Charles Scribner's Sons, NY, 1933, 244pp, first edition as indicated by A on copyright page. Except for a name and address on the ffep, there is no writing in the book and no torn or missing pages, the cover has sunning on the spine and edges, the text pages are slightly age-toned. No dust jacket. This book is out of print.

Bonus - This book was a PRE-RELEASE gift edition to literary editors. The notice of the upcoming release along with the retail price of $2.00 is included

This is the final installment of a series of books written over two decades of treating individuals, including alcoholics. Worcester books included: Religion and Medicine, The Christian Religion as a Healing Power, Body Mind & Spirit, all three of which summarized Emmanuel Movement methods to treat the suffering. Worcester also wrote Religion & Life, The Issues of Life, Studies in the Birth of the Lord, and Allies of Religion, all of which addressed better life through Christian values and morals.

In this volume it was Worcester’s intent to express his teaching from Religion & Medicine and Body, Mind & Spirit in simpler, less scientific terms. Worcester hopes that the reader might more easily practice the principles and methods to overcome everyday problems.

What was the Emmanuel Movement?

William James offered his conviction that by getting in touch with the subconscious the human energy  released could be used for transformation and healing. Elwood Worcester was one of the first ministers to take seriously this notion. While rector of the Episcopal Emmanuel Church in Boston he teamed up with other with other physicians and offered classes and groups using suggestive therapy to treat nervous disorders. Worcester offered group therapy classes for free for almost 23 years. His clientele grew quickly from hundreds to thousands and gained national publicity. Thus was born the Emmanuel Movement, the first American adventure between doctors and clergy to cure souls.

An important aspect of the Emmanuel Movement was the introduction of lay therapy in the treatment of alcoholism. Up to this time treatment had been the duty of the medical profession or clergy, or sometimes just dealt harshly with by the legal system. Courtenay Baylor, who as a recovering alcoholic, began working with Worchester in 1912 may have been the first lay therapist to work with other alcoholics. Among those treated by Baylor was Richard Peabody in 1922, the author of Common Sense of Drinking. Alcoholics Anonymous memeber’s practice of one non-professional alcoholic helping another is an example of utilizing lay therapy.

Another important aspect of the Emmanuel Movement similar to William James’s teachings of reliance upon an higher power. It is believed James is the source for AA’s term higher power when he wrote in Varieties of a Religious Experience: we are saved from the wrongness by making proper connection with the higher powers.

Worcester wrote in his first book of the Emmanuel Movement Religion and Medicine: Man must become conscious of his need and dependence upon a Higher Power, and bring himself more and more into harmonious relations with this Power, and this desire goes forth with prayer.