Article December 5, 1903 Issue

Regarding Individual Rights

Alfred Farlow with contributions from Mazzini

While Christian Scientists cheerfully grant their neighbors the privilege which they claim for themselves,—their own choice of religion and medicine,—they would not be inclined to lend any special support to any practice which is not demonstrably efficacious.

They do not discard material remedies merely to be fanatically true to a religious belief, but because they have proved by actual experience that in so doing they are choosing the better way, not only for the adult but for the child, In this connection, however, it should be stated that they sometimes sacrifice personal liberties in deference to popular opinion and the fears and apprehensions of their neighbors.

While some might look upon the withholding of medicine from a child as neglect, a Christian Scientist would regard the administration of medicine as detriment to the child, provided it had access to the treatment of a proficient Christian Scientist; and while the critic points to a child that has died under Christian Science treatment, the Scientist has in mind many children whose lives have been saved through the Science after medical practice had proved futile.

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Testimony of Healing

In 1898, my eyes were healed of astigmatism and farsightedness...