The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-02-06
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q HEALTH TALKS. 9
BY r. r. Spencer, M. o.
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There is nothing more conducive to
both mental and physical health as
a steadfast religious faith and tho
practice of religious duties.
Faith, which is the essence of all
religion, produces contentment and
contcntrnent is a tremendous factor il
the promotion of health. Mental equa{
nimity and satisfaction with life II
the best safeguard of continued health,
To all people there comes time soon-
er or later when they realize that
wealth and the getting of things viii
not bring health or happiness. In
our age it is not unlikely that tho
Tyranny of things" will be more OF
menace than the "Tyrranny of
kings" has formerly been. Chief JUS
tice Hughes is reported to have said
that "the main occupation of men in
our time seems to be the raising Of
corruption fund for their children
Religion, is the one great influenced
in the world which enables one to re-
duce his wants and live satisfied with
few things
1t is sometimes believed that relig-
, ious zeal may cause insanity but there
Is no statical evidence to support this
view. Deeply religious people may be-
come insane and religious manifesto.
tions may be present in their insan,
itys but this only shows that ths
| thoughts associated with the deepest
feelings come to the surface in insan.
ity.
Instead of regarding religion as d
cause of mental arrangement, manJ
physicians are now prescribing reIig.
lous practices as a means of treating
neurotic individuals of various kinds
It is said that nothing will so much
| improve these patients as to prescribe
a daily visit to a ward for crippled
| children or some such institution thai
| they may see others, less fortunate
| than themselves. bear trouble and suf4
| fering cheerfully. Prayer, too, besides
being of moral and spiritual value "A
| an excellent psyche therapeutic exer,
else. In those thtat are overwhelmed
with trouble it has produced mental
calm and has been known to cure an
insomnia that has existed for weeks.
Again, the religious observance od
Sunday has had a far greater influence
on health than one would suppose. The
human machine demands periodic resi-
and time for recuperation and regen.
Grafton so that IL may return to it,
work on the Monday with renewed
vigor. 1t has been recently stated thai
the almighty dollar has often beer
an excuse for the violation OF the Sab.
bath bat the institution and main,
tenance down the ages of the Sabbath
day of rest IS a wonderful example
of what religion can accomplish in
the face Of the corroding power OF
selfishness and is the best denonstra.
| ton Of its long influence for the bod.
lily as well as the spiritual and mental
health of mankind"
The direct influence of religion on
health has been shown by some care.
fully gathered English statistics. Thess
datas show that the highest deatI
rate is not among the laboring classs
es that are exposed to hazardous ocs
equations but among keepers
wine and beer dealers and hotel servs
ants among whom the moral hazard
of life are greatly increased and ovtz
whom religion fails to have the influ.
ence that would be beneficial. It II
further shown that Clergyman haw
the lowest death rate below that D
gardeners and nurserynen whose com
slant outdoor life gives them sucI
an advantage and whose simple la,
borious occupation without excitemen
is 50 favorable for long life.
It can scarcely be denied that mem
tai equanfmity and satisfaction viii
life is the best safeguard to continue.
health and we have the word of tn
foremost American psychologist tina
the sovereign cure for worry is ra
li1xjol12 Saif1>s'