Article July 20, 1907 Issue

THE LECTURES

with contributions from Carl Crisand, W. Henry Jones , Colonel Davidson

More than twelve hundred people attended the semiannual public address given in Mechanics Hall, yesterday afternoon [May 19], under the direction of First Church of Christ, Scientist, Worcester. The speaker was Judge Septimus J. Hanna, and the meeting was regarded as unique from the fact that the speaker was introduced to the audience by a practising physician of Worcester, Dr. Carl Crisand, who said in part,—

No doubt it may seem paradoxical that a physician should be called upon to introduce a speaker who represents a religio-medical sect which is not only in competition with, but also apparently in opposition to the medical profession. Permit me briefly to explain my position. I am a graduate of the homeopathic school, have been in practice twenty-three years and still believe as firmly as ever in the law of similia similibus curantur, as a law of cure. Beyond this, however, I try to be simply a fair-minded, honest seeker after truth, and as in my opinion the finality of thought has not been reached in science, in medicine, in politics, and not even in theology, therefore I welcome the opportunity of sitting at the feet of one who knows more about Christian Science than I do. I hope and expect to learn much from him which will enable me to bring relief to my patients. Co-operation is greater than competition and we should constantly bear in mind one of the great fundamental laws of the universe, the law of interdependence. There is not a thing in this world which is not dependent for its existence upon some other favorable thing or condition. We are all dependent upon each other. We all need each other, and therefore should co-operate with each other. He who loses sight of this great law soon becomes worthless timber in the economy of the world. He is a narrow-minded fanatic and a menace to the very cause which he has espoused. It gives me great pleasure to introduce to you Judge Septimus J. Hanna.

Before beginning his address, Judge Hanna said he wanted to compliment the Worcester church for the progressive spirit that seems to be alive in Worcester, and he called attention to the fact that but twice before in his almost a quarter of a century experience in important positions in the promulgation of the Christian Science faith had he been presented to an audience by a practising physician, and those two cases were where the mayors of the cities happened to be physicians and did the formality of presenting him. He said, "I am specially thankful to see there is a tendency in the direction of greater liberality, at least in some parts of the medical profession, and I consider it an honor to have been presented for the first time by a physician voluntarily."—Worcester Telegram.

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