“Prayer And Healing”
The article of Professor T——, having the above cap- [1]
tion, published in Zion's Herald, December third, came
not to my notice until January ninth. In it the Professor
offered me, as President of the Metaphysical College in
Boston, or one of my students, the liberal sum of one [5]
thousand dollars if either would reset certain dislocations
without the use of hands, and two thousand dollars if
either would give sight to one born blind.
Will the gentleman accept my thanks due to his gener- [10]
osity; for, if I should accept his bid on Christianity, he
would lose his money.
Why?
Because I performed more difficult tasks fifteen years
ago. At present, I am in another department of Christian [15]
work, “where there shall no signs be given them,” for
they shall be instructed in the Principle of Christian
Science that furnishes its own proof.
But, to reward his liberality, I offer him three thou-
sand dollars if he will heal one single case of opium-eating [20]
where the patient is very low and taking morphine powder
in its most concentrated form, at the rate of one ounce in
two weeks,—having taken it twenty years; and he is to
cure that habit in three days, leaving the patient well. I
cured precisely such a case in 1869. [25]
Also, Mr. C. M. H——, of Boston, formerly partner
of George T. Brown, pharmacist, No. 5 Beacon St., will
tell you that he was my student in December, 1884; and
that before leaving the class he took a patient thoroughly
addicted to the use of opium—if she went without it [30]
twenty-four hours she would have delirium—and in [1]
forty-eight hours cured her perfectly of this habit,
with no bad results, but with decided improvement in
health.
I have not yet made surgery one of the mental branches [5]
taught in my college; although students treat sprains,
contusions, etc., successfully. In the case of sprain of the
wrist-joint, where the regular doctor had put on splints
and bandages to remain six weeks, a student of mine
removed these appliances the same day and effected the [10]
cure in less than one week. Reference, Mrs. M. A. F——,
107 Eutaw Street, East Boston.
I agree with the Professor, that every system of medi-
cine claims more than it practises. If the system is Science,
it includes of necessity the Principle, which the learner [15]
can demonstrate only in proportion as he understands it.
Boasting is unbecoming a mortal's poor performances.
My Christian students are proverbially modest: their
works alone should declare them, since my system of medi-
cine is not generally understood. There are charlatans [20]
in “mind-cure,” who practise on the basis of matter, or
human will, not Mind.
The Professor alludes to Paul's advice to Timothy.
Did he refer to that questionable counsel, “Take a little
wine for thy stomach's sake”? Even doctors disagree [25]
on that prescription: some of the medical faculty will
tell you that alcoholic drinks cause the coats of the stomach
to thicken and the organ to contract; will prevent the
secretions of the gastric juice, and induce ulceration,
bleeding, vomiting, death. [30]
Again, the Professor quotes, in justification of material
methods, and as veritable: “He took a bone from the
side of Adam, closed up the wound thereof, and builded [1]
up the woman.” (Gen. ii. 21.)
Here we have the Professor on the platform of Christian
Science! even a “surgical operation” that he says was
performed by divine power,—Mind alone constructing [5]
the human system, before surgical instruments were
invented, and closing the incisions of the flesh.
He further states that God cannot save the soul without
compliance to ordained conditions. But, we ask, have
those conditions named in Genesis been perpetuated in [10]
the multiplication of mankind? And, are the conditions
of salvation mental, or physical; are they bodily penance
and torture, or repentance and reform, which are the
action of mind?
He asks, “Has the law been abrogated that demands [15]
the employment of visible agencies for specific ends?”
Will he accept my reply as derived from the life and
teachings of Jesus?—who annulled the so-called laws of
matter by the higher law of Spirit, causing him to walk
the wave, turn the water into wine, make the blind to see, [20]
the deaf to hear, the lame to walk, and the dead to be
raised without matter-agencies. And he did this for man's
example; not to teach himself, but others, the way of
healing and salvation. He said, “And other sheep I have,
which are not of this fold.” [25]
The teachings and demonstration of Jesus were for
all peoples and for all time; not for a privileged class or
a restricted period, but for as many as should believe in
him.
Are the discoverers of quinine, cocaine, etc., espe- [30]
cially the children of our Lord because of their medical
discoveries?
We have no record showing that our Master ever used, [1]
or recommended others to use, drugs; but we have his
words, and the prophet's, as follows: “Take no thought,
saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink?”
“And Asa ... sought not to the Lord, but to the physicians. [5]
And Asa slept with his fathers.”