HIGHER THOUGHT, THE. The " Higher Thought," also known as the " New Thought." may be described as a modern idealistic and mystical philosophy of a practical character. Some of its principles are, indeed, by no means new. As Horatio W. Dresser says (Health and the Inner Life, 1907), " for untold ages the ' New Thought ' has been old in India." But the application of the principles is new. Mr. Dresser says further of the designation " New Thought " : " This is the latest of mind-cure terms and at present the most popular. It came into vogue in 1S95. and was used as the title of a little magazine published for a time in Melrose, Massa chusetts. The term was apparently a convenient designa tion, inasmnch as for its devotees it was literally a 'new thought ' about life. But critics soon assailed it on the ground that the doctrine was not new, and in England the term ` Higher Thought ' was substituted." The Higher Thought lays great emphasis on the power of the mind. This power, many will think, is greatly exaggerated; but it will be admitted that much of the Higher Thought is of the highest ethical and religious value. Its value is recognized even by persons like the agnostic author of The Churches and Modern Thought (see p. 400 in the Popular Edition. 1908). One of the best exponents of the philosophy is Ralph Waldo Trine. " The great central fact of the universe." he says, " is that Spirit of Infinite Life and Power that is behind all, that animates all, that manifests itself in and through all; that self-existent principle of life from which all has come, and not only from which all has come, but from which all is continually coming " (In Tune with the Infinite, 1906). Further, " the great central fact in human life, in your life and in mine, is the coming into a conscious, vital realization of our oneness with this Infinite Life, and the opening of ourselves fully to this divine inflow." And " in the degree that we open our selves to this divine inflow are we changed from mere men into God-men." As the Infinite Spirit is behind all and has created everything, " we, through the operation of our Interior, spiritual, thought forces. have in like sense creative power." As in the New Theology, great stress is laid on the idea that God is immanent as well as transcendent. This being granted. " in the degree
that we open ourselves to the inflowing tide of this immanent and transcendent life, do we make ourselves channels through which the Infinite Intelligence and Power can work." The bearing of such doctrines as these upon the question of mental healing is obvious. Another able exponent of this kind of philosophy is Orison Swett Marden. The teaching of his hook Peace, Power and Plenty, and of much of the Higher Thought, is summarized in the Preface. " The author attempts to show that the body is but the mind exter nalised, the habitual mental state out-pictured: that the bodily condition follows the thought. and that we are sick or well, happy or miserable, young or old, lovable or unlovable, according to the degree in which we control our mental processes. He shows how man can renew his body by renewing his thought. or change his body, his character, by changing his thought. The book teaches that man need not be the victim of his environment. but can be the master of it: that there is no fate outside of him which determines his life, his aims; that each person can shape his own environment, create his own condi tion; that the cure for poverty, ill-health, and unhappi ness lies in bringing one's self through scientific thinking into conscious union with the great Source of Infinite life, the Source of opulence, of health, and harmony. This conscious union with the Creator, this getting in tune with the Infinite, is the secret of all peace, power, and prosperity. It emphasizes man's oneness with In finite Life, and the truth that when he comes into the full realization of his inseparable connection with the creative energy of the universe, he shall never know lack or want again. This volume shows how man can stand porter at the door of his mind, admitting only his friend thoughts, only those suggestions that will produce joy, prosperity; and excluding all his enemy thoughts which would bring discord, suffering, or failure." Some of the essays of Prentice Mulford are very striking. See Ralph Waldo Trine, In Tune with the Infinite, 1906; What all the World's a-seeking, 1907; O. S. /garden, Peace, Power, and Plenty, 1909; Prentice Mulford. The Gift of the Spirit, 190S; The Gift of Understanding; James Allen, From Poverty to Power (6), 1909; The Mastery of Destiny, 1909.