It has been claimed by some mental healers that faith on the part of the patient is not an essential prerequisite to successful healing. Doubtless some of the more ignorant ones believe that statement. But an observation of the methods of treatment employed by some who make this claim leads one to suppose that the statement often made to their patients that faith is unnecessary is rather a cunning evasion of the truth for the very purpose of inspiring faith. Thus, a patient enters the sanctum of a mental healer, and begins by saying, "I understand that it is necessary that your patients have faith before they can be healed. If that is the case, I never can be healed by mental treatment, for I am utterly sceptical on the subject." To which the ready reply is, "Faith is unnecessary under my system. I do not care what you believe, for I can heal you, however sceptical you may be." This is generally satisfactory to the sceptic. He brightens with hope, and submits to the treatment, full of the faith that he is to be healed without faith. It is superfluous to add that by this stroke of policy the healer has inspired the patient with all the faith required, namely, the faith of his subjective mind. I will not animadvert upon the propriety of this course, though I cannot help but contrast it with that of the Great Healer, who never descended to falsehood, even to the end that good might come. He always told his followers frankly that faith was essential; and his words are as true to-day as they were when he proclaimed to mankind that great secret of occult power. Jesus was the first to proclaim the great law of faith; and when he uttered that one word, he epitomized the whole science of psycho-therapeutics. FOOTNOTES: [Footnote 24: Suggestive Therapeutics, p. 197.] [Footnote 25: De l'Imagination, 1879.] [Footnote 26: Charpignon.] [Footnote 27: Century Dictionary.] [Footnote 28: Suggestive Therapeutics, pp. 36, 37.] [Illustration] CHAPTER XII. PSYCHO-THERAPEUTICS (_continued_). Methods classified in Two Divisions.--Mental and Oral Suggestions.--Absent Treatment.--Christian Scientists handicapped by Absurd Theories.--They claim too much.--The Use of Drugs.--Dangers arising from too Radical Change.--Importance of Favorable Mental Environment.--Mental Healing requires Mental Conditions.--Treatment by Hypnotism.--Bernheim's Methods.--Illustrative Cases.--The Practical Value of the System.--The Illogical Limitations of the Theory.--Potency of Telepathic Suggestion.--Researches of the Society for Psychical Research.--Mr. Gurney's Experiments.--They demonstrate the Theory of Effluent Emanations.--Diagnosis by Intuition.--Potency of Mesmerism.--Permanency of Cures.--Conditions necessary.--The Example of Jesus.--Self-healing by Auto-suggestion.