Article April 3, 1909 Issue

A copy of your enterprising paper, the Morning Oregonian,...

Helen M. Emery—Portland, Ore.

Morning Oregonian

A copy of your enterprising paper, the Morning Oregonian, has found its way to my table, away up here in Canada, and having duly read the various articles which were marked by some good friend in your fair city, I beg leave to submit a few comments upon the same. The first marked item that I noted was an account of the fall of a lady down a flight of stairs in a public hall, and her refusal to have medical treatment. This was not strange. considering that she was a Christian Scientist, but the refusal of the police officer to assist her into a carriage was not polite, to say the least. It is to be hoped, however, that her preference for Christian Science treatment was respected and successful. Glancing through the pages, I saw another marked item. I was grieved to read of the death of a Christian Science believer from the effects of poisoning, and the serious illness of her two daughters. I also read that there was much excitement in the town (Roseburg), and that "officers and citizens felt that the time had come to stamp out this craze."

Pursuing my reading, I noticed the account of three or four brutal murders, and I think four suicides, and while the usual "coroner's inquests" would doubtless be held, I saw nothing to indicate that the "citizens were aroused" as to the cause, or as to "stamping it out," although whisky was written large and luminous over all, and whisky is surely a product to be stamped out. I noticed the lamented passing away of respected citizens—some in the early and some in the later prime of life. Some of them passed from hospitals where the best was obtainable in the way of material help; others went from homes where wealth and love and skill combined their forces in vain to keep their dear ones with them. The list of deaths in the daily statistics seemed small for a great city, but there were fifteen in all, and these with the others presumably passed on while under the care and with the consent of responsible physicians, for no mention was made of "inquests" or "stamping out a craze." I pondered somewhat over these things.

I next read with interest the opening remarks of one of your city pastors on a recent Sabbath morning and, strange to say, they were upon the same theme. Christian Science. It seems that he had previously preached or spoken upon the subject, and had received numerous letters. taking him to task for his position. He says only one of the writers signed his name, and I here offer the suggestion that not all who wrote him were Scientists, but simply people who liked fair play, for he claims that they did not show the usual courtesy of Christian Scientists. However, the sample which he quotes does not appear to me as vindictive as the answer which is flung back, which is not really so much of an answer as a medley of assertions, gossipy statements, and false conclusions, which from their nature preclude the use of arguments to refute them.

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