Article March 19, 1938 Issue

Extracts from Reports of Christian Science Committees on Publication

Northern California.

A law was passed by the recent state legislature for the control of so-called social diseases. This law has provisions compelling the patients of medical doctors to continue medical treatment and for forcing all persons suspected of having such diseases to submit to medical examinations and medical treatment. The bill, however, as passed contains a complete statement of protection, which covers adherents of Christian Science, as a result of the work of the Committees on Publication in this state.

A similar instance of the protection of the rights of Christian Scientists was supplied during the year by a provision in an amendment to the charter of the city of San Francisco, whereby municipal employees were given the privilege of establishing a compulsory health insurance system for themselves. The Committee on Publication for Northern California submitted the following exemption and received the co-operation of all persons concerned in placing it in the city charter: "Any employee who adheres to the faith or teachings of any recognized religious sect, denomination, or organization and in accordance with its creed, tenets or principles, depends for healing upon prayer in the practice of religion shall be exempted from the system upon filing annually with the health service board an affidavit stating such adherence and dependence, and disclaiming any benefits under the system." As soon as this legislation was adopted, several persons, who were not Christian Scientists, stated in effect to your Committee on Publication that this exemption appears to them to exemplify the fundamental soundness of the Christian Science religion in that it protects the right of individuals to choose their own methods under divine direction.

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