Editorial January 15, 1921 Issue

Choice of Treatment

Gustavus S. Paine

To the student of Christian Science who has proved for himself that reliance on the understanding of divine Principle is more effective than recourse to material methods of treatment, the failure to depend entirely on this understanding for his children as well as for himself would be neglect. It could not be neglect, however, for such a one to choose Christian Science in preference to the varying methods of medical practice. In other words, the concepts of neglect that have been formulated by those who are interested in serotherapy must be revised when even a little of Principle and its operation is discerned. Doctors and nurses themselves, as well as public officials, can be convinced that the methods of Christian Science require the utmost of intelligent care of children as for any one else. Christian Science treatment does not consist in doing nothing. It is the exact application of reasoning in accord with infinite Principle to whatever seems to be wrong. It is the knowing of specific truth in place of what seems to be specific trouble. That this knowing is effective has been demonstrated in the cases of multitudes of children for whom regular medical doctors have declared that they could do nothing.

Mrs. Eddy had the utmost respect for the motives and endeavors of the best type of workers in the medical profession. In the Manual of The Mother Church she provided under the heading "Uncharitable Publications" (Art. VIII, Sect. 26): "A member of this Church shall not publish, nor cause to be published, an article that is uncharitable or impertinent towards religion, medicine, the courts, or the laws of our land." The Christian Scientist agrees with every right motive, but insists on his own freedom to fulfill his right motive in insuring his health and that of his children, through consistent reliance on the divine Mind alone as sufficient to heal any disease or other discord. "It will be found," Mrs. Eddy says in "The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany" (p. 4), "that, instead of opposing, such an individual subserves the interests of both medical faculty and Christianity, and they thrive together, learning that Mind-power is good will towards men." It is indeed to the interest of the medical profession that men, women, and children shall be healed through the practice of Christian Science. The efficacy of the spiritual treatment that expresses divine intelligence takes nothing from the doctors but should encourage them to investigate and get the benefit of spiritual Principle and its activity.

The child usually responds to Christian Science treatment even more readily than the adult. The smallest child can be shown simply how to reason in accord with divine Principle and how to apply this reasoning definitely to whatever seems to be wrong. To any one who has sincerely studied this spiritual practice, it is clear that work in Christian Science constitutes "doing something" much more than any giving of medicine or antitoxins. In medical practice, a patient is generally left to his own fears most of the time, since it is possible to apply material remedies only at intervals. In Christian Science treatment, however, the patient, whether child or adult, is encouraged to study and reason rightly for himself quietly but completely. This does not mean that the one depending on Christian Science is expected to think continually in the terminology of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" or Mrs. Eddy's other writings. It does mean, though, that from the first turning to divine Principle, the seeker for help learns something of how to rejoice in the experience of Principle through all the minutiæ of living. Even the child who is being cared for through the understanding of infinite Mind as the only controlling or influencing power is lovingly encouraged to know the truth with gladness.

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