Article January 30, 1932 Issue

That your editorial of a few days since may not give...

Thomas C. Hollingshead, Committee on Publication for the State of Idaho,—Lewiston

Morning Tribune

That your editorial of a few days since may not give your readers a wrong impression of the attitude of Christian Science with regard to vaccination and inoculation, and to its teaching in reference to obedience to all laws in this connection, I ask the privilege of your columns to say that your closing remark, "The law on such matters is clear," recalls to me the words of Mrs. Eddy which appear in her book "The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany" (p. 220), and which are the imperative teaching of Christian Science on this point: "I believe in obeying the laws of the land. I practise and teach this obedience, since justice is the moral signification of law."

And since this is the teaching of Christian Science, its adherents submit to vaccination and quarantine regulations, when the law demands it; for this is in accord with their concept of the Golden Rule, and because they desire no quarrel with their neighbors who may differ with them as to the protective power of these processes.

Still, it is surely clear that the Christian Scientist, not believing in the efficacy of vaccination and not submitting to it except in compliance with the law, is not endangering his neighbor if that neighbor, believing himself immune through vaccination, has availed himself of its presumed protection.

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