Los Angeles herald., 1910-08-22
CLEAN THOUGHTS
FOE TO DISEASE
Or. MacCormack Delivers Ser
mon on Methods of the En-
manuel Movement
DEMAND SENSIBLE PLATFORM
Believes the Christian Religion Is
Founded on Reason
able Basis
DEMAND SENSIBLE PLATFORM

"Are the Methods of the Emmanuel
Movement Sane?" was the topic of the
sermon last evening by Rev. William
MacCormack. dean and rector Of St.
PauTs pro-Cathedral DR.. MacCor-
mack took for his text John 1879, and
said in part:
1.-THE Christian religion is founded
upon a reasonable basis and all, there
fore, that profess to be related to it
must have 81 sensible platform to stand
on. One of the later day growths Of
this religion along the lines of praC-
ticaI service is the Emmanuel move
ment.
Are the methods of the Emmanuel
movement sane? Personally I believe
they are, and for the following rea-
sons:
Il. In the first place, this great en-
deavor does not try to do what from
its standpoint it is not possible to do.
Therefore right at the very thresh-
old we find this vital distinction be
tween diseases that are organic and
diseases that are functional,
Consumption is an organic disease.
Hysteria is a functional disorder Now,
the methods that would help hysteria
and kindred troubles would be Of no
use whatever in the case of organic
disorders.
"That is very important distinc-
ton. and it must commend itself to all
sane and rational people. 1t is wise
thing always not to try to do what you
are quite certain you can't do.
"2. The positive methods that are
employed must commend themselves
likewise to our good judgment. The
emphasis that is put upon the neces-
sity of work must seem very sensible
to people who have experienced its
value Many people are sick today be-
cause they have nothing to do but to
think about themselves. Satan finds
some mischief still for idle hands to
do You can't stop the machinery of
the brain. 1t will work. If you have
nothing wholesome to think about,
then you will think about what is not
wholesome.
"3. The Emmanuel movement COM
mends itself to our judgment because
It is scientific. 1t is not afraid to take
the latest discoveries of psychology
and apply them in the strengthening
of the body. 1t is admitted on all
sides that there is an intimate kind of
relationship between the mind and the
body, that the former influences tre-
mendously the latter. Usually this in
fuence is exercised in a bad way. The
purpose of this movement is to direct
this wonderful force in a good way and
produce strength in place of weak
ness.
~. Some time ago I listened to
very able talk on the powers of heal
ing The speaker said we would never
succeed as we wished until we had a
new philosophy of prayer. 1t is not
my purpose tonight to dwell at length
upon the philosophy Of prayer. But in
the Emmanuel movement it is at the
very first.
"A two-fold value is recognized.
Prayer has a great subjective inf1u-
ence The man who prays is always a
better man for it, even if he gets no
tangible answer to his prayers. More
things are wrought by prayer than this
world dreams Of The man who
doesn't pray misses many blessings
that are very possible through prayer.
Because the Emmanuel movement
is sensible, scientific, spiritual, it COM
mends itself to my judgment as emil
nently sane"