Page:Psychology and preaching.djvu/158

 140 PSYCHOLOGY AND PREACHING

ness it is perceived to dove-tail into the mental structure so as to fill out in some measure the &quot; noetic pattern,&quot; to use a phrase of Marshall s. It is an element which carries a step toward fulfilment the incomplete mental organization. When this peculiar experience is of a pronounced type, the new presentation is felt to be not only a supplement to but a confirmation of the system of ideas, not only fitting in har moniously with it but bringing to it an increment of stabil ity; and is accompanied, therefore, by a distinctly pleasant feeling-tone. So to speak, the mind stretches out to it glad hands of welcome and ushers it into a room which seems prepared for it beforehand,

For inducing an act of belief like this it is, of course, only necessary that the new presentation should be in harmony with the content of consciousness at the time. There may be other elements of experience not at the time in conscious ness with which the agreement would not be so entire ; and later when the effort is made to bring these elements into conscious relation with the new fact or idea, trouble may be gin a quarrel may arise between these elements and the new-comer so cordially welcomed at first. Again, there may be implicit disharmony between the new presentation and the elements that were in consciousness when it was accepted, and this disharmony may subsequently become apparent. The very host that welcomed the new inmate may discover on further acquaintance that there were deep- seated incompatibilities which did not appear at the time. Subsequent reflection may make these apparent, and thus an unexpected conflict may result. This, of course, is more likely to occur in active and progressive than in static mental conditions. But whatever the subsequent fate of the new fact or idea may be, it is believed, accepted as true or real, if it seems to be in harmony with the conscious mental sys tem at the time of perception; and this acceptance is em phatic, i.e., the belief is positive, in proportion as it is felt to confirm that system. If in the course of later reflection and mental reorganization that first &quot; feeling &quot; is justified,

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