Article September 19, 1925 Issue

Your reviewer of Dr. Pierre Janet's "Principles of Psychotherapy"...

William C. Brookes, Committee on Publication for Midlothian, Scotland,—Edinburgh

Scotsman

Your reviewer of Dr. Pierre Janet's "Principles of Psychotherapy" says the author has shown Christian Science "to be derived from animal magnetism." In other words, Christian Science is "derived" from that which it specifically denounces! On page 103 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" Mrs. Eddy says: "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."

The crux of the question raised is this concept that mind is not in matter; and in case any of your readers desire to look to some source other than Christian Science for proof that it is not, they may be referred to Dr. Johnson's purely logical argument on the subject in "Rasselas." Like many another thinker, right down through the ages, Johnson had a glimpse of the truth which "shall make you free;" and in "Rasselas" he says: "All that we know of matter is, that matter is inert, senseless, and lifeless." When Dr. Janet has come to the same conclusion as Dr. Johnson, he will give up his study of psychotherapy and look to the Bible for the key to the art of healing.

But to return to your reviewer. He goes on to say that "the popularity and likewise the evanescence of the popularity" of Christian Science are explained by Dr. Janet. This statement shows that neither the author nor the reviewer is correctly informed of Christian Science, otherwise they would not speak of its "popularity." Christian Science can never be "popular" because, like the Christianity of the four Gospels, it demands that its followers shall leave all for Christ. Your reviewer should know that when Christianity became "popular" in the days of Constantine, it very soon lost its power to heal—that power which Christ Jesus demanded as a proof of discipleship: "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also."

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