Article January 5, 1929 Issue

Extracts from Reports of Christian Science Committees on Publication for the Year Ended September 30, 1928

Germany.

In the guarding of the rights of Christian Scientists against restricition by public authority this committee has again been actively engaged. Proceedings were instituted against a practitioner on a charge of fraud, because she had accepted money for Christian Science treatment in cases of sickness. She was acquitted. In the statement of acquittal the court said in part:

"Christian Science is a recognized religious society whose chief aim is to lead humanity back to the perfect recognition of divine Truth and the indestructibility of divine Life. To assist in the recognition of the way that leads to this goal is the task of the helpers (Helferinnen) to whom the accused belongs. From the evidence of the witnesses it is clear that the accused did not intend to obtain for herself illegal gains which had harmed the fortune of another, that she had not aroused or maintained an error by representation of falsities or by misrepresenting or suppressing real facts. She had never demanded money for her services. The circumstance that it was customary among the adherents of Christian Science to give the helpers small sums of money for their services was not with the accused determinative of her action. It was credible in her case that she would have obeyed the call of anyone in need of help, even though she knew she would receive no payment for her services. The pecuniary advantage she obtained was not illegal, for it depended entirely upon the free will of the person in need of help. The evidence of the witnesses unanimously shows that the accused had always declared healing could come from God alone, that her helping activity could only consist in leading the patient, by teaching and earnest prayer, in the right way to faith in the omnipotent, helping, and healing power of God. From the personal impression that the accused made, and from the evidence of witnesses, the court was convinced that the accused had acted in the firm conviction of the truth of her views. She was therefore acquitted of the charge of fraud." An appeal made by the police authorities against the verdict was refused by the court as unfounded.

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