionby such argument he has put
his patient to sleep. The inevitable
conclusion is that whatever result Is
produced by such a process is not
by the argument or arguments en-
ployed but by the employment ITSELF
that is, by the force OF will or mag
netism put forth In the effort.
Professor Dickinson s. Miller, in a
letter which appeared In the New
York Times November ID, 1905 de-
clared I'VE almost never can truthfully
say to a patient, You will get WELL
We do not know whether he win or
not. confess to the impractical
moral squeamishness of wishing to
Danish the lie from suggestion alto
gether. May we suggest to the gem
tleman that there is but one possible
way Of doing this and that is by
adopting the Christian Science method.
Mark the striking contrast between
the above practice and that Of the
Christian Scientist who with calm as
surance elucidates to his patient the
fact that he is In the very presence
OF God, infinite Love, and that his
rest is in God, In whom man lives
and moves and has hts being. The
patient is made to know why and
sustains His creatures and gives them
peace at every moment. Christian
Science gives definite, comprehen-
tive, truthful understanding OF God
and Of mans relation TO Him. The