Article July 11, 1925 Issue

The article on "Christian Science and Medicine" which...

Arthur P. DeCamp, Committee on Publication for the State of Missouri,—St. Louis

Censor

The article on "Christian Science and Medicine" which appeared in your issue of recent date indicates such a mistaken sense of the attitude of Christian Scientists toward the practice of medicine that I am sure you will grant me space to present the subject from the Christian Science viewpoint. In the matter of pending legislation at Jefferson City, the Christian Scientists of Missouri are only asking that their medical status shall be stated clearly as a fact that is generally known,—that the practice of Christian Science healing is not the practice of medicine. Many of the states have clauses in their medical practice acts which recognize this fact. For more than twenty-five years the neighboring state of Illinois has had this clause in its medical statute: "This act shall not apply to persons treating human ailments by prayer or spiritual means as an exercise or enjoyment of religious freedom." And since 1904 the Kentucky medical statute has included the provision: "That this act shall not apply to the practice of Christian Science." Christian Science is a religious system which heals the sick in accordance with the demand of the Founder of Christianity. Christian Scientists do not use medicine or diagnose disease. If in their practice any of the usually known symptoms of what are regarded as infectious or contagious diseases appear, either the cases are reported direct to the health office for investigation, or medical practitioners are called to diagnose and report if they deem that action necessary. We make it a point faithfully to obey quarantine regulations.

Christian Scientists deny no one the practitioner or remedy of his choice; nor do they seek to induce any one to turn from the use of material remedies to spiritual healing. No experienced Christian Science practitioner would take a case if he thought the patient desired material remedies, or if it appeared the patient had any lingering thought that such remedies would benefit him. Such a seeker for help would be advised to continue with his medical practitioner or the use of material remedies until he had tested them fully. On the other hand, those who desire spiritual help alone should be free to have it, provided they observe the laws relating to infectious and contagious diseases. We do object decidedly to compulsory medication. It would be just as wrong to force medical attention and material remedies on any one who refused them as it would be to deny such attention and such remedies to one who desired them; and compulsory Christian Science is unthinkable.

Most Christian Scientists have adopted Christian Science and its healing method upon finding in it a help for mind and body which they had failed to get through the ordinary systems. Surely no one in a free country would say to such a people that they must give up the spiritual remedy which meets their needs and go back to that which they have outgrown and discarded. A great multitude, found all over the globe, rely solely on the Christian Science healing system. Many of these are people, now grown, who have never had a drop of medicine or any attention from a medical practitioner, except perhaps at birth; and it is safe to say they will average in the scale of health, happiness, and good citizenship with any body of people on earth. Christian Scientists will not be found a menace to society in any respect. Any fairminded observer can satisfy himself on this point.

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