MENTAL HEALING. 



By the Right Rev. Dr. Chandler. 



The facts of mental heahng are simply an example of the influence 

 of mind on body, and the only way in which the inquiry to-day 

 differs from the enquiries of the past consists in the different con- 

 ceptions which we are getting to hold concerning the nature of the 

 mind which thus influences the body. 



We have known for a long time that the mind does affect the 

 body in many ways ; and if the mind is being shown to be a wider 

 and more complex fact than we had supposed, it will be only 

 natural that its influence on the body will also be wider and more 

 complex than we had thought. 



We are coming to see that what we generally call mind is only a 

 special phase — or section — or application of a consciousness which 

 includes it, and very much besides. Consciousness is far wider 

 than mind or reason ; mind is a highly specialised sort of conscious- 

 ness ; it represents consciousness as narrowed down to the 

 attainment of particular objects, as engaged in a particular service. 

 As man's life develops, certain needs and interests gain paramount 

 impo "tance ; consciousness is therefore focussed on these needs 

 and interests, and comes to act simply as the instrument for giving 

 effect to them. Other capacities of consciousness are ignored, 

 become atrophied through disuse, and can only emerge and prove 

 their continual existence with a certain difficulty. 



We compare the mind of civilised people with the mind of un- 

 civilised natives, much to the advantage of the former ; and of 

 course the civilised mJnd is infinitely superior as a rational and 

 cultivated instrument for the attainment of civilised ends. But 

 the mind of the native is probably a far more " all-round " mind 

 — in particular, a far more receptive mind — taking note of a multi- 

 tude of facts which we have habitually ignored and therefore cease 

 to perceive, because we have no use for them in our artificial and 

 highly specialised existence. It is only children and poets that 

 can get back to that wider horizon, that passive receptivity of the 

 manifold impressions from without. Take Wordsworth : 



" The eye — it cannot choose but see : 

 We cannot bid the ear be still ; 

 Onr bodies feel, where'er the}^ be, 

 Against or with our will. 



Nor less I deem that there are Powers 

 \\'hich of themselves our minds impress ; 

 That we can feed this mind of ours 



In a wise passiveness. 



Think you, 'mid all this mighty sum 

 Of things for ever speaking, 

 That nothing of itself will come. 

 But we must still be seeking ? 



