Editorial November 14, 1903 Issue

The Gospel and the Humanly Condemned

When we realize with what momentum the twentieth century has vaulted into history, we can but expect that it will bring us many and great surprises, and yet it is quite natural that we should be somewhat startled on reading that a Christian minister, a representative of him who said," "He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also," has publicly advocated before a late meeting of the New York State Medical Association, that in the case of suffering incurables the civilized and Christian thing to do, in this enlightened age, is to grant them the privilege of a painless death!

According to the news report the reverned speaker said, in part, that "where the prolongation of life is simply the prolongation of hopeless agony, it seems to me that it would be proper that such a patient should quietly, decently, modestly, be allowed to end his sufferings. It seems to me that such a course would be a step forward in civilization, and a step farther away from barbarism."

It is stated that this was the expression of a serious conviction, and that it elicited a "burst of applause" from many of those who heard it, thought it was severely criticised by other speakers.

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