Article November 2, 1912 Issue

In a recent issue there appears a communication from...

James D. Sherwood

Houston (Texas) Chronicle

In a recent issue there appears a communication from Prof. Irving Fisher, concerning health legislation, etc., in which the professor seems to express considerable satisfaction over what he regards as a defeat of the opponents of the Owen bill, which measure was intended to provide for the creation of a national department of health. Now that the Owen bill, after being amended with a view to meeting the objections of all opponents, has failed to pass, it might be thought by some that the opponents of the measure had not met with so much disappointment, after all; and if that be a fact, whereof has the professor an occasion for boasting?

While Christian Scientists believe that they have found a better way to health than that which is offered by the prevailing systems of medicine, and while they are able to show in their lives and experience the proof that appeals can be made to God in behalf of the sick as well as the sinful, they are not unmindful of the fact that many people are still seeking for a healing medicine. This being the case, Christian Scientists think that such persons as believe themselves dependent upon the use of drugs should be protected in obtaining pure drugs. Christian Scientists believe in pure food, pure air, and pure morals; and it is a sad mistake or a wilful misrepresentation that would lead any one to think otherwise. Christian Scientists have no quarrel with the physicians; on the contrary, they have only words of praise and encouragement for the efforts of the noble men and women who are devoting their time and energies to relieving the distress of suffering humanity. If the methods of the matter physicians differ from the purely metaphysical practise of Christian Science, the Christian Scientist is not found quarreling with the doctors; on the contrary, sad as it should seem in a Christian nation, the Christian Scientist is frequently compelled to defend his faith and his right to practise its teachings from the assaults of those openly making war upon the humble followers of the great Teacher, who required his students to heal the sick in proof of their claims to discipleship.

Christian Scientists do not oppose sanitation, pure water, health laws, or reasonable quarantine, which their enemies misrepresent them as doing. On the contrary, a Christian Scientist is a strong advocate of purity in every department of thought and activity. What they oppose is the tyranny of a medical monopoly which undertakes to punish all those who fail to agree with its dictates and who refuse to adopt its methods of practise. Christian Scientists have, however, no feeling of revenge against the doctors. They have no desire to interfere with the doctors' practise. They only ask to be permitted to work out their salvation according to their best understanding of God's requirements; and they freely grant the same privilege to others. The Christian Scientists also feel that they have a right to insist that, whenever the public press makes statements concerning Christian Science, the truth of the matter should be correctly stated.

Send a comment to the editors

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit

In a recent issue there appears a communication from...

We'd love to hear from you!

Sign up for unlimited access