Article April 30, 1927 Issue

Please accept the following statement of fact pertaining...

Charles W. Hale, Committee on Publication for the State of Indiana,—Kokomo

Dispatch

Please accept the following statement of fact pertaining to certain allegations concerning Christian Science included in an editorial in your recent issue. The accusation copied from the Journal of the Indiana State Medical Association, that Christian Scientists are "preventing" certain medical teachings in the schools, is misrepresentative and is an injustice to the Christian Science church. This is not the first time this Journal has made such assertions, and it is manifest that all of them are based upon misunderstanding and induced by prejudice. In many such cases the Christian Scientists have vainly attempted to show the editor of this Journal the truth, and if need be to supply evidence, only to be met with unkindness and further derogatory statements. The truth is the Christian Science church does not in any way interfere with the conducting of the public schools, nor does it attempt to do so. To be sure, this church cannot know of every act or impulse of every individual Christian Scientists, but it can be officially stated that the policy of the church is altogether against any such interference. The Christian Science church advocates individual rights, and fully concedes to everyone, whether he be an advocate of the medical fraternity or of any other group, the same individual right of choice in matters of health or any other teaching that the members of that church ask for themselves. The Christian Scientists are not "taking advantage of their positions in the schools" to work "against the medical profession." They respect the medical doctors who are giving their lives to the service of mankind, and they are not opposing them. They believe that everyone who desires to have the services and teachings of physicians should be granted that right and protected in it, even as Christian Scientists wish to be conceded their right to use the teachings and practices of their religion, and be protected therein.

Christian Scientists are obedient to law, and are strictly obedient to the statutes for the protection of public health. If the medical profession and the public at large would learn that the Christian Science church and its members are not fighting medical doctors, health officers, or any other class of people, but are simply asking to be let alone to follow their religion, there would be less strife, and the rights of individual citizens would receive the respect to which those rights are entitled.

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