COMPENSATION IN CHRISTIAN SCIENCE

GERTRUDE SLOCUM.

While much has been written in explanation and justification of the acceptance of fees by Christian Science practitioners, very little has been said concerning the matter regarded from the standpoint of the patient. As one who became a student of this Science, not through the receipt of physical benefits, but through the perception that here the truth was to be found, my visits to a practitioner have been for other purposes than the relief of pain.

Did I not feel that my small payment would in some measure be compensation for the time I consume, I could not avail myself of the opportunity offered to have my ignorance enlightened, my mistakes corrected, my worries appeased. I should demur long and suffer much before I should feel myself justified in trespassing upon some stranger's time, and in preventing him during the minutes devoted to my cares and trials from attending to his own business. Should he already be possessed of so much of this world's goods as to endure no monetary loss by my intrusion, I should still be in the position of one getting something for nothing, and even they who cavil most bitterly over this wise provision of our Leader will acknowledge that this is more harmful to the recipient than to the giver.

Again, a certain natural hesitancy at intruding one's self upon strangers would prevent many from going for treatment when the first symptoms of disease appear. Upon first emerging from the old beliefs and practices, the young student of Science may not have enough understanding to combat successfully the initial claims of erroneous belief. Mrs. Eddy says (Science and Health, p. 420), "If students do not readily heal themselves, they should early call an experienced Christian Scientist to aid them." Such may avail themselves of treatment at once, when the practitioner's time can be accepted and paid for; but should no payment be accepted, a sense of undischarged obligation would be incurred by the patient, and his appeal for help might be postponed until a more difficult situation would be developed.

Where no stated charge to be made for treatment, each right-minded and honestly-disposed patient would feel it incumbent upon him to repay in some measure the benefits he had received. The practitioner would be overwhelmed with offers of service, with attempts to perform the tasks allotted to the hours devoted to the patient's use, and lastly with gifts of every sort and description. The old system of barter—my time and skill for yours—would tend to be substituted, to the utter discomfort and confusion of all. The custom of a fixed money payment for value received has gradually been evolved for services as well as commodities. It is largely the conservatism of the older theologies that criticizes this newer and better way, although admitting that the clergy should receive their regular stipends quite irrespective of any reformatory results upon their congregations, and of the fact that no attempt is made to do the healing work demanded by Christ Jesus.

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