Article October 10, 1903 Issue

A Choice of Means

CLARENCE A. BUSKIRK

Indianapolis (Ind.) Journal

Christian Science is a religion, not a method of practising medicine. True, the healing of sickness follows as an incident to the religious work, a "sign following" to prove the truth of its doctrine. In this it follows the "works" of Jesus and the early Christians, who depended upon the "works" of healing the sick, etc., to prove the verities of Christianity and to spread the gospel. Jesus and the early Christians found that all forms of sickness, as well as sin, were curable through the ministry of their religion, and Christian Scientists are rejoicing over similar experiences all over the world. They are seeking to obey their consciences in obeying the commands of Jesus, which they understand was directed to his followers of all times: "Preach the gospel;" "heal the sick." It is an integral part of their religion that Jesus did not promise falsely when he said, "He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also."

No Christian Scientist claims that he heals sickness. God is the "great Physician." It is in God that we live, and move, and have our being. They claim the indefeasible right of conscience to pray for the sick, just as clergymen and friends do. But they seek to pray aright and not to "ask amiss," and they are rewarded already all over this and other countries in thousands upon thousands of instances by unquestionable demonstrations that it is true, as the Scripture declares, that "the prayer of faith shall save the sick." They rely upon the guarantee in our Indiana Constitution: "No law shall, in any case whatever, control the free exercise and enjoyment of religious opinions or interfere with the rights of conscience." Let those take drugs who wish to. But no humanitarian physician can do otherwise than rejoice when suffering is relieved by prayer. I do not believe that, upon more serious consideration, the Medical Board of Indiana will wish to interfere with the great mission of Christian Science any more than it would with the mission of Jesus and the early apostles and Christians if now on earth. Yet the law would apply to them as well as to us.

Our position as Christian Scientists is this, and it is based on the fundamentals of civil and religious liberty: We obey the laws respecting contagious and infectious diseases out of respect to the rights of the majority, but in those cases which concern the individual, and not the public, our position is that they who prefer drugs should be permitted to have them, and those who prefer prayer and the seeking of God's help should also be permitted to exercise their choice. CLARENCE A. BUSKIRK.
In Indianapolis (Ind.) Journal.

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