Modern Deceptions by J. O. Corliss

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Mar 5, 1885

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 11, No. 10.

Modern Deceptions.

By J. O. Corliss

Boston, it appears, is suffering another affliction, this time in the form of a “Metaphysical Healing” imposition. The calamity itself is nothing new, for it has cursed many localities by its presence. The only thing new about it in New England’s metropolis is its imposing name—Christian Science. The prime mover in the work there is a Mrs. Eddy, who claims to be the discoverer of the wonderful system. (?) Already more than two hundred have graduated from her school, to perpetrate their frauds on other unsuspecting communities.

It does seem strange that so many impostors can find subjects upon whom to practice their quackery. There are, however, some localities where the very atmosphere seems to invite frauds of all kinds. Some people never learn wisdom. We have known those who, when gulled by some slick-tongued trickster, were in no way daunted, but would deliberately walk into a second or third net prepared for them with the same apparent simple-heartedness that marked their first indiscretion. In fact, there are some who to all appearances enjoy being duped. For instance, instead of proceeding by a regular, rational method to eliminate disease, many will go to some charlatan who boasts of his miraculous cures, and submit to a process that is childish in the extreme—perhaps amounting to nothing more than measuring the patient with a string—and a handsome fee is paid for the privilege.

Being obliged to wait for a train in Ottumwa, Iowa, a few years ago, with some friends I went to view the town and its surroundings. Having often heard of a celebrated “healer” who lived there, we directed our steps toward his place of business. Upon arriving there we were surprised to find a number of large brick buildings, occupying a prominent site in the city. From what we had heard we supposed that his practice would certainly be confined to a few of the most ignorant class; but to our astonishment we learned that his patronage was from the wealthy of that and other States. His practice had been so extensive that from a humble beginning a few years before, he had been enabled to expend $90,000 on his establishment. As we ascended the stairs in the front hall, we noticed that some of them were literally worn through from the great amount of travel over them in the short time the establishment had existed. As we passed to the room where we were to have an audience with the chief attraction of the place, we pictured to ourselves the appearance of the man who had been able to accomplish so much financially, and expected to meet one of noble mien, and stately bearing. Judge of our revulsion of feeling, however, when we were introduced to a very inferior, and even degraded looking man, as Dr. Paul Castor, the celebrated healer of all life’s maladies. Now having seen the man, we were more curious than ever to know in what lay his power to draw so many to him and hold them, even to the surrender of their riches to his endowment.

While questioning him as to his methods of treatment, two lady patients came to the door, and were called in. One of them was a frail, nervous creature, the other more stoutly built, and of more vigorous constitution. The small, nervous woman was told to stand in the opposite corner of the room, and after making some passes with his hands, a kind of incantation, he ordered her to perform certain feats, such as the violent twitching of one shoulder, or one entire side of the body. Having done this, he then commanded her to be healed. He thought that now he had certainly triumphed over our objections, and that we would be captivated. But we were far from satisfied with such work, and so sought an interview with the other lady who was present. She informed us that she had been there for quite a long time without receiving benefit from the treatment. Upon inquiry we learned that every effort to bring her into the condition we had seen the other lady was unavailing, and then the matter was clear that it was but the power of mesmerism.

Afterward conversing with the old man, whom we were now satisfied was a fraud of the most pronounced type, we found him utterly ignorant of the laws of life. He claimed to know nothing of anatomy or physiology, and even boasted that he could not write his name. Yet this was a man who could call the rich from remote quarters to deposit their treasures at his feet; men who in any other transaction would have displayed ordinary wisdom and forethought, but seemed powerless before this modern necromancer.

If such pretenders would but set before the people the “true inwardness” of their ways, their traffic would soon cease. They know this too, as well as others; hence the necessity of carrying on their work under an assumed name. Spiritualists have advertised their “healing mediums,” and the people have been humbugged by them until it has become necessary to take another tack in order to accomplish their ends, namely, to live by gulling the public.

The name Christian is one that commands respect, therefore it takes with the majority; and to endue any fraud with that precious name is to insure it a measure of success for a time at least. But to invest it with the dignified title of Christian Science, is the signal for half the world to embrace it without investigation. Those at the head of such affairs are generally lionized and enriched (as in the case of the Iowa man), and therefore enjoy the situation. If the rich alone were duped, it were not so much matter, for they can stand it; but these empirics are bent on one thing alone—to get money. This they will have though they wring it from the scanty means of the lowly day-laborer.

The theory now taught by this so-called Christian Science, is, that “sickness is a belief, a latent fear made manifest on the body in different forms of inflammation and disease.” The conclusion is therefore easily reached that sin, sickness, and even death are unreal. When made to adopt this theory, one has but to say to sickness, “You are nothing but the result of fear,” then brace up in the mind, and the cure is effected! And such mummery is dignified with the title of Christian Science. But in what does their “science” consist? In this and nothing more. Certain persons have power to hold a magical influence over the minds of some others. The one thus made subject to the other, yields implicitly simply because his mind is in accord with the mind of the other, and, for a time, he sees matters just as his enchanter wills him to see. There is no science about it. It is but vapid empiricism.

One of the ladies recently lecturing in Boston, told of her having once taken poison, and though her family was much alarmed as to the consequence, she simply reasoned with herself that mind should not yield to matter, and it did not; she came forth from the ordeal without harm. (?) At the close of the lecture she gave opportunity for questions. A physician present questioned her, with the following results, as stated in the Christian of Work:— “Madam, you say poisons are only so to us because we do not decree they shall not hurt us. And they will not, if we decree they shall not! Now I have here what we call a powerful emetic. Will you let me administer a dose to you right here?” The doctor said the admirers of the lecturer present looked three or four thunder-storms at him in one glance. Madam said nothing. But, standing his ground, the physician pressed his question. “Will you take the emetic now?” “No!” answered this “scientist,” “I will not.” “Why not?” Thinking a moment, she answered: “It would be a direct challenge to God.”

Strange enough! Here is a finely spun theory that the power of one’s own mind could triumph over matter, to the extent of warding off disease, and the effect of poison, and when asked to simply test the matter before an audience, the whole thing is thrown back upon God. Either mind does have such power over matter, or it does not. If God made the mind to have such power, it can be exercised at the will of its possessor. Then why in the name of reason make this exercise depend entirely upon infinite power? Such subterfuges are not broad enough to cover the fraud at the foundation of the scheme. When will people learn wisdom, and give no notice to such sensationalists? If this were done it would be but a little time before they would be driven to gain a livelihood by more honorable means. Health is very desirable; and all who can will have it, even at the expense of a fortune. On no other ground can one account for the wholesale frauds to which so many subject themselves. It is much better, however, to seek health by some regular method than subject one’s self to the influence of Spiritualistic frauds. J. O. CORLISS.