Hypnotism and hynotic suggestion : a treatise on the uses and possibilities of hynotism, suggestion and allied phenomena / by twenty authors. Edited by E. Virgil Neal and Charles S. Clark.
- Neal, E. Virgil
- Date:
- [1900]
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: Hypnotism and hynotic suggestion : a treatise on the uses and possibilities of hynotism, suggestion and allied phenomena / by twenty authors. Edited by E. Virgil Neal and Charles S. Clark. Source: Wellcome Collection.
Provider: This material has been provided by the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University.
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![the peculiar psychic atmosphere of Revivals and to the nature of the influences which create it. We shall, of course, be able to take notice of the more powerful factors only; a minute study would fill a volume. The theses which we maintain and intend to prove in the following pages are (1) that the effect of the ethi- co-religious commotion called a Revival is to produce in many a state of increased suggestibility which would make possible more or less sudden and comprehensive alterations of character, provided sxifficiently powerful and frequent suggestions to that effect be made to those under the influence. (2) That the sug- gestions are in fact made, reiterated and effectively supported by a formidable mass of facts and circumstances. Our task will be much shortened and made easier by the unusually intelligent account given of the Northampton revival by its promoter, Jonathan Edwards, the distinguished theologian and metaphysician.* Northampton was at the time a town of 200 families. At the death of Edward's grandfather, Stoddard, whose successor he was, the youth of the town had fallen below the New England aver- age of public morality. Under Edward's ministry, they amended little by little. In 1734 two young people died suddenly and that event, together with the sermon preached on the occasion, influenced greatly the small community,—it must not be for- gotten that the ground had been prepared by Edward's early activity. Young people began to meet for religious edification in several parts of the town. Shortly after, a young woman, one of the greatest company keepers in the whole town, was next converted. The news of it seemed to be almost a flash of light- ning upon the hearts of the young people all over town. Pres- ently upon this, a great and earnest concern about the great things of religion and the eternal world, became universal in all parts of the town,—all other talk but about spiritual and eternal things was soon thrown by. It then was a dreadful thing amongst us to lie out of Christ, in danger every day of dropping into hell; and what persons' *A narrative of surprising Conversions in Northampton anr] another pamphlet by the same author on The Revival of Religion in New Eng- land.](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b21012271_0224.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
