Animal magnetism is a term frequently used in the study and practice of Christian Science. But it was not invented by Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science. It was in use nearly one hundred years prior to her discovery of this Science. Animal magnetism had first been brought to the world's attention by Mesmer in Germany in 1775, and was subsequently given the title of mesmerism.
In 1784, however, the French government set up a commission—one member of which was the great statesman and author, Benjamin Franklin—which, as it is stated in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mrs. Eddy, made the following report (pp. 100, 101:) "In regard to the existence and utility of animal magnetism, we have come to the unanimous conclusions that there is no proof of the existence of the animal magnetic fluid; that the violent effects, which are observed in the public practice of magnetism, are due to manipulations, or to the excitement of the imagination and the impressions made upon the senses; and that there is one more fact to be recorded in the history of the errors of the human mind, and an important experiment upon the power of the imagination." It is sad that mankind, one hundred and sixty years later, is still largely dominated by belief in the power and activity of that which is recorded as an error of the human mind.
Mrs. Eddy, in her unfolding revelation of the Science of Mind, was led to investigate the claims of animal magnetism, and her service in revealing to humanity the exact nature and powerlessness of this human error is incalculable. In Science and Health she writes (p. 484,) "Animal magnetism is the voluntary or involuntary action of error in all its forms; it is the human antipode of divine Science." She further states (ibid.,p. 103), "As named in Christian Science, animal magnetism or hypnotism is the specific term for error, or mortal mind."
