Article February 27, 1932 Issue

In your issue of January 20, a lecture of a reverend...

The Hon. C. Augustus Norwood, Committee on Publication of The First Church of Christ, Scientist, Boston, Massachusetts,—North Adams

Transcript

In your issue of January 20, a lecture of a reverend gentleman is reported in such a way as to indicate that the speaker had said that the teachings of Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, on the subject of malicious animal magnetism are so closely allied to witchcraft as to give evidence that witchcraft may again be believed. The speaker appears to have made a very able study of witchcraft, but such a reference to Christian Science indicates either that he does not understand Mrs. Eddy's teaching, or that he has been more impressed with unsound and unjust statements about Christian Science by its critics than by an unprejudiced examination of the actual teaching of Mrs. Eddy.

It is significant that the only chapter found in the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy, dealing particularly with the subject of animal magnetism is entitled "Animal Magnetism Unmasked," for this shows beyond question that it was Mrs. Eddy's purpose to teach her followers to unmask and destroy the workings of animal magnetism rather than to believe in them or to give them any place or power.

It is generally understood that one individual may dominate the thinking of another who is willing to be influenced or who is not prepared to resist domination. A definition of "magnetism" as found in Webster's dictionary is, "Animal magnetism, or mesmerism." In so far as this force is exercised with a malicious purpose then malicious animal magnetism is in operation, but, as already pointed out, Mrs. Eddy sought to unmask such operations and to destroy their power.

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