Editorial March 30, 1907 Issue

A GRAVE RESPONSIBILITY

Archibald McLellan

In an appeal to Governor Campbell of Texas for a veto of Senate Bill No. 26, recently passed by the Legislature of that State, the Christian Scientists say in part:—

The purpose of a medical practice act should be to regulate the practice of medicine. When it attempts to go beyond this by subtle wording, or improper definitions of words, the bounds of propriety are overstepped, and the law becomes tyrannical. The objections set forth in this paper are not against the one-board medical bill or any just medical bill, but against the wording of section 13 of the bill, which reads as follows: "Any person shall be regarded as practising medicine within the meaning of this act who shall publicly profess to be a physician or surgeon, or shall treat or offer to treat any disease or disorder, mental or physical deformity or injury, by any system or method, or to effect cures thereof and charge therefor, directly or indirectly, money or other compensation." It is obvious that this wording is designed to include healing the sick by any method whatsoever, even the method of prayer or purely spiritual ministration. It is to that feature of the bill that this protest is especially offered.

Thousands of the citizens of this State hold the conviction, based on both experience and religious teaching, that healing the sick by spiritual means is the most effective way known to humanity. It is part of their religious belief and practice, and any infringement of their rights in this direction is directly against the provisions of the Constitution. Among no people is the practice of healing the sick as well as reforming the sinner by purely spiritual means, of greater consequence in the exercise of their religious faith than among the great body of religionists known as Christian Scientists. The fundamental teaching of their Church is that the same God who heals the sinner of his erring ways, also can and does restore the harmony of the body. Thousands upon thousands of cases where health has been restored through the agency of prayer after all human means had failed, can be cited in support of these views.

Enjoy 1 free Sentinel article or audio program each month, including content from 1898 to today.

Send a comment to the editors
NEXT IN THIS ISSUE
Editorial
TRUTH'S TRIUMPH
March 30, 1907
Contents

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit