Article June 27, 1925 Issue

A physician, writing for your paper under the title, "Just Dreaming,"...

Lester B. McCoun, Committee on Publication for the State of Nebraska,—Omaha

World-Herald

A physician, writing for your paper under the title, "Just Dreaming," includes a misleading statement regarding the teaching of Mary Baker Eddy. On the subject of animal magnetism he said, "Mrs. Eddy did not believe in it, she said, but what she wrote about it always had a flavor of a defense reaction."

What Mrs. Eddy believed and said regarding animal magnetism is given in her writings, especially in a chapter entitled, "Animal Magnetism Unmasked," commencing on page 100 of her textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures." On page 103 of this work she has stated, "As named in Christian Science, animal magnetism or hypnotism is the specific term for error, or mortal mind. 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." On page 102 are these words: "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, and in sense it is an unreal concept of the so-called mortal mind." Throughout her writings, whenever the subject is mentioned, Mrs. Eddy adheres strictly to the above definitions. She was a consistent monotheist, a firm believer in one God or power, from whom only good can proceed; and every Christian Science demonstration is made on this premise.

Mrs. Eddy's vigorous adherence to God as the only Mind or power, and her patient insistence that the works of Christ Jesus were performed on this basis, are so ably expressed in her writings that any one reading there, with a desire to become informed regarding her teaching, cannot fail to observe that these are outstanding characteristics of her religious convictions, and that she accredited no reality to animal magnetism. Apropos of our critic's subject, permit me to add that Christ Jesus was not dreaming when he overcame mortal fears and beliefs through the power of Spirit, and said of the Christ, "Lo, I am with you alway." If Christ is with us always, it would appear that the dreamers are those who think Christ is absent and that the power of God is not available, through His Son, now.

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