Article February 11, 1922 Issue

Your issue of recent date carried a dispatch with a New York...

Robert G. Steel—Detroit, Mich.

The Times

Your issue of recent date carried a dispatch with a New York date line to the effect that the aid of the courts had been sought by a Christian Scientist for the collection of a claim against the estate of a former patient for "metaphysical help," and that it was the first time so far as known that one of this faith had employed legal means to force payment of such an account.

Court actions for the collection of fees by Christian Science practitioners are not countenanced by the Manual of The Mother Church, The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston. This Manual was written by Mary Baker Eddy for the government of the members of the church, and loyal Christian Scientists accord willing and strict obedience to its provisions. In Article VIII, Section 22 of that book occurs the following: "A member of The Mother Church shall not, under pardonable circumstances, sue his patient for recovery of payment for said member's practice, on penalty of discipline and liability to have his name removed from membership.... A Christian Science is a humanitarian; he is benevolent, forgiving, long-suffering, and seeks to overcome evil with good."

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