Undoubtedly thousands of individuals suffering with imaginary diseases, have been cured by Christian Science, Mind-Cures, Magnetic Healing, etc., etc. Let them be cured by all and any means, the more the better; but let the actually sick man suffering from a disease like typhoid fever, or diphtheria, or from consumption, cancer, or other chronic disease, not be deluded by a system which says: -

"You need pay no attention to diet. All you need to do is to believe. Believe that the disorder is simply a bad idea, a morbid motion. Dismiss from your mind the motion that you are ill, and you will be well."

This is false doctrine, and if followed out deprives the sick one of the only possible chance there is for life. His only chance of recovery consists first in living health, by following a proper dietary, and other hygienic rules; then let him think health as much as he wishes. The body and mind, and the mind and body, are inseparable companions in good health or ill health conditions.

A real disease, let us say for instance, tuberculosis, commonly called consumption, can never be cured by any "healer" on the saying "Think only health and you will be well." If organic disease is curable in this manner by any healer, there is absolutely no reason whatever why he should not be able to resurrect the dead as well; one is just as easy as the other.

The sum and substance of Christian Science, whatever good there is in it, is to be found in the New Testament. Then again much of its so-called Science is no science at all. If one wishes to get pure Christian Science, he has but to turn to the New Testament, where, throughout its pages, he will find some of the soundest reasoning and logic that is to be found anywhere. The greatest exponent of Christian Science was Christ, who was essentially a Healer of both Body and Mind. The teachings of Paul, which are second, only, to those of Christ, if put into practice are far and away ahead of Christian Science, or in fact of any other modern mind-cure doctrines.

The essence of true Christian Science is echoed in James 5: 15 : -

"And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up." This is only one of hundreds of the most beautiful passages bearing on the subject of faith and hope.

People do not study the New Testament sufficiently and intelligently well, otherwise they would there find doctrines far more sound and lasting than any of those of the mushroom varieties, which have misled and carried away so many individuals from rational teaching. One writer has put it thus : -

"Christian Science is suggestion plus absurdity; divine healing, suggestion plus faith in God; Dowie-ism, suggestion plus prayer and holy terror; Welt-merism, suggestion plus imagination; osteopathy, suggestion plus massage; homeopathy, suggestion plus nothing; allopathy, suggestion plus tub-fuls of drugs that either kill or cure; regular or rational medicine, suggestion plus the best common horse-sense available, or suggestion and medicine mixed with the best quality of brains obtainable."

In all instances the quality of brains - the brain power - must be good in order to make any of these mind-cures effective. Without this all mind-cure systems fall to the ground.