The Need of the Knowledge
Although the true scientific principles underlying the subject of
Mental Influence have been but recently recognized and taught to the
general public, still the knowledge is far from being new. The
occultists of the old civilizations undoubtedly understood the
underlying principles and used them in practice, thus gaining an
ascendancy over the masses. And more than this, the masses
themselves had a more or less comprehensive knowledge of the working
principles of the subject, for we find among all peoples, in all
times, records of the use of this power. Under one name or another –
under one form or another – Mental Influence has been operated and
used from the earliest times. And today, even in the most remote
portions of the globe, and among the most savage and barbarous races
we find instances of the employment of this force.
The forms of the manifestation of Mental Influence are many and
varied. In some cases it manifests under the form of a fascinating,
attracting power exerted by some people, which causes such persons
to draw or attract other persons to them. Persons are allured or
"charmed" by others possessing this power, and their affections are
taken captive by this mysterious force. Some persons are spoken of
as "fascination," "possessing powers of charming, "having winning
ways," having "great personal magnetism," etc.
Others exert another form of the power in the driving of and
compelling others to do their bidding, and people speak of them as
having "a compelling will," being able "to work their will" on those
around them, possessing "dominating powers," etc. We are also
brought face to face with the wonderful effects of "Mental Science"
under one form or another, under this name or that term, with the
many forms of "treatments" followed by the different schools and
cults. Then we read in the pages of history about the mysterious
powers recorded under the name of Witchcraft, Hexes, Voodoo’s, and
Black Magic, including the Hawaiian "Kahuna" work. And turning back
the pages of history to Ancient time, Greece, Persia and Egypt, not
to speak of India, ancient and modern, we find innumerable instances
of the employment of, and knowledge of, Mental Influence in some of
its forms.
And although many will seek to deny the fact, scientific
investigators and students realize that there is but one real
underlying principle under and back of all of the various forms of
manifestation. The good results, and the evil results, all arise
from the employment of the same force, strange as it may appear at
first thought. The secret lies in the fact that this Mental
Influence is a great natural force, just as is electricity or any
other natural forces, it may be, and is, used for both good and evil
purposes. The electricity which runs out machines, lights our houses
and performs countless other beneficent tasks in the service of man
is also used to electrocute criminals, and the unfortunate person
who touches a "live wire" may be struck with instant death. The sun,
which warms our earth and renders life possible, also kills
countless persons exposed to its rays on the desert, or even in our
large cities. Fire, that great friend of man, which has been one of
the most potent factors in the evolution of the race from barbarism
to civilization, is also a mighty enemy, destroying both property
and lives. Water, that most necessary element, which renders life
possible, and which is necessary to grow our grain and to perform
countless other good services for us, also acts as an enemy at
times, drowning people and sweeping away their homes. Gravitation,
which holds all things in place, from suns and stars down to the
tiniest atom of matter, also causes people to fall to their death
from high places, or brings down on their heads objects from above
them. In short, every natural force or power is capable of producing
either beneficent or baleful effects to man, according to the
circumstances of the case. We recognize these things, and accept
them as a law of nature. And yet some would deny the identity of the
power of Mental Influence as manifested in its good and bad uses.
There will be people who ascribe to God all the good qualities of
Mental Influence, and ascribe to the Devil all of its evil uses.
These people have primitive minds. Their counterparts are seen in
those who would credit God with the helpful rain or sun, and who
ascribe to the Devil the same things when there occurs a flood or a
drought. Such reasoning is worthy only of the savage mind. The
forces are natural forces, and work according to their own laws,
imminent in their constituent qualities and nature, and are in that
sense "above good and evil. " When they work for man’s interest and
comfort man calls them "good" – when they work harm and discomfort
to him man call them "bad" – but the force remains unchanged, being
neither "good" nor "bad. "And thus it is with the power of Mental
Influence – it is above "good" and "bad" in it – it is a great
natural force, capable of being used for either weal or woe to
mankind. But, remember this, there is a difference. While the force
in itself is neither good nor bad the individual who employs it may
be, and is, "good" or "bad," according to its use. Just as a man
commits a good or bad act when he uses his gun to slay a wild beast
attacking another man, or else turns it upon his brother or
neighbor, as the case may be – so is a man good or bad according to
his use of Mental Influence. The merit or demerit lies in the
intention and purpose of the user, not in the force or power
employed by him. Therein lies the difference.
On all sides of us we may see the manifestation of the possession
of Mental Influence. We see men who are able to sway those around
them in some mysterious and wonderful way, either by their powers of
persuasion of by their dominant will power. Some spring into
prominence and power suddenly, in a way unaccountable to those who
are ignorant of the secret of Mental Influence. As we have said in a
previous chapter, certain people seem to have "something about them"
that makes them attractive or successful in their relations with
other people. The "personal magnetism" of leaders manifests itself
strongly, some having this power to such an extent that the masses
follow them like a great flock of sheep after the "bell–whether"
with the tinkling bell around his neck.
We have all come in contact with the "agent" or salesman who
managed in some way to sell us things that we did not want and had
no use for, and after he had gone we wondered and wondered how it
all happened. If we had but understood the laws of Mental Influence
this could not have happened.
We have all felt ourselves, at some time or another in our lives,
in the presence of individuals who almost compelled us to do what we
knew in our hearts we should not do. Knowledge of the laws of Mental
Influence would have enabled us to overcome the temptation.
And not only in the case of personal interviews have we been
affected. There is a far more subtle and dangerous use of the power,
i.e., in the shape of "distant influence," or "absent treatment," as
it had been called. And the increase in the interest and knowledge
of Occult matters during the past twenty years has resulted in a
widely diffused knowledge of this great force, and its consequent
employment, worthily and unworthily, by many people who are thereby
enabled to gain an influence over their neighbors and fellow men,
who are not familiar with the laws of the force. It would surprise
many people if they knew that some of the multi-millionaires of the
country, and some of its greatest politicians and leaders, were
secret students of Occultism, and who were using their forces upon
the masses of the people.
Not only this, but there are Schools of Occultism which teach
their pupils the theory, practice and art of Mental Influence, under
one name or another – under this guise or that – the result being
that there are a greater number of people equipped for the use of
this force and instructed in the practice of employing it turned out
every year than is generally imagined. There are Schools for
Salesmanship giving disguised instruction in the art of Mental
Influence. Nearly every large concern employing selling agents has
private instructors for their men, who teach them the principles of
Mental Influence disguised under the name of "Psychology of
Business," or some such name.
And besides these, there are a number of people who have studied
at the feet of some of the great metaphysical, semi-religious cults
of the day, who have received instruction in Mental Influence
disguised under the name of some creed or religious teachings, who
have departed from the moral principles inculcated by their by their
teachers, and who are using their knowledge in the shape of
"treatments" of other persons for the purpose of influencing them to
accede to their wishes or to act so as to bring financial gain to
the person giving the treatment. The air is full of this Black Magic
today, and it is surely time that the general masses were instructed
on this subject. And this is the purpose of this little book,
published and sold at a popular price in order to bring it within
the reach of the purses of the "plain people," who have been
exploited and influenced by those who have acquired a knowledge of
the principles of Mental Influence, and who are using it unworthily
upon their fellow men. |