What is called the “new thought” school or cult is said to number over a half million in the United States, and as many elsewhere. It is said to be to the most of those who hold it a “practical, everyday working philosophy that takes the place of a religion, and is, indeed, to those people the only possible religion.” Many who belong to it retain old affiliations, and thus it is honey-combing the churches. The idea is that the metaphysical controls the physical, “the power of the will is asserted in larger control and dominion over the forces of nature.” Emerson is its patron saint; R. Heber Newton and Geo. D. Herron are among its advocates. It is an attempt at a human substitute for righteousness and life through faith in Jesus Christ; human inspiration and leading for the divine Word.