P.P. Quimby Letter to the Editor of a Portland Newspaper

Portland, Feb., 1860

Mr. Editor:

I notice an article in your paper of the third inst. in answer to Y.C. I have nothing to do with that; but when a person sees fit to attack me as a sorcerer and humbug, he had better look out for his own theory or house and see if it is based on a sure foundation before he commences throwing stones at outsiders, for he will be likely to break his own windows and let in the cold.

Mr. J. seems to be troubled for the safety of the good people of Portland and warns them against mesmerism, sorcery and all sorts of humbug. Who art thou, oh man, that judges another without any cause? Did you know by what you measured to another it shall be measured back to you again? Judge not that ye be not judged. If you know more about my practice than I do, why did you not tell the people where the deception is and enlighten them upon the subject; then you would have done good to the sick. But you do not take the responsibility upon yourself but, like a demagogue, you come forward with a face of brass and an impudence that shows itself in every word you say. That shows you are giving an opinion upon what you have not the slightest knowledge, expecting the people to take your bare assertion for truth. Why are you not honest and say to the sick that they have not sense enough to know whether they are benefited by me or not and that you have just sense enough to see all through the humbug? For this is what you mean.

Now the time is come when such oracles as you will be weighed in the balance, and then you will receive sentence according to your knowledge.

P. P. Quimby

Quimby, Phineas. Phineas Parkhurst Quimby: His Complete Writings and Beyond (p. 87). Phineas Parkhurst Quimby Resource Center. Kindle Edition.

In my heart, I know it does…