Article January 1, 1910 ISSUE

In a late issue of the Examiner there appeared an article...

Alfred Farlow

Oakland (Cal.) Examiner

In a late issue of the Examiner there appeared an article by Henry Smith Williams, LL.D., M.D., entitled, "A Scientific Explanation of Malicious Animal Magnetism." Dr. Williams declares, "Now, let me say that in these cases of malicious animal magnetism I believe we are in the presence of hypnotic phenomena, and of phenomena similar to those involved in medieval witchcraft, in the sorcery of savages at the present day," etc. He adds, "Hypnotism in some form will be found to account for nearly all of these marvels. The persons alleged to have been affected by 'malicious animal magnetism' were in most instances, in my opinion, in a state of partial hypnosis."

We believe this statement properly describes the supposed influence under discussion, provided hypnotism is used in its broad sense, as applied to every condition of the human mind wherein it is in any degree hampered in its freedom; and since ignorance, false belief, false thought are the only means of limiting the freedom of consciousness, it follows that as mortals, all persons are in a great or small degree in the state which Dr. Williams has described as subject to mental malpractice, until through spiritual understanding they awaken to a realization of the all-power of God and cease to give power to evil. Witchcraft, sorcery, and all other forms of superstition which have existed during the history of the world, have been no more than varied forms of magnetism or hypnotism, and their supposed but false powers are destroyed by the power of Truth, God.

It is quite true that the "fear of an inanimate object," as well as the fear of persons, may have the effect of disturbing an individual who is taken unaware, but ignorance lies at the bottom of all evil and all discord, and the remedy is the understanding of Truth. We may safely admit that the form of mental phenomena called "telepathic impressions" or "hypnotic suggestions" cannot be received except by those who are more or less in a state of expectancy; but we would ask, Is not any individual, in the ratio of his lack of understanding that good is the only power, and consequently in the belief that he is capable of receiving "impressions," in at least a mild degree of "expectancy" and "fear." He has a false belief in the power of evil because the "carnal mind" naturally entertains such a false belief, and because the individual has not yet, through an understanding of God as the only real power, lost this belief; and this false belief constitutes the basis of "expectancy," a condition which Dr. Williams names as the weakness which renders one susceptible to evil mental impressions; but we are thankful to note that Christian Science furnishes an effectual remedy therefor. It destroys all fear, not by an "attitude of strained attention," but by an enlarged and confident trust in divine Love as the only real power.

It is not necessary to adopt any belief in witches, sorcery, or any subtle power of evil in order to have one's eyes opened to the mental counterfeit of the spiritual influence that heals the sick, and it is a mistake to suppose that malicious animal magnetism is "recognized by the Christian Science church as a power." It is the mission of Christian Science to uncover the deception called malicious animal magnetism, and to destroy any influence it might have over those who are deceived thereby. Christian Science does not plead in behalf of any form of superstition or irrationality, but it effects a scientific uncovering of these and a demonstrable method of destroying them. We must not mistake the uncovering of evil's false pretensions for an endorsement of these pretensions.

Moreover, the blind, futile, and unchristian effort to exert evil mental influence is not a product nor a consequent of Christian Science. It is its counterfeit. It is simply a more aggressive form of the latent falsity of the supposed "carnal mind" which Christian Science exposes, and which seeks to maintain its position in self-defense as it writhes under the doom of divine Science. Christian Science is uncovering and destroying evil's hidden forms and is establishing the peace and harmony of omnipotent good. In Christian Science it is understood that malicious animal magnetism has no power. It is at most only deception, and can only affect the unwary, those who fail to understand the eternal, spiritual truth.

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