Article January 31, 1925 Issue

Signs of the Times

with contributions from CHARLES KINGSLEY

[From the Tribune, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, Dec. 9, 1924]

In a recent sermon prelude, the Rev. George Laughton dealt with the question: "Should the law compel Christian Scientists and others, who do not believe in academic medicine, to employ a physician or to use antitoxin?"

He said in part: "You will note that the question is not, 'Does the law compel?' but, 'Should it compel?' And to this question I give an unqualified No. To prove my case I am going to picture for you an imaginary commonwealth which, like all real commonwealths, is composed of people who are united together in the bonds of intelligent citizenship. They are under the rule of law. As citizens they are pledged to certain obligations, among which is obedience to the laws placed on the statute books by the legislators, who were elected to frame such laws. These laws are designed to protect the rights and to safeguard the liberties of those who make up the citizenship. But should such a commonwealth pass a law compelling all its citizens to employ a physician, to submit to vaccination, or to be inoculated with an antitoxin serum, or to inoculated surgical operation? That is another matter. Let us look into it.

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