The New York herald., 1922-11-05
MENTAL CURING
WORLD WIDE

going higher. Much to his surprise he
found that it registered normal. He
had forgotten to shake the ther-
mometer down in the first instance.
Immediately his illness left him. He
taught his classes that day and played
tennis that afternoon.
DIR. Hollinsworth, who was assigned
at the Plattsburg camp to cases in-
volving mental disturbances. teNs the
following instance of recovery:
"a soldier had been shell shocked,
which brought about paralysis of the
arm. / was under the impression that
his arm was permanently stiff. 1t was
not a case of malingering. The mans
arm was actually paralyzed. One
morning. while walking in the rear
of the hospital, l saw him busily
shining his shoes, using both hands
with equal dexterity. Upon sight of
me his arm Immediately became rigid.
Sight of an Officer
Brought on Paralysis
Recognizing that his case was due
to a mental disturbance and one that
required mental treatment l made
close study of 1t and came to the fol-
lowing conclusion: Probably the last
thing that he saw before becoming
unconscious on the field Of battle was
an army officer. On regaining con-
sciousness he found himself paralyzed,
and by natural process of reasoning
he unconsciously associated the two
things together. consequently, when
he saw an army officer his mind re-
verted to his misfortune and his
paralysis Immediately returned. In
other words, he was paralyzed when
ever he thought about II. BY careful
explanation and tedious repetitious we
succeeded In implanting in his mind
the belief that he was not really
paralyzed and that his affiiction waa
solely due to an association Of ideas.
AS soon as this was accomplished ho
was restored to normal health"
Now let me give you an instance In
which faith In religion produced an
almost miraculous cure.J Again quot
ing DIR. Hollingworth: "A colored
soldier. who was devoutly religious,
returned from France with stiff leg,
supposedly of rheumatic origin. Be-
ing convinced that his trouble was
largely mental I tried occupational
therapy upon him after the ordinary
medical treatments had failed. This
also produced no results.
upon discovering his deeply re-
ligious nature 1 decided to try to re-
lieye his condition by appealing to his
mind through his religious side. A
big prayer meeting was held, which
by pre-arrangement centered on the
soldier. All the prayers were made
for his recovery and were given a
definite turn to implant on his mind
the belief that he would be miracu-
full. He walked that, night, and the
following morning was as active and
1.-the as boy"
In New Orleans there is an old
church founded by a. Spanish priest,
since canonized as st. Roche. Within
it's walls lie buried the remains of its
founder. Many a time in my youth
have / visited this sanctuary and seen
the great piles of crutches left there
by devout believers who had been
healed by visit to this shrine. The
pool of Bethesda and the water OF
Lourdes are excellent examples of
this power of healing. If you will
stop to analyze the conditions attend
ant upon each of these instances you
will find that they are all based on
faith. Faith in what? To the orthodox
Christian in the power of God. Exer-
cised, according to the Catholic branch
OF the faith through his instruments,
~
their holiness. According TO the Prot
estant faith exercised by God in an
swer TO prayer.
Orthodox Christianity, however. now
believes that this omnipotent power is
not utilized as universally as in amos
tolic days, consequently. lacking faith
in the certainty OF healing, it's adj
herents are not cured of their illnesses
by faith as often as are the followers
of the more modern cults. which teach
certainty of cure. Christian Scien-
lists have faith that through the read
ing Of Science and Health and by
following its precepts they will he
healed-and they are. This is splen-
did EXAMPLE of mind healing.
The Occultists have too many tenets
to enumerate or describe them all In
the limits OF an article. They have
their Aura, some of the higher adopts
have as many as seven: they have
their rhythm and harmony, their Sc
cret writings and the kabala. their
science of numbers and their as
trology. Yet each one OF these may
trace its power for healing to the faith
held by the believer In its talismanic
power.
The Theosophists who have gone TO
the wise men Of the East for their
information concerning the universe.
teach that mind is superior to matter.
The founders OF New Thouoh' roc
ognizine the wonders accomplished by
Mrs. Eddy. but rebelling at some Of
her doubtful scientific facts. such as
the non-existence of matter have
adopted part OF her teachings without
giving her due credit and have added
certain theosophical doctrines. Their
theology may be an unsciontihc rnix-
ture. but they are teaching n wonder
full truth. 1t Is that mans destiny on
earth. his physical. mental and mate
rial we'll being are largely within his
own power 10 direct. that he may wish
himself whatever he wants TO be.
This Is a fairly good example OF mind
healing.
The Episcopal Church I'm It's last
convention officially recognized and
gave its stamp OF approval TO faith