About Contagious Diseases

with contributions from M. H. Miller

For some time past rumors have been afloat in Buffalo, to the effect that Mr. M. H. Miller of that city, had contributed to the spread of contagious disease by ignoring the city ordinance of that city upon that subject. Some of the newspapers of Buffalo published the substance of these rumors. It was claimed that Mr. Miller was a Christian Scientist. Mr. Miller was conferred with upon this subject, and in reply wrote the following letter which fully refutes the charge that he was a Christian Scientist.

Buffalo, N. Y., March 6, 1900.

Mr. R. Moderwell, C.S., 156 Cottage St., City.

Dear Sir:—Your communication at hand. Am very sorry that I am the innocent cause of trouble to any one, so will hereby make a statement that you may print or use in any way you may see fit.

I am not a Christian Scientist, never was, and never will be. My youngest child, a baby of one year, had the measles in a light form on or about the tenth or eleventh of December. I do not remember exactly. We kept the other child, a girl of thirteen, at home from the time the baby showed the first symptoms until the eighth of January, when we sent her to school and the principal sent her home to get a certificate. I went up to the Board of Health to get one and they refused it on the ground that I had no doctor's certificate. I told them I had no use for any doctor, that when I did I would employ one; that they had the privilege of coming to my house and examining my family if they wished to, but they refused to come. I have not tried to spread or be the means of spreading any contagious disease, but tried to comply with the city ordinance in so far as I could. I had no Christian Science treatment, or any other, but simple home remedies. All I ever knew about Christian Science was what I read in the Buffalo papers, and was quite surprised when I saw in the Evening News that I was a Christian Scientist....

Respectfully Yours,
(Signed) M. H. Miller.

In connection with the above we publish the following extract from a letter written to us by Mr. George H. Kinter, a Christian Scientist of Buffalo.

"Incidentally I may remark for your information and for publication if you see fit to make it, that, notwithstanding the most diligent watchfulness has been maintained by the Board of Health through its agents and otherwise, no single case of the spread of contagion at the hands of Christian Scientists has been found, and furthermore, that the Health Commissioner stated at one of the public hearings last fall upon his return from Chicago, where an epidemic of measles was said to be prevalent, 'I have not found that the spread of this contagion in our city is due in any case to the Christian Scientists.' "

Of course the newspapers of Buffalo, as well as the unprejudiced community, will see the injustice of the charge that Mr. Miller was a Christian Scientist.

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Editorial

"Wrong Methods of Advertising"

March 22, 1900

Contents

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit