HISTORY AND POWER OF MIND

The book may not appeal to the orthodox religionist nor to the materialist; but may prove interesting, if not enlightening, to the agnostic and to the investigator of either psychic phenomena, or the phenomena of mental therapeutics.

The modern teachings of the Science of Mind have not appealed to many thinkers because of the vagueness of thought and expression of the majority of those who attempt to present them; and also because of the lack of a working hypothesis I needed to explain the law under which both psychic and mental phenomena occur. This book is an attempt toward supplying the latter deficiency by stating laws under which Mind evolves and operates.

The author does not claim any original research or discoveries along these lines, having had the matter herein contained given to him in the course of his study, under trained minds who had verified these facts for themselves and who required him to do the same.

The Occult forces of nature and their modes of manifestation have been known for ages to certain secret orders which have not deemed it wise heretofore to give their knowledge to the world. This age, however, seems, in their judgment, propitious for the wider spread of such knowledge both because many independent investigators are discovering for themselves something about these forces and, in their ignorance, are perverting the use of them - as witness hypnotism - and because the advanced men of the race have reached a point where they are desirous of this knowledge, and every mental demand brings its supply.

"THE HISTORY AND POWER OF MIND" was selected for a title because the history of mind is the history of man; and these lectures first trace mind's, or psychic man's, origin and development, and then describe the power of mind and its modes of manifestation.

It may not be amiss to state in conclusion that the book is not written for the purpose of propagandism. Something of the operation of Nature's Laws is described in these lectures, and the acceptance or rejection of the statements made will not change the Laws nor affect the author.

Excerpt:

OCCULTISM, ITS PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE

To many persons the subjects discussed in these lectures may appear preposterous, and therefore those of you who have not studied along metaphysical lines are requested to hold yourselves agnostically until this entire course shall be finished. You do not know whether Occultism is true or not; you are now ready to examine the subject and, after having heard the entire exposition, you will be in a position to judge whether it offers a logical, working hypothesis, and whether it is worthy to receive more of your time and consideration. If it is true it can be demonstrated, for truth is always demonstrable. You can prove by demonstration each of the fundamental statements that will be made, as you can prove a proposition in mathematics. When I say truth is demonstrable, do not understand me to mean that it is capable of being demonstrated immediately upon hearing it.

Everything must unfold. You cannot raise your body on a horizontal bar the first time you try because your muscles are not strong enough; but after your muscles have become strengthened by practice you may be capable of raising your body to any position you desire. So it is with a person who has never used his mind in scientific reasoning or in concentration. He should not flatter himself that he can immediately accomplish what a person who has practiced for many years can do. If you use your mind along the lines indicated in these lectures you will find that there will be a continuous growth for you, and that the time will come when you can do anything that you desire. A very large promise, you may say, but if it is true I assure you it is demonstrable.

Our first subject is "Occultism, Its Past, Present and Future." This is an introductory lecture, giving something of the history of Occultism and of the Occultists in order that we may know the source from which our information is derived.

The Century Dictionary gives the definition of Occultism as: "The doctrine, practice or rites of things occult or mysterious; the Occult Sciences or their study; mysticism; esotericism." In the Middle Ages Occult Science or Occultism embraced primarily what is now known as the physical sciences. It was understood to mean those things which were unknown, but which by experimentation might become known. Chemistry, as a branch of Alchemy, was regarded as one of the Occult Sciences because it was largely unknown, but through investigation and experimentation it constantly became better known. But Occultism also had a secondary meaning which was coupled with the first, namely, mysticism, esotericism.

In ancient days people thought it not unwise to attempt the discovery of the unknown through experimentation with the subjective as well as the objective side of nature, and the two meanings, that which pertained to the objective, which was unknown but could be ascertained, and that which pertained to the subjective, which was unknown but could be ascertained, were both included in the term Occultism.

Materialism as it grew in strength called the unknown (which was becoming known on the objective or visible side of life) "Science," but stamped the belief in or the investigation of the subjective side of life as "superstition." And most people became very much afraid of that word, and became afraid of being known as superstitious even more than to be known as ignorant; and such persons preferred to remain ignorant of the Occult. In time the word Occultism grew to mean that which pertained to the subjective - that which pertained to esotericism, and at present it is defined as esotericism.

As you go back in history you will find that esotericism has everywhere played a large part in moulding the thoughts of men. There were always the esoteric and the exoteric religions and sciences. There always has been and there will be for ages yet to come one religion for the masses and another for the students. There have been for a long time, and for some time yet to come there will be two sciences - one for the materialist, diluted for the masses, and another for the students of Occultism. You will find traces of this duality in any religion at any period in history.

The Nazarene, the inspired leader of the Christians, after having taught the multitude in parables and having withdrawn to one side, was questioned by His disciples: "Why speakest thou to them in parables?" He answered: "Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given." And afterward He unfolded to His disciples the esoteric side of His teachings, thus giving them truths that were not for the masses. And in all religions, whether it be the Egyptian, Buddhism, or that precursor of the Christian religion - Judaism, there are truths which are revealed only to the student. In Judaism there was the Jehovic teaching for the masses, the Cabalistic for the most secret students, and between these two was a third, the Talmudic, which partook of the nature of both. So the truth reached all grades of society according to the comprehension of each - a plan that was adopted later by the Church of Rome with very great success.