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

Il
the importation OF hope and cheer
to a patient" is a means of great ben
eft to him. To this we readily agree
Then, we would ask, what shall we
offer the patient as a means OF gen.
Grating hope and cheer? We might
place him in the midst of beautiful
surroundings and present him with all
the comforts which money can buy and
yet fail to cheer him, for his exper-
fence may already have been like that
of Solomon who said, All is vanity
We aver that there is nothing so con-
ducive OF hope and cheer as the abid-
ing consciousness OF the constant pres
ence of God. Such a consciousness af-
fords lasting and unbounded hope for
1t Is based upon that which Is known
to be immutable and eternal. 1t has
been demonstrated through Christian
Science that hope thus created will do
more for q sick man than anything
else. II has been proved that the
spiritual understanding of God and
man and their relationship is more
practical than anything In this world.
Then why resort to any lesser means
Why depend upon uncertain human
suggestion as a means of destroying
sin and sickness when the divine pow
er is more available, more powerful
and more practical? ....
An Effect Of Suggestion.
AS he argues, the mental sugges-
tionists holds his patient in conscious
ness as a corporal person, a body
of matter. He thinks of him as such
and this amounts to a direct sugges-
A "A n
mortal and implies that as such he is
subject to discord. disease and unrest.
On the other hand the Christian
Scientist thinks of his patients real
individuality as Gods image and like
ness, His spiritual reflection; and his
denial Of sickness is based upon his
understanding that sickness is only a
false sense. Such an argument is
consistent with its premtses-premises
which are based upon eternal truth.
The thought Of the medical FRACTION
er, as we'll as the suggestion which
the act OF dealing out drugs gives to
his patient, is on the exact basis Of
the suggestionist, and hence not incon-
sistent with the practice OF the psy-
chologist. II the doctor gives the pa
tient a dose OF medicine, he practi-
cally suggests to his patient you are
material. taking materiality." though
he utters not a word. Thus by his
suggestion he intensifles the patients
belief in materially: especially IL there
is any result from his treatment. Though
the patient may take the drug with
a doubt as to its efficacy, If thereafter
apparent good results are forthcoming,
he is thereby convinced that he had
mistaken and that after all there is
something In 1t. Under such circum-
stances matter has become more real
to him. He has builded higher in ma
'terial belief and thus has drifted far
ther away from faith in Spirit as the
only real Life, substance and intelli-
gence. On the other hand, If the pa
tient fails to obtain good results
through the use of material remedies
his faith in materiality decreases and
he is thus brought nearer to the truth,
for having lost faith in matter, he is
more ready to accept that which en-
phasizes faith in Spirit. Similarly, he
who is apparently benefited by mental
suggestion is given a stronger faith in
mortal mind and is thus carried away
LIOA1 HIS AdlNA Al IAIG OAlc anu only
Mind. Thus we may prove that the
supposed benefits derived from the use
Of drugs and mental suggestion are
in reality harmful to the spiritual
growth of the individual. The ten
dency 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 a hopeless con-
dition, for Christian Science offers a
way out of the dilemma, after he
eventually fails in his make believe
benefits. Here 1t may be we'll to men
ton that sometimes when an indivi-
dual fails to gain relief from agonizing
pain by Christian Science treatment
he may find 1t a lesser evil to seek
temporary relief by material remedies
in order that he may regain position
from which he is able to effectually
demonstrate Christian Science. In the
case of a broken bone, he may because
Of his limited understanding, 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 Science
as far as possible. Beyond that we
choose the lesser Of two evils, and
few indeed are the occasions when
1t becomes necessary for a Christian
Scientist to resort to material rem
edies as an emergency means.
"a Curative Suggestion"
DIR. Worcester defines curative sug-
gestion' as ian effect obtained through,
the conviction that it "a cure) is about
to take place" A curative argument
in Christian Science Is one that is
based upon the everlasting truth that
man is always well and Always at rest
because he lives and moves, and has
his being in God. DIR. Worcester says
IT earnestly tell him that in few
moments he will be asleep" adding ''ii
he knows that hundreds OF other per-
sons have undergone this experience
he will be more certain to accept my
assurance and to obey the suggestion
Thus he bases his assurance OF results
upon a prospect. a mere speculation
He has no assurance that the patien4
will be asleep. He pins his faith to
the belief that he win be able to pro-
duce the result. This is not depend
ing upon God but upon oneself. This
is in direct opposition to the Master's
healing, who prayed mot will. but
as thou wilt" Again. DR.. Worcester
declares, Il convince myself that the
patients inability TO move does MOI
proceed from true paralysis, and l as
sure her that she can rise, and earn.
estiy command her 10 do 50, which she
proceeds to do" How or by what