Article December 1, 1928 Issue

In an article which appeared in your recent issue, entitled...

Lewis B. Sawyer, Committee on Publication for the State of Missouri,—St. Louis

Modern View

In an article which appeared in your recent issue, entitled "Faith Healing," the writer has unfortunately referred to Christian Science as having an hypnotic influence upon its followers. Inasmuch as this inference is not in accord with the facts, I shall ask you kindly to publish this reply in order that your readers may not be misled. Christian Science is in no way allied to or connected with what is commonly known as faith-healing, that which your correspondent reports has been rejected by the Central Conference of American Rabbis.

The effect of Christian Science upon those who understand it is always salutary. Never does it produce an hypnotic or mesmeric result. In describing hypnotism in the textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," Mary Baker Eddy writes (p. 402): "The operator would make his subjects believe that they cannot act voluntarily and handle themselves as they should do. If they yield to this influence, it is because their belief is not better instructed by spiritual understanding. Hence the proof that hypnotism is not scientific; Science cannot produce both disorder and order." Christian Science, properly applied, always results in harmony, health, and peace, because it brings its followers nearer to God. And your correspondent is right when he states that mental healing, "even if patterned after the style of Mrs. Eddy's followers, would not counteract Christian Science" with Jewish people who have experienced its healing influence. Having proved the value of the real, they would hardly be tempted to accept an imitation.

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