There Is a River

by Thomas Sugrue

  Day after day new patients appeared for readings, old ones had their condition checked and rechecked. The mail brought more and more requests; the calendar was crowded for weeks and months ahead. Notes on an average span of two weeks ran as follows:

  Monday A.M.

  Check Reading. Mrs. L. N. Advised continuance of former suggestions, adding more olive oil as food value for digestive system and to aid in eliminations; continue violet ray and manipulations; not a growth: merely a thickening of walls in tissue of cardiac portion of stomach. Body much improved from last reading.

  Check. Mrs. M. D. Z. Baby developing normally. Strains in cervical and dorsal from a fall; need correction by osteopath. Little more calcium needed, or vitamin D, for teeth. Get it through sunshine, diet, and limewater.

  P.M.

  Check. Miss B. M. She is concerned over eruption on her body. Prescribed drastic liver stir-up. First, castor oil packs; then olive oil, then P——tablets; then Castoria; diet; further instructions later.

  Check. Mr. K J. Liver, kidneys, and glands affected. Recommended Atomidine, calcium; gargle of salt, soda, and cream of tartar. Special diet. Plenty of outdoors, but not fatigue in hot sunshine. Retardment of growth due to gland condition. Teeth need attention.

  Check. Mr. T. H. Many changes, some good and some bad. Poisons from nonelimination causing strain in neck, eyes and shoulders. Cathartic of equal parts salts and soda recommended; several rounds of ten days each, with a rest of several days in between. Use of appliance to be continued.

  Tuesday A.M.

  Check. Miss B. H. G. Emergency. Telephoned request from New York. Abscess of eye, which doctors say is produced by condition in system. Prescribed poultice of scraped old Irish potato, cleanse with boracic acid, then use poultice again. Follow this with doses of salts, soda, and cream of tartar; then castoria. Produced by grain of infectious dust in eye, which with rubbing and distribution through tear gland, produced inflammation. General condition very good. Special diet during period of cleansing system.

  Tuesday P.M.

  First Reading. Mr. M. W. Injury of long standing produces pressures that affect primarily the lacteals and assimilation. Suggested radioactive appliance for first thirty-six days of treatment. Further instructions to be given. Cure and length of time to produce it depend on consistence and persistence of applications.

  Wednesday A.M.

  Check. Mrs. E. G. Wants treatment for absorbing and eliminating warts on feet, and cure for blackheads and large pores. Prescribed soda, wet with spirits of camphor, applied each evening on warts. Hot towels on face and neck, followed by wash with C——soaps, then cold cloths, then patting. Doses internally of Rochelle salts and olive oil. Misdirected eliminations causing trouble.

  Check. Mrs. E. H. Improved since last time; only goes back when worry prevents hopeful and helpful attitude. Growth being eliminated; only needs patience, persistence, and careful cleansing with antiseptics. Magnetic and other treatments to be continued.

  P.M.

  First Reading. Mrs. C. D. Plethora condition, may be removed by absorption without operation; will take longer, but will be more effective. Prescribed deep osteopathic manipulations, salt packs, tonic, diet, etc.

  Thursday A.M.

  First Reading. Mrs. O. M. Poisons from cold cause pressure; toxic conditions of long standing. Recommended high colonics, doses of salts each morning, vibrator along spine in evening, strict diet (without salt and meats), and both cause and effect will be removed.

  P.M.

  First Reading. Mr. J. H. Serious condition; character of sarcoma, from weakening of walls of veins and arteries. Not serious from malignant standpoint, but anaesthetic and gas taken produced strangulation and inability for coagulation in glands of throat, in muscle and tissue, etc. Oxygen only aid—through tank inhalations and animated ash with heavy ultraviolet rays to stimulate it. In seven days he will either respond or not.

  Friday A.M.

  First Reading. Mr. H. J. F. Poisons in system produced from pressure—adhesions, caused by old injury. Advised T compound; use of aconite, iodine, and laudanum on spine when attacks occur, followed by Epsom Salts packs. Appears to have convulsions; intense pain in back, jerking of limbs, etc. In three or four months should be all right.

  P.M.

  First Reading. Mrs. M. W. Blind tumor in left breast, produced by excess of alkali and potash, with irritation. Two methods for remedy, operation and absorption. Necessary to prepare for operation by cleansing the system, and better to operate unless longer method is to be strictly followed. Absorption method—Atomidine, animated ash with lights, local application of I——and ash covered with hare fur. Special diet, free from meats, greases, or fats, consisting chiefly of leafy vegetables, fruits and nuts; no walnuts or pecans, but almonds are especially good. In three to five months condition should be dried up, if absorption method is followed carefully. If not, the sooner the operation is performed the better, but care should be taken beforehand that coagulation is equally balanced (through blood testing).

  Saturday A.M.

  First Reading. Mr. R. W. Z. Bordering on hay fever. If condition not corrected in time will produce effects hard to remove. Manipulations to prevent impingements in upper dorsal and cervical, producing irritation to soft tissue of head, face, throat, and nasal cavities. Inhalant prescribed for antiseptics, to relieve coughing, sneezing, throat irritation, etc.

  P.M.

  First Reading. Mr. E. C. McP. Anemia. Impairment of lymph ducts; scar tissue from throat operation of years ago. Very strict diet—said it would be hard for the body, but would be worth it. Exercise a.m. and p.m., gargle, etc. Explanation of why cereal and citrus fruit should not be eaten at the same meal. Smoking beneficial in moderation.

  Monday A.M.

  First Reading. Miss H. S. Suppression of years past causing misdirected nerves, glands, and circulation. Vibrator treatments each night; charcoal and pepsin after each meal for indigestion; B——cosmetics best. Keep cheerful; don’t worry over things you can’t help. Expect to be well, strong, and as fat as you want to be.

  P.M.

  First Reading. Mr. T. L. Hernia; also nasal trouble. Advised Swedish massage and manipulation, telling exactly how it should be done. I——spray, telling how it should be prepared; special diet, including especially vitamins D and E.

  Tuesday A.M.

  First Reading. Mr. B. L. M. High blood pressure, produced by poor eliminations, poisons in blood. Colonic irrigations. X ray will show dilation in colon. General manipulations between colonics. Sufficient food for weight, but no greases and fats until better condition is established. Nearly normal conditions can be achieved.

  P.M.

  First Reading. Mrs. A. G. M. Condition in lumbar, caused by childbirth. Manipulations, external and internal adjustments, will prevent much trouble later on.

  Wednesday A.M.

  First Reading. Mrs. E. L. Heart and dropsical condition. Entire recovery not promised, but treatment for this condition by homeopathic school will bring greatest relief. Portion of adrenalin, also bedbug juice—which is the homeopath’s specific for such conditions. Advised finding a homeopathic physician.

  P.M.

  Check. Mrs. E. B. H. Body in better condition. Keep up treatments as outlined. Vegetables grown in vicinity are always better for body than those grown elsewhere and shipped in.

  Check. Miss B. S. Nervous shock to system from automobile accident. Advised hot baths, massages with cocoa butter; prescription for liver and eliminations generally; diet for building up body. Should be up and about in three weeks.

  Check. Mrs. M. W. Continue treatments as given, increasing amount of ash in I——for massage; also increase light treatments. Beware of fats or greases in diet.

  Check. Mrs. S. H. Congestion from cold; also from condition of long standing in colon. Horehound prescription for expectorant, special diet, vibrator and violet ray treatments. No veg
etable sweets, such as potatoes, sweet corn—they cause choking up.

  Thursday A.M.

  First Reading. Miss E. W. Hindered spleen, torpid liver, tipped stomach, bad digestion. Sinusoidal treatments, tonic, special diet.

  P.M.

  Check. Mr. J. S. Accentuation of old disorders. Lacerations, acidity, disturbed circulation, torpid liver, unbalancing—tendency to fall, overflow of blood to upper portion. Glands produce too much fluid through capillary circulation; kidneys and hepatic circulation disturbed. These are results. Advised castor oil packs over lower stomach and liver area; alkaline diet; olive oil internally; lactated pepsin; mixture of olive oil, tincture of myrrh, and turpentine to be massaged into spine. Crude oil massage for scalp—for falling hair.

  Check. Mrs. E. J. B. Suggestions not followed wholeheartedly, response not what it should be. Follow them closely, and add digestive stimuli (alternate doses of magnesia, bismuth, Castoria, enema) and mud baths—mud especially prepared for the purpose.

  Friday A.M.

  First Reading. Miss G. J. Physical condition generally good. Some pressure in lumbar and sacral areas causing weakness in bursa of heels. Unless corrected will be aggravating later. Massage—by neuropath or masseuse—followed by rubs with lotion of oils, alcohol, witch hazel, rosewater, etc.; then violet ray for pressure in upper dorsal and cervical which produces strain and irritation to soft tissue in head, neck, throat, nasal cavities. Correction will prevent tendency to colds and irritation in throat and head.

  P.M.

  First Reading. Miss M. J. Excessive functioning of glands in some portions, deficient functioning in others; hidden infection. Strict diet, free from salines, limes, or silicon; abundant amounts of iron, iodine, and phosphorus. Itemized diet, including certain fruit, nuts, and vegetables. Atomidine, salt packs, rubs with oil, etc. Further instructions later.

  Saturday A.M.

  First Reading. Miss E. H. Incoordination; interesting from psychopathic angle. Prenatal cause, psychic forces being basis. Description of glands, psychic forces, etc. Wet cell appliance. Description of electrical life fluids on body, and vibrations. Keep high eliminations through sweats with salt baths, witch hazel, etc. Further suggestions as she progresses. In two or three years may be normal.

  P.M.

  First Reading. Mrs. C. L. Unbalancing of forces from poor eliminations, cold, congestion in antrums and bronchi, blood overcharged, unbalanced metabolism, temperature. Basic condition in cerebrospinal system, functioning through digestion. Use lights or B——as counter-irritation to spine; turpentine, spirits of camphor, and tallow to throat, face and feet. Take liver prescription; also tonic of herbs, wild cherry bark, etc. Itemized diet.

  Only a small portion of the readings were for patients in the hospital, though most of its beds were filled all of the time. Special days were set aside for checking on these patients. The remainder of the periods was used in an attempt to dent the pile of requests from people all over the country, who had read or heard of the hospital and had written for appointments.

  “We’re booked three months ahead, except for the periods I’ve left open for Morton,” Gladys said one morning.

  “Fill up those appointments of Morton’s,” Edgar said. “Philosophy can wait. Sick people can’t. Some of these folks may die before they get their readings.

  “I’ll give Morton his on Sundays.”

  “You’re not supposed to work on Sundays,” Gertrude said.

  “I’ll have to.”

  “You can’t. The readings say you mustn’t overdo it. You need at least one day’s rest a week. Besides, you teach Sunday school in the morning and lecture at the hospital in the afternoon. What time have you to give readings?”

  Edgar went off to feed his chickens, grumbling.

  “He’ll do it,” the squire said.

  “I know it,” Gertrude said wearily.

  NINETEEN

  Sunday was a busy day at the hospital. In the morning patients were bundled off to the various churches; in the afternoon visitors were shown through the building and a crowd—usually in excess of a hundred persons—gathered for the lecture. Morton and Edgar spoke on alternate Sundays, and Morton conducted a philosophy class on the Saturday afternoons when he was at the beach. The class had a textbook, Ouspensky’s Tertium Organum, and did outside reading in Bergson’s Creative Evolution and Mind Energy, James’s Varieties of Religious Experience, and Hudson’s Law of Psychic Phenomena. The Sunday lectures were on such subjects as “The Value of Introspection,” “My Idea of God,” and “The Fourth-Dimensional Viewpoint.” Edgar talked very much as he did in Sunday school. The Bible was his textbook.

  The same people, largely, came to hear both men; both covered the same territory, took up the same subjects. Both, in essence, often said the same thing, but in quite different words. Speaking of man’s relationship to God, Morton said:

  “Bearing in mind the difference between the fourth-dimensional viewpoint of mind in the elemental state (i.e., the dematerialized subconscious state of the Creator’s mind) and the oneness of life to the mind of such a being, and the three-dimensional viewpoint of mind in materialized form—in the case of man not only an animal subconscious changed to materialized form, but also a universally evolved subconscious kind of mind, by virtue of which addition a combination is effected that in materialized form becomes man—bearing in mind, we say, the difference between the fourth and higher dimensional subconscious viewpoint of mind of the elemental life essence in its universal totality, and the more limited three-dimensional viewpoint of this same mind changed to add itself to a sectional formation of mind; remembering the difference between the Creator’s mind with its infinite viewpoint and the mind of the created with its finite viewpoint, yet the oneness of both kinds of mind, we are prepared to form some intelligent concept of God.”

  Edgar said:

  “What is your relationship to your God? Remember that He is the God of the living, not of the dead. Remember that in serving Him you must serve your fellow man, that you must become a channel through which God may work His divine will here on earth. When burdens become hard to bear and you feel yourself beginning to slip away from the path you know is right, draw nearer to your God and He will draw nearer to you. As a child will come and sit at the feet of its parents, seeking their guidance and advice, asking their help, just so we must approach through prayer the God who is our Father and Creator.”

  The crowds at the lectures respected Morton, but they loved Edgar. They were polite and attentive while Morton showed them a chair and a table, and assured them that from the fourth-dimensional viewpoint there was no difference between the two; but they relaxed and enjoyed themselves when Edgar spoke about Moses, Joshua, David and Solomon, or told them about the time he bet a man fifty dollars that trees talked and won the bet.

  “He was to pick a time during the day, and every day for a week at that hour he was to go and sit under a tree and listen. He was to choose the tree and it was to be in a quiet spot.

  “He chose five o’clock in the afternoon. Every day at that time he went to a big tree in the woods nearby and sat under it. Then for fifteen minutes he listened to the tree.

  “On the fifth afternoon he came running out of the woods. When he met me he said, ‘You win the fifty dollars. I don’t know what that tree said to me, but it said something!’”

  Edgar told the story to illustrate the truth that when any person who is habitually an objective thinker begins to experiment with subjective thinking, he sees and hears strange things and imagines he is having psychic experiences.

  “Actually he is only meeting the reality of himself,” Edgar explained. “It’s just the opposite sort of thing when a man who has been too concerned with his inner thoughts goes out into the world and mixes with other people. In each case it is new to the person just experiencing it, but common to everyone else.”

  He was aware of a d
angerous trend among the people who were now being attracted to the work. They came by dozens and scores and many were the kind who reason with their emotions and are ready to exclaim over any new psychic fad. Others were looking for an opportunity to dramatize their own dreams, hunches, and intuitive flashes. They were the sort of people who would turn the thing into a cult, if allowed, or make it ridiculous by their attitude toward it. Yeoman work was done on these people by Hugh Lynn and Tommy, who devoted their time in the summer to interviewing visitors and answering questions. To the best of their ability they foiled the crackpots and faddists, and presented a sane, sensible view of the work.

  “They always look at me as if I were crazy,” Tommy used to say, “but I keep after them until they change their minds. They finally agree with me, and then they think we’re both crazy.” Morton was already looking for new fields to conquer. The hospital was a fulfillment for Edgar; Morton needed a university to hold his dreams. He began buying up land opposite the hospital, on the other side of the boulevard, between it and the ocean. Here he planned to establish Atlantic University.

  It was to be a modest project at first, until a staff of teachers was gathered which could integrate the “new” philosophy with the old, orthodox system of education. He decided to erect two buildings as a nucleus. What he needed first, however, was a man to take charge of the undertaking.

  In the autumn of 1929 Dr. Brown left his post at Washington and Lee to run for governor of Virginia on the Republican ticket. His defeat was a foregone conclusion unless he could take advantage of the split in the solid South caused by the candidacy on the national ticket in 1928 of Alfred E. Smith. During the campaign Dr. Brown made several speeches in Alexandria and other Virginia towns near Washington. Morton went to Washington, and at a luncheon in the Willard Hotel offered Dr. Brown the job of inaugurating Atlantic University in the event of his defeat in the election.