612 KANSAS CITY REVIEW OF SCIENCE. 



The old conception — which extended to diseases and disasters now subject 

 to human skill — that these things are sent as a token of Divine displeasure for 

 man's sinfulness, is openly avowed ; although, were this same explanation offered 

 in any individual case of an analagous nature, during ordinary times, people 

 would smile at the simplicity of its perpetrator. 



Had Garfield suffered only a flesh wound, no one would have prayed for its 

 supernatural cure — it would have been relegated to Nature and the doctors; but 

 the terrible hopelessness and helplessness of the situation buried from sight the 

 heartless conception of law that the aching heart might hope in the face of the 

 inexorable and lovingly confide in the power of the supernatural to remove im- 

 pending woe. Alas ! with all his worth, Garfield was no more in the sight of 

 Nature than the lowest man that breathes ; and the sequel i^ instructive to those 

 whose thoughts follow the line of law. 



It is true there are many empiric means of cure, and it does not become us 

 to say that prayer may not be one of them. As a fact, however, we might ques- 

 tion whether this is established, save in cases where prayer acts as a direct cause 

 through known mental laws. During the ' ' women's crusade " on the saloons prayer 

 effected to close a great many — but through the ears and sympathy of listeners. 

 Among the Mormons I have seen many cases of restoration from sicknesS through 

 prayer and anointing with oil. The virtue of the oil was questionable, the fer- 

 vent faith of the patient being the chief working cause. It has been remarked 

 that the morality among children is greater among the Mormons than elsewhere, 

 and some claim this as the fruits of polygamy. Whatever influence this may ey 

 ercise, I am persuaded the chief cause is owing to the fact that in Utah it is con 

 sidered a lack of faith to send for a doctor. Having witnessed the restoratic 

 adults through the "laying on of hands," they attribute the cure to the EL 

 intercession with the Creator, and expect the same result to follow when tticy 

 pray for children. But a child cannot exercise faith, the remedial element — hence, 

 prayer, broken from the chain of causation, is unavailing, and thousands are sent 

 to an untimely grave. Faith, within the radius of the nervous system under cer- 

 tain conditions is a working power, both curing and inducing disease, but outside 

 of this radius it appears to be wholly inoperative. The means by which the 

 mind effects molecular transformation in body tissue is unknown ; but it could no 

 more act without the nervous system than a man could communicate with an ab- 

 sent friend without mail facilities or telegraph wires, and the probabilities are that 

 the modes are somewhat analagous. Prayer enters as a direct cause in filling 

 spiritual needs. " Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness, for 

 they shall be filled," is the expression of a natural law. 



Physical science is slowly cultivating a habit of viewing Nature, subjective 

 and objective, from the stand-point of law. Hence, in scientific circles, he who 

 aims to teach is expected to conform to this method, let his opinions be what they 

 may. The supernatural is being merged into the natural, itself expanding in the 

 minds of men by the operation. Its infinite height and depth no man has fath- 

 omed. Habitual experiences of constancy engender habitual laws of thought. 



