In one form or another, Mental Science is rapidly becoming the most popular of theories for wise doing and right living. Coming forward, as it has, from the small beginnings of thirty years ago when nothing was known of its deep and wonderful teachings outside of Boston, Massachusetts, and there only by a mere handful of venturesome investigators who had begun to study its wonders of action, it has today reached such proportions that its earnest followers are counted in millions. And new comers to the ranks of its earnest faith are safely estimated in hundreds daily, through every year.

The system of mental and spiritual healing now has its Churches, Schools, Societies, Clubs, and Working Associations; with Meetings, Classes, Lectures, Clinics and Libraries; and with healing practitioners by scores and hundreds, everywhere.

An extensive Literature has also grown up along with the development of the working powers of the science. This collection of books has indeed become so extensive that the average person scarcely knows where to begin or, in fact, how to find what he needs for his investigations, without, in many cases, an impracticable outlay of both time and money.

With a view to help in solving this problem this little volume has been prepared, to give in a handy and concise form the main points of FACT, LAW, AND RULE OF ACTION for the using of the Science in daily life.

Such a book, if constructed in a form sufficiently compact to be carried in the pocket, may easily be of practical benefit alike to student, investigator and interested inquirer. The odd moments of the day, that are commonly wasted in idle waiting, may thus be employed in gaining knowledge so deep and practical as, in some instances, to change the entire course of one's life.

In constructing a concise Manual for this purpose the aim has been to concentrate expression of thought so as to take as little space on the page as possible, while yet conveying the information desired; and also, to so concentre the thinking as to relieve the mind of either unnecessary process, or volume of expression.

If this can be adequately accomplished, and the little volume brought to the hands of the many earnest inquirers of the present day, it seems certain that incalculable good will result from its use. The want has thus far not been fully or adequately supplied along these lines. This is the only excuse offered for adding another book to the already voluminous literature of Mental Science.

No attempt is made in this work to argue the matter of the truth or falsity of the many statements of Mental Science. The pros and cons have been extensively dealt with in Courses of Lessons by many authors and in numerous Books, where there is space for lengthy discourse and explanation.

This little book of concentrated expression is calculated not only for the daily use of those who have been through the preliminaries and have become sufficiently interested to desire a helpful guide in increasing the understanding of the facts and how to use them; but also for those who, while somewhat interested, still have not the time to follow out an extensive course of reading or study. It is also calculated to meet the wants of those who have not before taken up the study, but who would now like to do so. These, however, may need also more elaborate descriptions, which can be found in other works. The discussion of the subject is too lengthy for this limited space. The writer has numerous other works and volumes with which he will undertake to satisfy the most critical investigator who is open to fair means and honest inquiry.

This science deals with some of the most important points of knowledge of the universe and of life. The development of the understanding to the present time is pregnant with facts that are of the most practical use in human life, and of the greatest possible good to all humanity.

This work presents an array of facts that are known to be as stated. Also, they are intelligently applicable in practical ways, so that anyone can test them in his own daily life, thus proving their standing in the philosophy by the results of living the action of the ideas. The importance of a correct understanding of these demonstrated principles cannot possibly be overestimated.

With these few explanations the little Manual is consigned to its mission, with a hopeful anticipation of extending a helpful influence to each reader, through his own daily communion with ideas that belong to the Universe, therefore are free to all, and to be readily obtained through a right use of the mind.

L. E. W. New York, October, 1911.


In approaching this subject for the purpose of concentrated thinking, we should first gain assurance that we rightly understand the meaning of the term under which we work.

The phrase "Mental Science" appears to be somewhat misunderstood and consequently is frequently underrated.

It means first: A Science of the Mind.   

Second: A Scientific use of the Mental Faculties.

The term Science relates to knowledge; and for a definite purpose this should be both exact and enduring. Both of these high qualities are possible to the mind, and capable of being expressed in definite operations of the mentality.

A mental process may, and always should, be exact in all ways, definite in statement and ultimate in its conclusion. Such a process, when established, will be both logical and mathematical in character and must necessarily be scientific in its activity. Mental Science, proper, is of this order in both its nature and its character.

The fact that some do not yet recognize its high character or use the mental faculties in such exact ways, should not militate against the system itself, any more than would be the case with other systems of action. Some do not yet seem to fully comprehend its high qualities and so they work along more familiar lines; but those who grasp the purer meaning and employ it in their thinking, may mount to the heights of RIGHT UNDERSTANDING.

Mental Science today stands for and includes the best possible action and operation of the mind of man, in all the features of pure mental concept and right accomplishment. Incidentally it carries a healing proposition, because the right and therefore real processes of mentality lead directly to a wholeness of idea; and such thinking establishes healthy action, impulse, and generative force, with everyone. This opens the way to thorough scientific thinking, and the knowledge that accumulates by means of such thinking comprises the "Mental Science" of today.

The philosophy of this Science has its natural application to every phase of thinking in human life. Herein nothing ever occurs that is unknown to the mind of man; or, in fact, without a knowledge of and acquiescence in its operative movement by some mind or minds.

Mental Science, therefore, properly maintained, is the greatest of all sciences; for all systems of thought and of action have their inception, growth and development in the mind of man. Without mind in full and healthy operation, no science can have birth or proceed an instant in demonstrative action. The possibility of attaining scientific understanding is a matter of accurate thinking and appreciative attention.

Having thus stated the proposition, as regards the subject of our thinking, we may now proceed to acquaint ourselves with the possible working facts of a "Science of the Mind."


The propositions stated here as FACTS OF MENTAL SCIENCE, have all been carefully examined, tested, demonstrated and thereby proved to be sound in nature, correct in principle and permanent in action; they are, therefore useful to everyone who lives. These, however, are FACTS OF THE MIND; therefore they require to be examined by the deeper mental means, rather than by physical measure. They are the natural outcome of a right mental dealing with the permanent activities of human life, as conducted in the divine order of things and affairs. When we examine these facts through unbiased thinking and with sufficient mental acumen, we shall learn much that is practical about the principles and laws of life that come forward for consideration in these special studies a little further along.

The brief statement herein made of each fact and principle, leaves room for extended right thinking that, with each investigator, will develop a sure foundation of understanding of the ideas involved in its activities. Although commonly they are somewhat loosely held, these things are capable of being correctly understood. The knowledge to be acquired through such thinking contains scientific action and power, as well as philosophic character. These truths are embodied in the description given in the following chapters:

EXPLANATORY  TABLE.

1—MAN the real product of a living First Cause; or, as some would perhaps prefer to express it, the created work of the Creator, is composed of and comprises essences of being, qualities of character, principles of living and activities of life, all operating in concentrated combinations of force and power.
All of these essentials are spiritual phases of being, and they necessarily render man spiritual, in both nature and composition. The facts of his existence render it impossible for him to be less or other than that.—Man is forever a spiritual being.

2—MIND is a vital instrument for the use of the individual spiritual man in solving problems and accomplishing the purposes of personal and individual life among the worlds of the external Universe. It is Spiritual Consciousness, working outwardly for purposes of expression.—The mind is man's living Instrument, spiritual and real.

3—EACH MAN has his own mind, which, because of its extreme intricacy and its close relationship to all phases of his consciousness, seems to be himself. In all the conscious operations of external life, as regards the present phase of his being and existence, this seeming is especially pronounced.—To each man his mind seems to be himself.

4—THE MIND is a spiritual entity of life and action. It is the individual man turning his attention outward from the pure spirituality of his fundamental existence, to look after ideas and things supposed to be separate and independent.

Man turns from his perceptive soul-life of pure spiritual activity, in which he has his real being, to the intellectual mentality of a seemingly independent life, and thereby to his own comprehension becomes a thinking mind.—The mind is the Mental Man; the man who thinks.

5—THE mind's conscious action is thought. Each one's conscious thinking expresses his deeper knowledge with regard to the subject under examination. Mentality constitutes and is the operative function of the mind; therefore it is man's collective instrument for first action in all modes of conscious doing; and next for the accomplishing of physical results in external life.—All things are first produced in the mind.

6—WHATEVER the mind does, with regard to personal life, is faithfully copied in duplicate action within the body.—The body is the external instrument of the mind and reproduces the action of its personal thinking.

7—WHEN WE WOULD THINK of man in the ultimate of his being, the man that is a real and permanent entity, we should view him as composed of spiritual activity in living consciousness; although while considering him as a functioning operator, seeking knowledge, he may be viewed as a mind, operating through mentality. He lives on both of these planes at once. He is physical only in regard to sensuous operations. Each thought about worldly matters is reproduced in the body.—Man is spiritual in essence but mental in action.

8—THE CHIEF FUNCTION of man is Consciousness. On each plane of life and action he enjoys and exercises a particular phase of consciousness. As a pure spiritual being he is fully conscious in all the activity of wholeness. In our somewhat limited view of infinity we denominate this "superconsciousness." It is the plane of first, the spirit; and next, the soul. Both of these are spiritual and real.

On the more external plane he turns outward and moves downward toward the separating action of a "self" idea. He thereby becomes a mind and builds a material body to represent his self-thinking and acting in life. His consciousness now takes on limitations, as compared with the ultimate degree, and we call it "subconsciousness." It is, however, still spiritual in essence, and, also extremely intricate, far-reaching and powerful. In this state of consciousness the mind constructs its own body and animates it for use.—Man builds his own body, unbuilds it or rebuilds it, according to the state of mind that he is in at the time of action.

9—ALL MINDS have a common basis of action in the universal mentality, where all are subject to the same laws of action, and in varying degrees share the same powers for operation. Each one is responsive according to the degree of understanding that he has thus far developed or attained.—Minds are one in nature, and fundamentally they operate together.

10—A THOUGHT, when intelligently constructed through mental process, takes form as a mental Image suitable to express its action in character and quality. The substance of this Image is the activity of the thought, which comprises the intelligence that is involved in the understanding. The Image expresses the thought in terms of action.—Every intelligent thought culminates in a mental Image of the form of the action involved.

11—MIND possesses the power to see mental Images and to interpret their activities, to the extent of comprehending the ideas involved in the thought. This is mostly subconscious mental action. It is natural to everything that lives.—Mind sees mental Images, which in milder form are called mental pictures.

12—THE CHARACTER of the thought that is indulged by the mind will be reproduced in the action of the mental Image that results from the thinking. When the character is agitated, fearful, doubtful, indefinite, aggressive, etc., the corresponding Image will show forth the disturbed action. But if it be quiet, harmonious, peaceful, confident and right according to true moral standards the result will be harmonious. The reproduced action in the picture or image of expression of the Conscious Thinking will always be in all respects like the mind's intent, plan and operation.—Images and pictures correspond exactly, in character, quality, form, power, and in all action, to the thoughts that they represent.

13—A THOUGHT OF FEAR always carries some degree of agitation, which reproduces as distress in the mind. The mental picture that takes form through this thinking will invariably show forth distress, to those who come in conscious contact with it. The action of the fear produces a corresponding image in the mind itself, and the action of the image reflects the fear in the nervous system. It is impossible for it to be otherwise. That is the natural law, and to it we must adjust our thinking.— Fear in the mind is reproduced in nervous distress.

14—FEAR, when active within the mind, is a devitalizing influence, that destroys the equilibrium of action and generates a negative condition of unrest, because of the mental doubt; a veritable state of unease or dis-ease.—Fear in the mind results in sickness which may culminate in disease, either mental or physical.

15—THESE DIVERGENCIES from the real life-activities occur only with the mental man. The spirit, and the soul (which also is spiritual) are not thus affected, and do not share the errors and illusions of the external man, who is merely the personality.—The mentality is the only phase of man that is ever sick; and the body is the only part used to express the wrong action.

16—THE PHYSICAL BODY is the natural instrument of the mind, for use in earthly relations. It is produced or built and sustained by the mind, in subconscious action. Through the activities of the nerve-centers the body reproduces, in physical terms, the action of every thought which relates to either bodily or personal living, or to any experience. Agitation of thought which produces mental distress, will reproduce bodily as nervous distress, and in equal terms of fear. Thus the body may take on distress from and because of fear in the mind, and so become diseased through a mental cause.—Mental pictures of fear reflect the action of distress in the nerve-centers of the body and thus produce sickness which may become disease.

17—THE reflecting mental action is mostly subconscious to the thinking individual, because both its substance and its activities are fundamentally spiritual, and cannot be recognized through the senses, except in their final results on the physical plane, where the senses always operate. This, however, does not detract from the power of the subconscious action, but emphasizes its superior position and importance in the realm of human life.—The range and power of the subconscious mentality is far superior to all forms and combinations of external sense-action, or sense-consciousness.

18—THE MIND operates, all of the time, more in the subconscious phases of mentality than in the sense-consciousness of things and objects.

In the external sense-features of life there is action and consciousness only during the waking hours or moments of the day, and this only in a limited and restricted degree. Subconsciously, however, the mind never sleeps, is always consciously active and busily engaged with the problems and duties of its individual (indivisible, whole) life and existence.

This continues during both the waking and the sleeping hours of the sense-nature, which deals only with limitations.—The mind of man is a continuous state of consciousness that can never cease to be, or to know real things and actions.

19—FOR THESE REASONS it is within the province of reason, and entirely feasible, to look within the realm of the subconscious mentality for the actual cause of every form or variety of sickness, suffering, unhappiness, distress, disorder or disease in human life.

All of these seeming conditions come through a disturbed consciousness, which invariably begins with fear of some sort, and which always rests upon the plane of sensuous thinking.

The mental picture of the fear-thought becomes implanted among both the sense-conscious and the subconscious activities; and it continues to be active there until removed by a suitable process.

The mental distress is repeated in the nerve-centers, by means of the natural reflection of its action, and a bodily condition of dis-ease or disease, is the result.—The "Cause" of disease is first in the mind; therefore it is always mental.

20—THERE IS A SOUL-NATURE immanent in the constitution of every individual; and this is finer, more active, and in all ways superior to all the phases of sense-mentality. But this superior phase of man's being is not involved in any of the problems of sickness or trouble; all of those belong in the realm of the mind.

The soul part of man is pure spirit, individualized but not degraded in lower orders of limited action and the consequent illusion and loss of power. The soul phase of being is the real man individualized in correct form. The mind is its outward expression, operating under the idea of a separateness of its own life. Only on the seeming plane of a separate mental being can the person be deceived. On its own ground of spiritual consciousness the soul is a whole and harmonious entity, knowing all the facts of life.—The soul is real and is never sick or deluded.

21—ABOVE and beyond all of these phases of man's external existence is the Pure Spirit, which is life and being, in the fulness of active reality. This is both the fundamental and the ultimate being of man. "The man that God made." It is the pure manifestation of the being of God, who is the Whole of Reality. Here man rightly represents the whole, and is necessarily perfect in all ways, infinite, eternal, changeless and real.

Sickness bears no relation to this phase of actual reality in being. Man, the Son of God, the offspring of Reality, is whole and knows no limitations.—The mentality is the only source of sickness, and the mind, while thinking truth is the only adequate curative agency.

22—MANY FEATURES OF FEAR are entertained by the mind, that are formed either suddenly or gradually, and are accordingly either acute or chronic in action. The bodily conditions that develop from them bear corresponding degrees of disturbance, and each reproduces the character as well as the intensity of the fear involved.—The disease of the body always corresponds to its cause in the mind.

23—THE THOUGHT ACTION that is required to remove a cause and so relieve a condition, will contain action of a character opposite to that which causes the disturbance; and at every step it will be based upon the same truth of being and life from which there has been a deviation in the causative fear-thought.—Curative thought is based upon fundamental truth and is the direct opposite of all thought that can cause disease.

24—A THOUGHT that is rightly based upon truth itself, that which is real and therefore must be right, about being and life for all and at all times, is universally more powerful than one that has been formed under illusion, or in error of any kind. This is so because it is purer in conception, brighter in intelligence, clearer in action, higher in purpose, and represents finer and more forceful activities on all the planes of life. All truth is perfect, whole and enduring.—Thoughts of actual truth are superior to those of error, in any form.

25—THE EMOTIONS are always based upon sensuous thinking even though attached to subjects, objects, things or persons, with spiritual and moral intentions in the thinking. Truth itself has no emotional features; on the contrary it is always calm, quiet and perfect in every activity. It is reached only through exact processes of thinking. That which is brought forward otherwise is not Truth. What we would like to have it be or appear, is not the problem; but what actually is so and will stand every test of examination, is the only question to be entertained.—Truth is exact and has no emotional or sensuous forms. It rests in Reality.

26—EXACT THINKING produces exact action all along the line of intelligent operation. The pictures resulting from such thinking will carry the features of exactness from one plane to another, throughout the operation.

Thus, upon the line of facts herein outlined we may establish a system of thinking that shall be true, exact, definite and applicable correctively to all cases where wrong action has gained a foot-hold.
In this powerful and pure thinking a healing power of the mind is always certain to be found.—Exact thinking renders Mental Healing possible, sure and safe.

27—EXACT THINKING along the lines of activity and according to the principles of truth as expressed in human life, can produce only the best of results; therefore no harm can come to anyone from pure mental healing. It is one of the best of influences in all phases of life. Its only outcome is good. It elevates the character of every thought.—The influences of Mental Healing and the operations of Mental Science all operate for the good of mankind.

28—MENTAL SCIENCE itself is more far-reaching and all-inclusive than what is comprehended under the head of "Mental Healing." The healing philosophy and thought comprise all spiritual activity and mental action that relates to human life, on all planes where the mind operates in such ways that healing becomes necessary in daily life; and this, itself, is an extensive range of action.
But Mental Science, as a broader and more comprehensive conception, has a direct bearing upon all possible features of the doings of the mind, and all forms of thinking, for every process and purpose in life; for learning, teaching, constructing, inventing, and the producing of results; for leadership, influence, success in right endeavor, and for all accomplishment native to the human mind in all of its pursuits.

For all of these Mental Science contains formulated rules, based upon the natural laws that underlie mental action. This renders endeavor easier and more effective than would be possible without its specific knowledge.—All features of life are enhanced by the use of the philosophical thinking that is embodied in the true Mental Science.


CONCENTRATED  TABLE.

1—MAN is forever a spiritual being.

2—THE MIND is man's living Instrument, spiritual and real.

3—To EACH MAN his mind seems to be himself.

4—THE MIND is the mental man; the man who thinks.

5—ALL THINGS are first produced in the mind.

6—THE BODY is the external instrument of the mind, and reproduces the action of its personal thinking.

7—MAN is SPIRITUAL in essence but mental in action.

8—MAN BUILDS his own body, unbuilds it and rebuilds it, according to the state of mind that he is in at the time of action.

9—MINDS ARE ONE in nature, and fundamentally they operate together.

10—EVERY INTELLIGENT THOUGHT culminates in a Mental Image of the form of the action involved.

11—MIND SEES Mental Images, which in milder form are called mental pictures.

12—IMAGES AND PICTURES correspond exactly in character, quality, form, power and in all action, to the thoughts that they represent.

13—FEAR IN THE MIND is reproduced in nervous distress.

14—FEAR in the mind results in sickness, which may culminate in disease, either mental or physical.

15—THE MENTALITY is the only phase of man that is ever sick; and the body is the only part used to express the wrong action.

16—MENTAL PICTURES of fear reflect the action of distress in the nerve-centers of the body and thus produce sickness which may become disease.

17—THE RANGE AND POWER of the subconscious mentality is far superior to all forms and combinations of external sense-action, or sense-consciousness.

18—THE MIND of man is a continuous state of consciousness that can never cease to be, or to know real things and actions.

19—THE CAUSE OF DISEASE is first in the mind; therefore it is always mental.

20—THE SOUL is real, and is never sick or deluded.

21—THE MENTALITY is the only source of sickness, and the mind, while thinking truth, is the only adequate curative agency.

22—THE DISEASE of the body always corresponds to its cause in the mind.

23—CURATIVE THOUGHT is based upon fundamental truth, and is the direct opposite of all thought that can cause disease.

24—THOUGHTS of actual truth are superior to those of error, in any form.

25—TRUTH is exact and has no emotional or sensuous forms. It rests in reality.

26—EXACT THINKING renders Mental Healing possible, sure and safe.

27—THE INFLUENCES of Mental Healing and the operations of Mental Science all operate for the good of mankind.

28—ALL FEATURES of life are enhanced by the use of the philosophical thinking that is embodied in the true Mental Science.