The Relation of Sickness and Poverty

Archibald McLellan

SOME persons who have attended our Wednesday evening meetings for the first time have been more or less mystified and unfavorably impressed by the fact that many references are made by the speakers to the great improvement which has taken place in their financial condition since they have accepted Christian Science as their rule of living; and because the connection between sickness and poverty has not been understood, although a little thought upon the subject would have shown them that the two are usually as closely related as parent and child, these investigators have gone away from the meetings in a somewhat dissatisfied frame of mind. Would it not be well, therefore, for those who thus refer to their material affairs to give a reason for their betterment which will be intelligible to the casual attendant, and thus avoid all danger of misunderstanding.

To those who do not know that poverty is so largely the result of sickness we commend the following statement by Jane Addams in the Chicago Inter Ocean. She writes, "The subject of poverty has been more scientifically investigated in recent years, and especially in the last year, and it has been found that intemperance ranks only third in the causes of poverty. In some cities it ranks fifth.

"Sickness and accidents both have had greater effects on the workingman and on mankind in general in reducing him to lower straits financially. Sickness has played a surprisingly large part, and outdistances intemperance, while accidents also take precedence over intemperance."

Some of our superficial critics have been led by their misinterpretation of these testimonies to believe that Christian Scientists are mercenary, just as other critics, who have noticed that our people are, as a rule, well dressed and prosperous in appearance, have been impelled to the conclusion that Christian Science is "a rich man's religion:" that it does not appeal to the poor and that there is nothing in it for this class.

When it is understood that Christian Science has healed thousands of intemperance as well as of sickness; that it has restored these people to usefulness in the business world and in many cases turned helpless invalids into strong and efficient breadwinners, there should be no misunderstanding of these testimonies and no criticism of Christian Scientists for their prosperous appearance. While this is not the whole of the question from the standpoint of Christian Science, it is sufficient to account for the improved conditions in many cases. Only those who have had the experience can know how many overcoats and wraps in years gone by have been made to serve another winter in order that some suffering loved one might be ministered to, or how many "Sunday suits" have been foregone so that the invalid member of the family might have the best medical attendance and, perhaps, some expensive appliance or remedy.

Archibald McLellan.

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The Nation and the True Man

July 8, 1905

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