Article August 29, 1931 Issue

In the verbatim report of the Alabama State Training School...

Israel Pickens, Committee on Publication for the State of Alabama,

Birmingham Post

In the verbatim report of the Alabama State Training School investigation are certain remarks and inferences that would indicate a misconception of Christian Science. The published statements, if not corrected, would tend to do the religion of Christian Science an injustice.

According to the testimony, as reported, the matron of the school is accused of withholding medical treatment from those in her charge. The one who offers the criticism admits that he does not really think that this person who is said to have withheld the medical remedies is even a Christian Scientist. Moreover, there was no testimony whatsoever indicating that the matron had actually obtained Christian Science help for those under her care. Yet the critic draws the conclusion that the mere withholding of material remedies and the fact that the matron "was never much in sympathy with the medical work," must necessarily be a "Christian Science attitude."

It is not my purpose to make any comment upon the actions of any person in charge of the above-named institution, or to make any criticism whatever of whether the doctor's directions were or were not followed. But I do wish to make it plain that Christian Scientists, while insisting upon their own right to have the religion and healing method of their choice, never at any time seek to thrust Christian Science upon others, either forcibly or otherwise. Christian Scientists would not thwart or hinder the work of physicians in any cases where physicians have jurisdiction. In this they make the effort to obey the Golden Rule.

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In the verbatim report of the Alabama State Training School...

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