Article March 7, 1914 Issue

Recently I related in this column the facts about the refusal...

Leslie's Weekly

Recently I related in this column the facts about the refusal of a leading life insurance company to issue a policy to a Christian Scientist unless he would agree in case of serious illness to call in a regular physician. According to Mr. H. Cornell Wilson of the Christian Science committee on publication for the state of New York, all the companies do not take a similar stand. He writes me:—

"Several at least of the prominent insurance companies look upon Christian Scientists as 'preferred risks,' so called. That is to say, the knowledge on the part of these companies that the man is a Christian Scientist, gives him a standing which will, all other things being equal, secure a policy for him every time. And this, notwithstanding the fact that the Christian Scientist does not agree to have recourse to materia medica in case of serious illness. The reason for this is readily found. These organizations, as Leslie's Weekly says, are interested in keeping the death-rate as low as possible. Their actuaries know full well that, given a body of people whose tendency is to live lives of purity, abstemious as to liquors, tobacco, and drugs, whose habits are being formed or reformed by a close study of the Scriptures, the death-rate is certain to be low. This, be it known, is the case with Christian Scientists, a fact generally acknowledged in insurance circles. The added fact is known in these same circles, moreover, that the health of those who embrace Christian Science is fully as safe while entrusted entirely to Christian Science as is the health of others who rely upon medical treatment."

The point I chiefly sought to enforce was, that there was no religious prejudice in the rejection of the Christian Scientist as an insurance risk. The company in question acted according to its light, and the companies referred to by Mr. Wilson doubtless believe that they are safe in granting policies to Christian Scientists on the same terms as to other people. Persons who lead correct lives certainly ought to be better risks, even if they will have nothing to do with doctors, than are persons who patronize doctors but frequently violate the laws of health.

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