The Washington herald., 1912-12-29
NEW THOUGHT AND =
WHAT IT TEACHES
Practical Christianity and Not that
Of Any Seet, Says It's
President.

New Thought has for its prime object
the teaching of the Christianity of Christ
and not the Christianity OF any sect the
doctrine Of Jesus Of Nazareth withou,
theological dogma. We believe that Jesus
meant just what he said and that every
thing that he taught is not only true. but
practical and practicable in daily life.
Whenever he is said to have healed. We
believe that his cures were effected, not
by miracle, nor by violation OF, nor ex-
ception to the laws Of God. but in COM
pliance with them
New Thought is not therapeutic sys-
tom. but 1t is religion. which, If it is
lived, health will be one OF the results
Prof. William James late of Harvard
said of New Thought IN his lectures given
on the subject in Edinburgh: TT must
now be reckoned with as a genuine re-
ngious power, and adds: ..It is the r,
ligion Of healthy -mindedness, the gospel
of don't worry. and relaxation. The plain
fact remains he said, that the spread
of the movement has been due to its
practical fruits
The real work of New Thought is tn.
spiritual development Of the individual
and health, happiness, and usefulness
follow as results. New Thought has no
aft1liation with hypnotism. mental science,
or suggestion. 1t depends absolutely and
exclusively upon the Father that dwelleth
within us to do the work as Jesus taught.
II the Rev. James S. Montgomery, who
characterized New Thought. in one of
his sermons as ''in the trail of destructive
heresies," had investigated the subject
before expressing an opinion he would
have arrived at q very different conclu-
sion. He SAYS, for instance. that ''in
the trail Of this heresy we find no ad-
equate place given Jesus OF Nazareth"
On the contrary, New Thought takes
Jesus teaching as its only textbook; it
takes the spirit of truth, which Jesus
said He would send ito guide US into
all truth as its only guide and leader.
II insists, as Jesus taught, that the
sin is in the thought If it never transpires
in word or deed. therefore its followers
must keep their hearts Thoughts and
feelings with all diligence. for out of
them are the issues of life;' that what
ever Jesus said or did, ''if ye have not
the spirit of Christ We are none of His, "
that the alI-important thing is to mani
fest his spirit and live the life He lived.
IF Christ is not born in thee, thy soul
Is all fOrlorn.''
Our critic said: New Thought does
not call upon its people to join In the
miserere.' No; It does not, but It urges
them 10 join in the grand hallelujah
chorus, for when Christ comes to the
consciousness of the individual as the
erer. and he realizes that he himself is
a distributing center for the Christ
spirit to manifest through his life is
one continual hymn of love, and praise, |
and Thanksgiving to God who has given |
him the victory through Jesus Christ
our Lord.
New Thought does not teach its fol- |
lowers to keep their eyes on a dead
Christ, but on the risen. living, active |
Christ within Who is leading them into |
all truth. The gentleman also seemed |
70 regret that he doesn't find the New |
Thought declaring the fact Of human |
guilt, and Che adds rarely do We
stumble on the stupendous fact of sin" |
las man thinketh in his heart, so
is he said Solomon. New Thought /
teaches it's followers. instead of keep
ing the thought of sin and guilt in the
mind to think of themselves and others
as God made them, in His Own image
and likeness, then according TO the law,
that will in time be expressed New
Thought then is simply practical Chris
tianity. taking Jesus teaching as its
rule of life: as a learned pundit from
the East who was entertained by the
iterati of Boston, when asked how they
could attain the wonderful spiritual
power that he possessed, answered: Fol
low the teachings Of your own Christ;
you will find 1t all there
New Thought students considered the
comm andment of Jesus to Preach the
Gospel and heal the sick" as binding as
any other command, and they give the
Christ an adequate place in their teach
ings and lives. and do not ignore the sec
ond clause in the command (as Jesus
never has withdrawn III. but seek to obey
il wholly as He gave il. The sole object
Of the teaching and treatment of New
Thought practitioners is simply to bring
TO the consciousness of the individual the
indwelling Of Christ and TO teach him to
think speak, and act only as he Is
prompted by the spirit within, I'm whom
are held all the treasures of wisdom and
knowledge and we are complete in Him."
New Thought teaches life of love and
service. TO go about doing good to all,
as Jesus did. and it has no word of con-
demnatiOn for those who do not see the
truth as il sees it. but cultivates a spirit
OF love and charity for all, knowing that
we are. children OF the same Father. and
that He will eventually bring all to the
knowledge of the truth as 1t is in Christ
Jesus We therefore believe and teach
that when the doctrine of Jesus and the
laws of God are studied and followed in
daily life. health, happiness, abundance,
and healing the sick will follow them
that believe EMMA GRAY,
President Of the National New Thought Center.