Mesmerism. *

But enough , these remarks were intended to prepare you for the main business of my paper , by reminding you that " there are more things in heaven ancl earth than are ' dreamt of in our philosophy ; " ancl that mesmerism may be one of these ;

and moreover the fact that mesmerism has met with obloquy , neglect , ancl contempt , should not lead us on that account to discard it , for it has only shared the fate of every other great

discovery . The 1 st head to be considered is , the rise of mesmerism . Where shall we seek for it ? Ever in the writings of the ancients we meet with direct mention of it , or incidental allusions to it , so that we are forced to say of mesmerism , what Sir A .

Allison says of that mystic science . Freemasonry , with which it was in ancient times ever associated , nay in which it was enshrined , " that it can be traced back to almost the very beginning of time , that it hides its hoary head in the mists of

antiquity . " Let me give you a few quotations from the classics , and some ancient writers in which mesmerism is evidently alluded to . Solon says , " Often from trifling pain , great suffering arises , not to be allayed by the administration of soothing

medicines , but touching with the hands the sufferer by malignant and obstinate diseases you immediately restore him to health . " In JEschylus , Prometheus Vinctus , we find Prometheus foretelling to lo , that after all her wanderings in frenzy

and persecution , she will find relief at last at Canopus at the mouth of the Nile . There Zeus will render you sane , stroking you with gentle hand ancl simply touching yon . " Strabo speaking of Canopus says , " it is a city with a temple of

Serapis of great sanctity , ancl affording medical assistance of such repute , that men of the first considerationand credit sleep there , either on their own account or that of others . The cures and the oracles of the fane are both the subjects of numerous literary works , ancl frequent mention is made in ancient writings of the temple sleep .

There is a curious passage in Plautus in Avhich evident allusion is made to the mesmeric passes . Mercury and Sosia are introduced . Mercury at a loss how to get rid of . Sosia , whether by giving him a beating or putting him to sleep , says : —

s ' Quid si ego ilium tractim tangam ut dormiat . Sos . Servaveris , nam continuas has tres noctes pervigilavi . " There is one passage in the best recotd of antiquity , the Holy Bible , in which soine eminent Avriters believe that they can detect

an allusion to mesmerism . "But Naaman was wroth and went away ancl saicl , Behold , I thought he will surely come out to me , and stand ancl call on the name of the Lord his Gocl ancl strike his hand ( or as it is in the margin , move it up and clown

over the place and recover the leper . I have barely time to recommend to those who Avish to examine mesmerism in its scriptural aspect , the very interesting Avorks of Mr . Colquhoun , "Isis Revelata" ancl " Magic , Witchcraft ancl Animal

Magnetism .- " But it may be saicl , if the knowledge of mesmerism was diffused in the early ages , how has it come to pass that it well nigh died out , until accidentally recovered by Mesmer ? Thus , the

idolatrous Freemasons to whom alone the knowledge of mesmerism was imparted after a lengthened and rigorous initiation ( ancl how rigorouit was , you will learn from the Rev . Dr . Oliver ' s Hiss tory of Initiation ) having died out together with Paganism , the art itself became well nigh extinct , until Mesmer drew it forth from its hiding place .

This remarkable man , Franz Anton Mesmer , was born at Iznang , a chapelry of Weiler , in the shrievalty of Radolfzell , on the Rhine , on May 23 rd , 1734 . He took his degree of M . D . at the University of Vienna with great distinction . He met with

considerable success in his profession . However in the course of certain experiments instituted in conjunction with the celebrated astronomer Father Hell , with the view of ascertaining the influence of the mineral magnet as a therapeutic agent ,

Mesmer made the curious ancl unexpected discovery that when , even without employing any magnet , orother auxiliary substance , he merely manipulated his patients in various directions , with his hands alone , certain very remarkable phenomena

were produced , for which he found it very difficult to account . This was the beginning or rather the recovery of mesmerism . I have not time to do more than mention that the ire of his professional brethren was at once aroused . Irritated by the persecution that he endured , he proceeded to Paris where he met Avith marked success . But the .

unfortunate ancl bloody revolution having desolated France , he withdrew into Germany , and thence into Switzerland making converts of distinction in every place that he visited , having , however , at the same time to endure persecution ancl slander

from his numerous enemies . Finally disgusted by their wrongheadedness and malignity , he settled doAvn in the utmost retirement at Meersburg on