MESMERISM.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1534, 20 July 1886, Page 2

MESMERISM.

TO THE EDITOR. Sib, —Thinking it might interest some of your renders,.l would like to say a few words on Ihe above subject. Id reference to the lecture delivered in the Volunteer Hall on the 13tli inst. by the Rev. Mr Cecil, 1 would like to make a few remarks, and afterwards, in this or another letter, give some of my own personal experience and the experience of others in the same science. Speaking of tbename, the Rev. Mr Cecil objected to it being called animal magnetism, and said it could not be called magnetism, as no one ever heard of any person being put into a magnetic sleep by a magnetic belt. Ido not know whether Mr Cecil is as familiar with curative magnetism as he is with pheoomal magnetism ; if so, he ought to be aware that some magnetic healers never put their subjects into the magnetic sleep. I have seen one magnetic healer treat over 500 people without one of thetn going to sleep, and I was doing a little magnetic healing myself for five years before one of my subjects went into that state, but more of that hereafter. Nearly all authorities on the subject call it animal magnetism, or organic magnetism, to distinguish it from so analogous emanation which surrounds inorganic things, and in speaking of it hereafter 1 will call it magnetism, the person that employs it a magnetist, and the person being treated the subject. In speaking of the dangers of the magnetic sleep, the rev. gentleman tells of a magnetist who got frightened because he could not demagnetise hfs subject, and left the room ; the subject tried to follow him, but fell on the floor, and was bad for some time aftewsrda. I would like to supplement what Mr Cecil said, by saying that no person has any more right to t:y to produce the magnetic sleep without understanding the laws that govern it than a laborer has to try to drive an engine with an express train attached. It requires as much knowledge of the one as it does of the other, and any failures, such as he mentions,must be put don n to the fault of the operator, and not the science. The theory that Mr Cecil holds as to the cause of the phenomena is much the same as that held by all who know anything about it, and is not original. It is a great pity he should have got frightened in the latter part ef his investigations, as there is nothing to be afraid of. The idea that God has put a limit to the extent that we sli .ill investigate any subject ought not to be entertained for one moment, because if God has put a limit to our investigations, no mortal can pais that limit, and if He has not limited us he must be a bold man that will say you may go so far but no farther. Healing by the laying on of bands, br magnetic healing, is as old as the human family, and there are far more people have the gift than the general public uro aware of, and Ido not think there are many families in Temuka without some one in it that would bo able to cure headaches if they only knew how to go about it. I have been able to do it for over six years, I have cured headaches, toothaches, neuralgia, sprains, and several other ailments. In my next letter I will give full directions hoe tc do it, and some of the necessary qualifications of a healer. Apologising for tespassing »o far on your valuable space, I am, etc.,

Andrew Gibson, Burnside, Temuka, July 19th, 188(1.