Imperial Valley press., 1913-10-21
Rev. Zed Copp
In Mental Clinic

the ReN. MI. NOpp MeHtdl ChiiAN'
if the Presbyterian need to advertise.
He doesn't. His work in Philadelphia is
advertised like it was IN Washington
ID. c. Besides filling the pulpit of one
of the most exclusive and wealthy
churches of the Quaker City. The Rev.
Zed Copp has made an evviable repu-
tation as Nemesis for "blues," men
tai depression and "grouches," through
his free mental clinic.
The Rev. Zedd Copp has had the
training to make his idea success.
As an accredited Presbyterian minis
ter of the gospel in Washington and
pastor of a church located in the velY
heart of the capitals red light district.
he came to be known as a verltabie
good angel to women of that locality
and to young men and girls who got
into trouble via the gilded route. lie
was a familiar figure at the police
court, and he was a tireless worker IN
the interest of the defendants whom he
befriended and whom he thought wor-
thy of a chance. He was deep socl-
oolgical student. and a practical one.
Just before answering the call to the
local church the Rev. Copp studied
law. passed the bar examination IN
Washington and opened an office where
he dispensed free legal advice to the
poor and needy, and acted as arbltra-
tor in domestic troubles which had not
reached the courts. During all his
work. he has made deep study of the
cases of those who have attempted
suicide and failed. 1t was after he
came here that he decided to establish
his mental clinic on the theory that 1t
is better to change mans viewpoint
early so that suicidal melancholia
would not develop through broodinS
over wrongs and hardships, fancied or
otherwise, rather than wait until too
late. Therefore the Rev. COpp holds
his clinics twice a week-for several
hours on Wednesday and Friday even
ings. When his patients call, he takes
them one by one into his private study
and talks to them. He gives each a
chance to get his broodings off his
chest"
There is hope for the mental pris-
oner confined in the cell of his own
despair. He need not suicide in order
to escape the execution of relentless
fate. There is always living way
out, if he will only look for it Thus
spoke the Rev Copp when asked by q
representative of the United Press
about the clinic. Pastor Copp's theory
based on observation-is that sui
eide is the result of sin-either one
own or another-against body. mind
or spirit.
His method Of treatment is psyche
physical the pastor explained. He
greets the would-be suicide cordially
and puts him or her at ease and re
taxation. Then he requires d state
ment of facts, without mental reser-
vation, concerning the patients con
dition. Heredity, training and environ
ment are gone over carefully with j
view of ascertaining what perspect-
i've of lifo ,t,ac
| by the patient in the days of his fo--
NATIVE stages. During this time Pas
tor Copp is physically searching and
sounding his patient, endeavoring tc
calm the mind, restore the poise, anC
relax the nervous tension. In littl5
while the tragic lines of the face sof
! ten into repose, change to cheerful
ness and new lines &C happy cOnvictior
as the patient responds to the treat
ment. One of Pastor Copp's favoriL,
methods Of convincing a patient thai
all is not dark and dismal in life is tC
have him gaze fiXedly at a given spot
on the wall, concentrating the minc
+ thereon, and then look upon a white
curtain, OF course, the spots show
for a time and then fade away out oI
ight.
Thus it Is, he explains to his Wis
itor, with your troubles. You have
looked upon it so long without chang.
ing your mental view that you cannot
see anything else. Your distress i.
purely local, but you have made il
general to your mind by allowing fear
ito constantly develop a highly magni.
/ fled moving picture of trouble. Stor
lit. Let hope work in you, and you vii
always find a living way out Of al
kinds Of trouble"
Pastor Copp has given treatment tt
all shades Of mental diseases from SUI
perstition to insanity. There are, how
ever, few cases of either extreme. The
majority, he says, grows morosc