Hypnotism

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · May 10, 1910

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 37, No. 18.

A recent daily paper tells of a wonderful work that has been performed by hypnotism in changing a wicked, insane girl into a woman of good and steady habits. The article admits, however, that this is altogether different from most of the hypnotic experiments, and declares that in France in some of these experiments doctors have suggested to their subject to commit minor crimes by saying, “Go and steal Doctor So-and-So’s handkerchief,” or “Go and strangle the cat,” and the patients have obeyed. On this patient the suggestions were always made for good, and the patient formed the habit of doing them; and yet this of itself must be serious. God designed that the will of the human should be absolutely free, subject to no other power than God, and if subject to Him voluntarily so; but he who places his mind absolutely under the control of a fellow creature, weakens his will to that extent, and therefore loses the individuality which God designed that he should have. Hypnotism is a power which may be exercised simply by one human being over another, but we believe that it is largely exercised through the influence of the devil for evil and only evil. Our counsel is, Have nothing to do with it. Submit your will to no creature influence.