GEORGE MILNER STEPHENS.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3795, 25 February 1881, Page 3

GEORGE MILNER STEPHENS.

In a book published by a son of Mr G. M. Stephens, the following is given as the theory of HEALIKG BY LAYING ON OF HANDS. The human body is enveloped ip a certain subtle emanation, which, under favourable circumstances, spirits are able to employ for the purpose of influencing a medium to perform any of the abnormal acts of mediumship. But not only have spirits this power, but mortals also. Hence the phenomena known as " mesmeric." A deficiency of this emanation is the result of insufficiency of vital power, and a mesmerist (whether in flesh or out of it) can restore health by supplying this deficiency. The subject is so difficult t> deal with in the limited space at my disposal that I must ask the reader to pardon me if my definition is not sufficiently clear. My object is to show that " healing by laying on of hands " may be accomplished either by a man unaided or by a spirit unaided, or by the combined forces of the two. It is probable that, in almost every case, a human operator receives assistance either from his own spirit friends or from those of his subject; and the evidences of spirit i cure without mortal aid are too uncertain to be reliable, though, of course, it is right to assume that, as every man has friends in the spirit world, they would endeavour to help him whenever their : services could be rendered.

When any mesmeriser tells his hearers that he cures bis patients without the assistance of spirits, he errs—not wilfully, from ignorance—his spirit friends would always be anxious, for Lis sake, to help him to cure, and the spirit friends of his patient would also lend their aid. These spirits may not be able to do much, for they may be ignorant of the way to set about it, but still they are there, and although he may ignore them he cannot drive them away. Had he the patience to examine the phenomena of Spiritualism— patience only is needed to convert any man —he might speedily develop the healing powers he possesses, because he he would then know how to secure the aid of more powerful spirits, and his "magnetism" and theirs would blend in harmony. Mr Stephen, however, has been informed by his spirit guides that "he is not a magnetic healer in the ordinary acceptation of the term," aud that he, uses their spirit power to effect his cures. One of those communications he recently xe'ad to the people assembled in the National Hall before commencing his " cures."

The power to communicate health by .imparting " magnetism " (as I will call it) exists to a greater or less degree in every human being, and may be greatly increased by practice. It differs in degree at times in the same individual, and even the most powerful healers fail with certain individuals and in certain places.. Even the mighty Jesus was not able to perform his so called miracles in some parts of the country " because of their want of faith."