Article July 25, 1914 Issue

The reasons given by the New York judges, according to...

World-Herald

The reasons given by the New York judges, according to the press despatches, for making Christian Science practice illegal, will hardly stand the test of reason. They say that "it is the commercialized use of Christian Science." The same reason would turn every minister who receives pay for his services, out of his pulpit, for if he did not receive pay he would be compelled to leave it. He is "commercializing" Christianity. Aside from all that, there is another question of vital importance. Is personal liberty to be wholly destroyed in this land? Are men to take only the kind of food and drink, only the brand of medicine, and only the religion that is handed out to them? Is there to be no volition left to the American citizen? If a man wants a mental healer to pray or demonstrate over him, what right has government to interfere? If he pays, the whole transaction is voluntary, for these people never attempt to collect their charges in courts. Shall men be left no volition at all?

Some very good people have very little consideration for personal liberty. Do they understand what sort of a system they are advocating? Every man has a natural right to personal liberty and to the exercise of that right as long as he does not interfere with the liberty of any one else. There are psychopathic wards in all of the great hospitals. It may be as truthfully said that psychology is being commercialized and should be forbidden. The fact is, that if Christianity were not "commercialized," there would not be a church organization in existence in a few years. While the New York judges were writing their decision, the Louisiana Legislature was enacting a law, which was signed by the Governor, containing the following words: "Nothing in this act, however, shall be construed to prohibit the practice of Christian Science or the religious tenets of any church whatsoever." Louisiana seems still inclined to allow its citizens some personal liberty.

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The appellate division of the supreme court of New York...
July 25, 1914
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