157-163 Lasalle Street, Chicago, April 17, 1899.

Dear Editor:—Early in the session of 1899, a bill was introduced in the Illinois Legislature seeking "to regulate the practice of medicine in the state of Illinois." It provided for the licensing of physicians by the State Board of Health, and defined the practice of medicine in such terms as would render any one without such license, who should assist another—except by the administration of family remedies in case of emergency—liable to fine or imprisonment or both. It provided that the fine and imprisonment should be doubled at each conviction. A person unfortunate enough to be convicted a number of times, would need a century or two to serve the term of his imprisonment and the fortune of a multi-millionaire with which to pay his fine.

The bill met with considerable opposition, the most potent being from a committee of five Christian Scientists appointed by the three Christian Science Churches in Chicago. We insisted that the section defining the practice of medicine should be stricken out or that it should be so modified by a proviso as to exempt those who minister to the sick by mental or spiritual means and without the use of drugs. It was finally agreed that a proviso should be prepared by Judge Ewing, who was one of the committee, and should be inserted in a bill which was substituted for the one originally introduced. The agreement was made with the representatives of the State Board of Health and the Judiciary Committee of the Senate.

The proviso as follows, is a part of the bill passed in the closing days of the session:—

"Provided, that nothing in this section shall be construed to apply to any person who ministers to or treats the sick or suffering by mental or spiritual means, without the use of any drug or material remedy."

The Judiciary Committee of the House made about twenty changes in the bill but did not change the proviso in any way. Toward the last days of the session it seemed that a combination of opposition and apathy would prevent the bill being called up before the close of the session, therefore the committee decided to send one or more of its members to Springfield. Mr. Ryan reached Springfield on Thursday morning and succeeded in having the bill called up and passed at the night session, and on the following morning—the last day of the session—the Senate concurred in the House amendments. The bill will become a law in ten days from the time it reaches the governor, unless vetoed by him, but will not become operative until July first.

The result was obtained by earnest effort and a proper and dignified presentation of the matter to the Senate Judiciary Committee and such members of the Senate and House as could be of assistance. There was no entreaty nor threat used, and there was nothing spectacular in the way of a large committee, although we were ready to summon several hundred people to Springfield should necessity arise.

The above is a plain statement of facts. What they mean to the cause of Christian Science can be discerned by most of us who can trace the growth of the movement during the past ten or fifteen years, but the full recognition must come from those who, whether practitioners or patients, are freed from the persecution which has taken the name of prosecution.

Perhaps a statement of why a committee of busy business men were willing to do this work and give to it such time as it required, may be of interest. All of them are debtors to Christian Science to such an extent as to inspire the most profound gratitude—two of them having been brought back to health after the sentence of death had been passed upon them. It is because they have learned through Christian Science that Jesus was truthful and knew whereof he spoke; that he commanded nothing impossible, and promised nothing impossible of fulfilment; that they have learned through demonstration that Christian Science is—to-day—healing the sick, reforming the sinner, and rescuing humanity from misery and poverty.

It seems important that this statement of what has been done in Illinois should be published as an encouragement to our friends in the states wherein the legislatures are still in session. Yours very truly,
Archibald McLellan.

Attorney at Law.

[The bill as passed has been signed by the governor and is now a law.—Ed.]