Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-07-15
By THOMAS r. HENRY

b1 1hOhAS N.
The SURGEON of souls is at work in
Washington-pe apparent mir
acles in the spiritual redemption OF
heaSt-men.
He works with some of the most
ioathsome outcasts Of humanity and
returns from the prison cell to society
upright and decent citizens
But DR. Benjamin karpman Of the
staff of ST. Elizshetn's Hospital works
entirely as a physician. He operates
on the souls Of men, as surgeon oper-
stes on the body. He explores the
sub-conScious strata of the mind 70
remove the distractions which clog
the blood stream of conscience.
Remarkable Results Obtained
Some remarkable results have been
obtained The work. however. still is
frankly experimental. The criminal
ward of ST Elizabeth's. with much
splendid pathological material. is serv-
ing as a laboratory for building UP a
real scientific knowledge Of the forces
that destroy the souls of men.
What caused a man to murder?
The murderer himself doesn't know
any more than the lavnan who goes
10 a doctor with sharp pains in his
abdomen knows what is the matter
with him If the cause isn't removed
he may murder again if he gets the
chance. DR.. Karpnlan tries To find
out Just as the doctor tries TO find out
by a thorough examination and COM
parison Of symptoms with those Of
previous cases But spiritual diagno-
sis Is q far more difhcult matter than
physical diagnosis.
The operating room Of the psychic
surgeon is simple affair. The only
implements are a sheet of paper, a
pencil and a peculiar sort of bed,
raised about three feet from the floor.
DAY after day the patient comes in and
reclines on that bed. The physician
from the view Of the patient. Out Of
his chance remarks. often over long
period, the diagnosis is built up.
Science in Infancy.
The science of spiritual surgery is
only in its infancy and by no means
every treatment is successful. But the
successes which have been attained
promise well for the future when the
hospital may take the place of the
jail and HOUSEKEEPING be recognized
simply as a symptom of definite NAL
ady. just as hemorrhages would be
symptom of tuberculosis.
Consider for example. the story of
the little boy who hated his mother.
This is one of the most remarkable
cases yet treated by psychotherapy at
ST. Elizaheth's.
II wasn't her fault, whoever she was.
that the little boy hated her. The
poor woman had disappeared from his
life in those shadowy cradle days that
lie beyond the bourne of conscious
memory He never had seen her to
remember her
Yet he hated her-hated her with
such ferocious, uncomfortable hatred
that his soul withered in its flames like
the foliage of tree in the path Of
forest fire.
He didn't know that he hated her.
It was a hatred so intense that the
conscious mind cast it out with loath-
ing.
Hate Noticed at Age Of 5.
He never knew what had become of
CHS poor, lost mother. She wandered
like a loathsome ghost through the
caverns of his subconscious mind
She might be dead. She might be in
an alrnshouse. She might be living In
luxury. He didn't know. But he hated
her.
The first act in this terrible tragedy
Of passionate hatred came when he
was about years old.
He had been adopted by childless
couple in moderate circumstances.
They gave him a good home and were
very kind to him He admits now that
he could not have fallen into the hands
Of two persons who would have loved
him more tenderly. He emerged into
the days Of conscious memory think
ing that they were his real parents.
But one day the ir1quisitive little boy
happened TO overfear parts of con-
verSation between his foster mother
and her sister in which some references
were made TO his adoption and he
was referred TO as an orphan
He didn't know what was meant
At the first opportunity he approached
the foster aunt and asked her
She tried 10 avoid what might have
been an embarrassing explanation to a
small boy. She told him it was none