Article March 9, 1907 Issue

NOT BY FORCE, BUT BY REASON

Lawrence (Mass.) Telegram

The Haverhill Gazette points out the absurdity of the proposed attempt to legislate against the practice of Christian Science healing; absurd because such matters are not regulated by force, but by reason. The Gazette says:

"The opposition to Christian Science is once more before the Legislature with a proposed bill which is expected to place such burdens upon the practice of Christian Science, or any other art of healing outside of the two recognized and 'regular' schools, that it will be abandoned. There isn't a chance of the bill being enacted into law, but there is a chance that agitation for legislation of this sort will be continued by the advancing of some apparently feasible arguments that may be brought forward. But it will be difficult to secure a law that will regulate or restrict the practice of the art of healing. The law may properly define the limitations for the use of the title 'doctor,' and may properly insist that in the practice of the art of healing or in the offering of advice to that end there be no pretense beyond the truth and no deception of any sort, but when it has gone as far as that the law has reached its limit. It can't restrain you from advising your friend as to the best remedy for his corns, or a ready relief for his cough, or prevent you from using your mental power to get him out of the doldrums or 'the blues,' which may be his principal ailment, and it can't prevent your friend from accepting your advice or your treatment. Nor is it desirable that the law should have such a power. If it would exert all of its power in having things advertised by their right names, in abolishing deception and requiring the truth in all claims in such matters, there would be no need of any further legislation to sufficiently protech humanity."

Send a comment to the editors