Chapter VIII - Healing the Sick
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ing these terrible results was our occasion for learning
ing these terrible results was our occasion for learning
their cause, or discovering this mal-practice, and our
students are well aware we have no difficulty in tracing
the mental cause of disease. But before we discov-
ered this mal-practice and its motives, the evil had
reached so far, and held such sway over the patient's
minds, when we informed one she was not recovering
and had better return home, she answered with indig-
nation, "My doctor says I am recovering," but died
before she reached her earthly home. Wholly uncon-
scious of his secret method of turning the minds of
those he manipulated, against his benefactor, or of its
effects on their bodies, the patients asked us if the doc-
tor had lost his power, not understanding it was his
loss of Truth, and the hidden evil of his course that
injured the patients. A student of science cannot prac-
tice mesmerism honestly, therefore successfully, as a
Newton, who knows no higher method of healing. But
the mal-practice we allude to was more terrible than
simply a change to mesmerism; it chose darkness rather
than light because its deeds were evil. Such a practi-
tioner putting aside our moral precepts retains that
portion only of our teachings which relates to the pa-
tient's belief of disease and the method of destroying
this belief by the doctor's opposite, verbal, and mental
argument. This is the very least of the science of be-
ing, and yet the only part the mal-practitioner can avail
himself of to heal the sick. The patients have no re-
cognition of how much error he may also mingle with
this argument of Truth that will affect their minds and
bodies together, and to bad results as well as good. If
the sick recover from the effects of the doctor's mental
373:1
argument opposed to theirs, it proves, on the ground of
argument opposed to theirs, it proves, on the ground of
science, he has changed their belief with regard to their
disease, or the body would not have responded thus;
and now comes his opportunity to do evil; for, if he can
change their belief relative to sickness, he can also
change it with regard to an individual, or upon any
subject. But, remember, it is only the manipulator and
mal-practitioner that can do this, and not those who heal
with the Truth of Science. First, because the latter do
not manipulate the head; and secondly, because their
source of healing is science and Truth, and if they should
attempt to control the mind with error, they would not
affect the sick, while the mal-practitioner's principal
power is to do evil, and a crumb of science is all he has
wherewith to heal; and his want of better success is the
result of his wickedness.
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We have actually stood in awe at the absolute might
We have actually stood in awe at the absolute might
of Truth, when witnessing the effect a little has on the
sick, and sadly remembered how much could be done
by the truly wise, "who put oil in their lamps" and
have not the power to abuse the science of being.
Since witnessing the evil one student did in the name
of science, we have utterly objected to students rub-
bing the head. The mal-practitioner's sin standeth "in
holy places." It is a crime against the highest tribunal
of Soul, commending wrong and condemning right, it
tramples on every law of justice and Truth.
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In defence of mesmerism is urged, that Dr. Quimby
In defence of mesmerism is urged, that Dr. Quimby
manipulated the sick. He never studied this science,
but reached his own high standpoint and grew to it
through his own, and not another's progress. He was
a good man, a law to himself; when we knew him he