THE COLONIST. Published Every Morning. Saturday March 6. 1909. THOUGHT SUGGESTION AND THE CURE OF DISEASE.

Colonist, Volume LI, Issue 12481, 6 March 1909, Page 2

THE COLONIST. Published Every Morning. Saturday March 6. 1909. THOUGHT SUGGESTION AND THE CURE OF DISEASE.

Some months ago Bishop Julius, of Christchurch, issued a weighty pronouncement on the subject of mental healing, which engrossed, much. study at the Pan-Anglican Congress last year, and stated his intention of carrying out systematic experiments in his own diocese. He deputed one pr two clergymen possessing special gifts to study the matter, and though the project met with a good deal of ridicule, and very little genuine encouragement, the, __ experiments are presumably now being conducted. Even if they do . not prove successful from, the: point, of view of those engaged'in them, the^fesult may be valuable, in giving some degree of enlightenment upon a subject about concerning which we' are groping in the dark .at' present. In America more thin "ii., where clso, thought suggestion, is iv'tr.rded as possessing much practical utility in the treatment of certain ailments and vices, and it is extensively practised by teacher of high repute, !with results that are said to be. extremely satisfactorily .*C>n a recent . Sunday thirty * sermons were preached in America, proclaiming what is called the "Emmanuel treatment," which consists of a 'judicious blending of religion and mental "-suggestion for tile cure of disease." In the case of the 'Emmanuel movement;' only functional diseases^of tho nervous system are treated, and, that mental suggestion is often useful in viiese cases has been proved by Dr Feriiner in Germany, and Dr Uiarcot in France. Dr ■Worcester (writes. a. .New York correspondent) does not even claim to have discovered o, panacea, for all ills, and ho is merely responsible for the organising at his church of such a combination of religions and scientific , treatment under clerical and medical supervision as seems best fitted to meet tho requirements of nervous derelicts, a class more numerous in America than in any other civilised country. Undoubtedly there have been numerous well-authenticated" cures, and this fast is largely responsible for the popularity of- mental suggestion as a: cure in America to-day. It is not yet so fashionable as pin-firing and thought-reading were in the times ofthe mesmerism • craze oh the other side of thY Atlantic, hut things are rapidly

ttmding that way. The trouble is that so inan^y amateurs are trying their luck at. healing by'suggestion, and the question is raised whether as much harm as good may not' have been done a'f i the, result of rank inexperience. Some disciples of the Emmanuel movement/.which has recently been-trans-plaiited to ' England, Franco, and Germany, go a trifle further than the originators. For example, the Rev. Henry Rose, a popular New Jersey pastor^ preaching recently at Newark, declared not only that wives now have a chance of reforming their husbands, but; that^.every fault, sin, and crime in children can be prevented, ''and I every bad habit "cured by mental sug- ' gestion, given in homoepathic 'doses "while the. patient slept. Mr Rose cited an- instance in which he "and Dr Worcester, pastor of the ' Emmanuel Protestant Episcopal Church, of Boston; engaged jointly, and in; which 100 children were treated for? cleprayity,' with the result vfchat 35 were absolutely reformed, .45 • were greatly benefited, and only 12; failed to. respond. "Whiloythe I mind of a child is more susceptible to: mental sugges--tion during sleep than of ah adult," continued Mr lios'e,. ''an adult can be reformed, by persistency. .-I know of women- whose - homes -were made unhappy who reformed their husbands by waiting until the latter slept and then sitting down beside their beds and talking to them. One whose husband drank told me' that, she spoke about as follows : — "I'm going to have a litjle -talk with you, Henry. You Will not awake, because I am going to tell you pleasant things. ■ To-mor-rOw, when you will iave finished your work you will not go to' the club. and drink and carouse; you will return home, where 3'ou will find a good dinner, and la happy family evening you will spend with me,- because I wiU entertain J'Oir, so that' you will not' want to" leave.'- •' Next -. f the husband came hpmej as his" Mfe. Said he would, forgot his .club, /and $obii 'after, persisting in the treatment, -the wife entirely cured himV,V-;. Obviously, if the 'ti-eatment is. g6od, for: husbands, it is oqually good fpr^Wives, , and, being _choap, they-.. 'Are .experimenting, along the lives of mental suggestion to-day throughout America. ," '