Editorial March 19, 1910 Issue

"NO SCIENTIFIC FOUNDATION."

Archibald McLellan

Probably no phase of Christian Science teaching is so generally misunderstood by those outside its borders as that which exposes and denounces the operations of so-called animal magnetism, and yet the teaching on this subject is so plainly stated by Mrs. Eddy in Science and Health that "he who runs may read," and even the wayfaring man need not err therein. From what has been said by some critics of this Science, however, it might be inferred that animal magnetism is a force or supposed power, somewhat akin to witchcraft, which has been invented by Christian Scientists and is used by them for the control and discomfiture of their enemies; but this assumption is no more true than are the hundred and one other criticisms which utterly fail to recognize the basic teaching of Christian Science, namely, that God is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent.

Simply for convenience' sake, Mrs. Eddy has classified all erroneous beliefs under this one term; for instance, on page 484 of Science and Health she says, "Animal magnetism is the voluntary or involuntary action of error in all its forms." As showing the powerlessness and unreality of this aggregation of erroneous beliefs, she writes on page 102 of the same book, "Animal magnetism has no scientific foundation, for God governs all that is real, harmonious, and eternal, and His power is neither animal nor human. Its basis being a belief and this belief animal, in Science animal magnetism, mesmerism, or hypnotism is a mere negation, possessing neither intelligence, power, nor reality." Again, on page 103 she says of this masquerader in borrowed plumes, "It is the false belief that mind is in matter, and is both evil and good; that evil is as real as good and more powerful. This belief has not one quality of Truth."

Those who believe or profess to believe that animal magnetism is allied with Christian Science, should examine the primary authority on this question, the writings of Mrs. Eddy. If this search is made in a spirit of fair-mindedness, they cannot fail to see that animal magnetism is no more a part of the teachings of Christian Science than is the crime of burglary a part of the law which defines this crime, exposes its illegality, and decrees its punishment. If there be any who fear the seeming power of this evil, they should likewise study our Leader's writings, for in so doing they will find that animal magnetism is not something to fear, but is rather a false belief that there is a power apart from God, good; they will also learn how this false belief may be met and mastered.

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