of being. In Science, body is the servant of Mind, not its master: Mind is supreme. Science reverses the evidence of material sense with the spiritual sense that God, Spirit, is the only substance; and that man, His image and likeness, is spiritual, not material. This great Truth does not destroy but substantiates man's identity—together with his immortality and preexistence, or his spiritual coexistence with his Maker. That which has a beginning must have an ending.
What should one conclude as to Professor Carpenter's exhibitions of mesmerism?
That largely depends upon what one accepts as either useful or true, I have no knowledge of mesmerism, practically or theoretically, save as I measure its demonstrations as a false belief, and avoid all that works ill. If mesmerism has the power attributed to it by the gentleman referred to, it should neither be taught nor practised, but should be conscientiously condemned. One thing is quite apparent; namely, that its so-called power is despotic, and Mr. Carpenter deserves praise for his public exposure of it. If such be its power, I am opposed to it, as to every form of error—whether of ignorance or fanaticism, prompted by money-making or malice. It is enough for me to know that animal magnetism is neither of God nor Science.
It is alleged that at one of his recent lectures in Boston Mr. Carpenter made a man drunk on water, and then informed his audience that he could produce the effect of alcohol, or of any drug, on the human system, through the action of mind alone. This honest declaration as to the animus of animal magnetism and the possible purpose to which it can be devoted, has, we trust, been made in season to open the eyes of the people to the hidden nature of some tragic events and sudden deaths at this period.
Was ever a person made insane by studying metaphysics?
Such an occurrence would be impossible, for the proper study of Mind-healing would cure the insane. That persons have gone away from the Massachusetts Metaphysical College “made insane by Mrs. Eddy's teachings,” like a hundred other stories, is a baseless fabrication offered solely to injure her or her school. The enemy is trying to make capital out of the following case. A young lady entered the College class who, I quickly saw, had a tendency to monomania, and requested her to withdraw before its close. We are credibly informed that, before entering the College, this young lady had manifested some mental unsoundness, and have no doubt she could have been restored by Christian Science treatment. Her friends employed a homœopathist, who had the skill and honor to state, as his opinion given to her friends, that “Mrs. Eddy's teachings had not produced insanity.” This is the only case that could be distorted into the claim of insanity ever having occurred in a class of Mrs. Eddy's; while acknowledged and notable cases of insanity have been cured in her class.
If all that is mortal is a dream or error, is not our capacity for formulating a dream, real; is it not God-made; and if God-made, can it be wrong, sinful, or an error?
The spirit of Truth leads into all truth, and enables man to discern between the real and the unreal. Entertaining the common belief in the opposite of goodness, and that evil is as real as good, opposes the leadings of the divine Spirit that are helping man Godward: it prevents a recognition of the nothingness of the dream, or belief, that Mind is in matter, intelligence in non-intelligence, sin, and death. This belief presupposes not only a power opposed to God, and that God is not All-in-all, as the Scriptures imply Him to be, but that the capacity to err proceeds from God.
That God is Truth, the Scriptures aver; that Truth never created error, or such a capacity, is self-evident; that God made all that was made, is again Scriptural; therefore your answer is, that error is an illusion of mortals; that God is not its author, and it cannot be real.
Does “Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures” explain the entire method of metaphysical healing, or is there a secret back of what is contained in that book, as some say?
“Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures” is a complete textbook of Christian Science; and its metaphysical method of healing is as lucid in presentation as can be possible, under the necessity to express the metaphysical in physical terms. There is absolutely no additional secret outside of its teachings, or that gives one the power to heal; but it is essential that the student gain the spiritual understanding of the contents of this book, in order to heal.
Do you believe in change of heart?
We do believe, and understand—which is more—that there must be a change from human affections, desires, and aims, to the divine standard, “Be ye therefore perfect;” also, that there must be a change from the belief that the heart is matter and sustains life, to the understanding that God is our Life, that we exist in Mind, live thereby, and have being. This change of heart would deliver man from heart-disease, and advance Christianity a hundredfold. The human affections need to be changed from self to benevolence and love for God and man; changed to having but one God and loving Him supremely, and helping our brother man. This change of heart is essential to Christianity, and will have its effect physically as well as spiritually, healing disease. Burnt offerings and drugs, God does not require.
Is a belief of nervousness, accompanied by great mental depression, mesmerism?
All mesmerism is of one of three kinds; namely, the ignorant, the fraudulent, or the malicious workings of error or mortal mind. We have not the particulars of the case to which you may refer, and for this reason cannot answer your question professionally.
How can I govern a child metaphysically? Doesn't the use of the rod teach him life in matter?
The use of the rod is virtually a declaration to the child's mind that sensation belongs to matter. Motives govern acts, and Mind governs man. If you make clear to the child's thought the right motives for action, and cause him to love them, they will lead him aright: if you educate him to love God, good, and obey the Golden Rule, he will love and obey you without your having to resort to corporeal punishment.
| “ | When from the lips of Truth one mighty breath |
| Shall, like a whirlwind, scatter in its breeze | |
| The whole dark pile of human mockeries; | |
| Then shall the reign of Mind commence on earth, | |
| And starting fresh, as from a second birth, | |
| Man in the sunshine of the world's new spring, | |
| Shall walk transparent like some holy thing.” |
Are both prayer and drugs necessary to heal?
The apostle James said, “Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.” This text may refer to such as seek the material to aid the spiritual, and take drugs to support God's power to heal them. It is difficult to say how much one can do for himself, whose faith is divided between catnip and Christ; but not so difficult to know that if he were to serve one master, he could do vastly more. Whosoever understands the power of Spirit, has no doubt of God's power—even the might of Truth—to heal, through divine Science, beyond all human means and methods.
What do you think of marriage?
That it is often convenient, sometimes pleasant, and occasionally a love affair. Marriage is susceptible of many definitions. It sometimes
