The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1913-10-27
DON'T COMMIT
SUICIDE JUST YET
Call on Rev. copp and He Will Talk
You Out Of the Idea and
Make You Happy.
TBy the United Press. ]

PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 25.-.Are YOU
contemplating suicide? Don't take the
step until you have seen the Rev Zed
Hotel Copp, Philadelphia. Thus you
might read an advertisement OF the
Rev. MIR. Cops mental clinic If the
Presbyterian minister who conceived
the idea and is putting it into excellent
effect and results, needed to advertise
He doesn't. His work in Philadelphia
has advertised itself like it did in
Washington. D. G. Besides filling the
pulpit OF one OF the most exclusive and
wealthy churches of the Quaker City,
the Rev. zed Copp has made an envi-
able reputation as a Nemesis for the
blues" mental depression and
"grouches" through his free mental
clinic"
| The Rev zed 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 very
| heart of the capitals "red light" dis
trict, he came to be known as a veri-
table good anger to women of that
locality and to young men and girls
who get into trouble via the gilded
1 route. He was familiar figure at the
police court, and he was tireless
worker in the interest of the defend.
ants whom he befriended and whom he
though worthy Of chance. He was
deep, sociological student and practi
cal one. Just before answering the
call to the local church the Rev. Mr..
4 Copp studied law, passed the bar ex.
animation in Washington and opened
an office where he dispensed free legal
4 advice to the poor and needy, and act
4 ed as arbitrator in domestic troubles
which had not reached the courts. Dur.
i ing all his work, he has made deep
study of the cases of those who have
Il attempted suicide and failed. 1t was
4 after he came here that he decided to
establish his mental clinic" on the
4 theory that it is better to change a
mans viewpoint early so that suicidal
melancholia would not develop through
i brooding over wrongs and hardships.
4 fancied or otherwise, rather than wait
until 1t was too late. Therefore the
i Rev. Mr.. Copp holds his clinics twice
4 week-for several hours on Wednes-
day and Friday evenings. When his
patients" call, he takes them one by
one into his private study and talks to
them. He gives each chance to "get
his broodings off his chest"
There is hope for the mental pris
oner confined in the cell of his own
i despair. He need not suicide In order
to escape the execution Of relentless
fate There is always a living way
out, IL he will only look for it." Thus
spoke the Rev. Mr.. Copp, when asket
by a representative Of the United
Press about the clinic. Pastor Copp':
theory, based on observation, is tina
suicide is the result Of sin-either one:
own, or anothers-against body, mint
or spirit.
His method Of treatment Is psyche
phyical the pastor explained. He
!, greets the would-be suicide cordially
and puts him or her at ease and relax
alton. Then he requires statement
OF faCtS, WlLnOut neuIdl TeSeTVatlOH
concerning the patients" condition
Heredity, training and environment
: are gone over carefully with view O.
ascertaining what perspective and esti
mate Of life was conceived by the pa
. Itient in the days of his formative
stages. During this time Pastor Copl
is physically searching and sounding
his patient, endeavoring to calm thu
4 mind, restore the poise, and relax the
: nervous tension. In a little while thu
4 tragic lines of the face soften into re
3 pose, change to cheerfulness and new
Q lines of happy conviction as the pa
d tient responds to treatment" One O
8 Pastor Copp's favorite methods Of con
vincing patient" that all is not darl
T and dismal in life is to have him gaze
8 fixedly at given spot on the wall. con
centrating the mind thereon. and ther
r look upon white curtain. OF course
the spots show for time and thel
j fade away out of sight.
'"Thus 1t isl he explains to his visi
e tor, with your trouble. You hav'
/ looked upon 1t so long without chang