Article August 14, 1920 Issue

A dispatch of recent date announces the verdict of a New Jersey...

William E. Brown

Riverside (Calif.) Enterprise

A dispatch of recent date announces the verdict of a New Jersey jury convicting Andrew Walker of manslaughter for the death of his daughter under Christian Science treatment. As this incident has caused much inquiry, the following comment will doubtless be of interest to your readers.

The query that has been expressed, "Why was a physician not called?" illustrates the fixity of adherence to long established customs. In looking over the death notices published in one of our daily papers the fact is disclosed that for the week ending May 4, over one hundred and thirty persons passed away. Doubtless the majority of these died under the care of a regular physician and ceased to exist in a regu lar and orthodox manner. Here the question may be legitimately asked, "Why was a Christian Science practitioner not called?" Judging by record of achievement and realizing that in many cases Christian Science is employed only as a last resort and frequently saves the patient after all material methods had been exhausted, the failure to call in a Christian Science practitioner might well be denominated "neglect"—and yet there has been no public condemnation nor criminal prosecution.

New Jersey has a peculiar statute which has been construed to mean that medical attention is required. It goes without saying that this is an infringement of personal rights and many of the states have enacted legislation that recognizes the right of parents to employ for themselves and families the method of healing that they deem most efficacious. Healing in Christian Science is identical with the religion of Jesus, who commanded his followers to heal the sick as well as the sinner, and the right to believe in and practice the religion of one's choice is an inherent right of the individual guaranteed by the constitution of free America. This will finally be conceded by courts and juries everywhere.

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