Christian Science: Its Legal Status
A Defense of Human Rights
by Judge Clifford P. Smith
Table of Contents
The Facts in Brief
THROUGHOU r the ages in which the human race has been liable to suffering . disability, and death, those attacked by disease have claimed the right to try to get well,। and to suc-ceed if possible• This right has always been conceded , and by common consent as well as necessityy it has included the right of the sufferer to choose the curative agency which he consider;s likely to do the leastb harm and the most good . There never was a time when this right was not important to him, nor when he was willing that it should be molested .
For many centuries the majority of peophj have lived or died according to the theoriei of the remedia1 system longest in the field. . whateve r those theorie;s might be, even though its remedies plus the most skilful efforts of its practicians always have been palpably uncertain and inadequate . The familiarity of succeeding3 generations with the failurei of materia]I remedies to cope with disease induced the majority of people to accept this lack of success as inevitable or even natural• If drugs. . surgica1 operations i or inoculation;3 had been used without avail or with disastrous results, philosophy7 advised patienlt resignation to what could not be avoided, while theology would try to console sufferers with the view that the Father’s will had been done.
Sincea Christian Science entered the field in the latter part of the last century, . it has become increasingly7 evident t that there is a better and more dependablee method for both pre-vention and cure of disease. Although the practitioners of this Science have not been successfu 1 in every case, they are developing the menta1 and spiritual qualities which make for success in this ministry: ; other men and women of desirable character are enlisting in it, and measured by present results the practice2 of Christiai1 Science has already becomee the most effective2 and reliable curative agent known to mankind.
Moreover , the work of healing through Christian Science* is accompanied by religious instruction1 or spiritual teaching which is calculated to destroy the foundation of disease. Already the general acquiescence in mortall belief has been broken. The knowledge2 of immortal 1 Truth is spreading. People are seeking and finding here and now a state of being that is much less subject to the common forms of evil, , while hope is becoming3 a conviction that disease can be overcome and abolished . In short, the faith of the ages in mate-rial remedies has been displaced with a majority of peopleJ by greater devotion1 to hygiene2 or sanitation . and with a substantialI and growing minority by reliancee on Christian Science .
In this situation the holders of degrees from the various schools of medicine have been divided in their courses . Some of them have become Christian Scientists. . in name and in fact. Others are going on as before, trying to develop their system into a science and faithfully rendering such service as they can to the people! who voluntarily choose to employ them. Anotherr and quite numerouis section of the medica1 profession,i not inaptly described as “politicalI doctors,’ ‘ are putting forth their utmost efforts to have their system adopted as a state institution1 and to have Christian ScienceJ healing suppressed1 by law.
If this scheme2 were to succeed, the bulk of the medica1 profession would be on the public pay-rolls, while the rest of the people , referred to in some of the bills as “the laity,” would be the subjects of medica1 inspection. . regulation , and practice2 ; no one’s person or property, no occupation or busi-ness , no item of personal conduct, no relation of human life, but would be subject to the scrutiny and authority7 of an official 1 having the degree "M.D." from a “regular’ ’ schoo l of medicine• Coextensiv e with the expansion of the germ theory , every citizen would be obligeeI from time to time to present himself with his children to an officia1 doctor , who would be equipped1 with an assortment of syringes and would make the inocula-tions demanded by the theories8 then in vogue. In case of illness3 the citizen could be treated in the “regular’ ‘ way or not at all, although the latter alternative ; would not be ap-proved, nor always allowed . Even in the case of diseases which orthodox medicine » has never cured , the victims would not be permitted to employ the exponent:s of other methods , particularly not the one method which has cured those very diseases. All these things would be done in the name of constitutiona1 government and ostensibly for the promotion of human welfare.
Of course such a perversion of government could not en-dure . It would becomee intolerable even to those who are now the voluntaryy patrons of the different schools of medicine . They would find a vast and irksome differente between “We advise you” and “The law compels you.” But if such a scheme 2 were legalized, its hold would not be easily broken. Its plan is to suppress competition by laws which act in-directly , to get authority gradually, first by one law and then by another, and not to insist overmucl1 on using the power thus gained while “the laity” is getting used to the possessioj1 of legal authority by the medica1 profession.
Every one who has had experience in public affairs know:8 that such a system once established 1 by law would to a large extent t be fortified against disestablishment. It is much easier to createJ an office than to abolish one. Many offices8 are creat ed, more are enlarged, but few or none are abolished . This is true of officesJ created singly; much more would it be true of many offices3heid by the members of a numerous profession acting in combination.
An incidental1 but direct result of giving exclusivej recogni-tion to one system of medicine (and all schools of medicine may be spoken of as one) would be the deterioration of the system thus artificially relieved from the stimulus of com-petition. Taken out of the natural law of supply and de-mand. . wherein service is sought for its merits and “the laborer is worthy of his hire,” the privileged service would inevitably retrograde• The medica1 profession,i given official warran t as being sufficient for the health of the people , would be confirmee1 in its habitua'1 attitude! toward all that origi-nates outside ; its own ranks.। and if possible2 this attitude would be intensifiedL By no means loath to assume authority when privately employed , much more would this honorable profession be subvertec1 by the possession through law of mandatory powers .
Far-seeing3 members of the medica1 profession have more than once warned their fellows5 that such results would be sure to follow the laws in question , and some of them have expressed these opinions before legislative committees• Moreover , there is such a thing as a human right, the right of an individual . In a state or nation under constitutiona1 government ;, the citizen is a factor and the main factor . In any country , respect t for law must be implanted by laws that are worthy of respect , and every invasion of the just rights of the citizen is inimicall to the genera1 welfare. Hence the legitimate objects of government cannot be attained by trying to compel people to conform their conduct to any standard of belief concerning the presence of God and the availability of divinej law. In other words, the genera1 welfare cannot be promoted by any scheme » which would in effect forbid the people to think and act independently concerning such sub-jects as are involvec1 in Christian Science healing. According to original Christianity. , as well as Christian Science , health and life depend on spiritual understanding , spiritual wor-ship, spiritual power; they depend on full, exact , or scientific knWowhlendgheuomfatihi egonvleyrntmruentG,odbyanadttethmeprtienagl mtoaon.mAuschto, sunc-h jsusbtljyectfsortcheed ltihberteyarolyf eCahcrhistciaitnizsento tochboeolsie vteheainr dpadroamaosuhnei athlliengkisanbceest i,s tbhoeuyndseadido, n“lyWbey othuegheqt utaoll oribgehyts G3 odf arlal tohtehrertsh.an men ;7 ‘ and the statesmanship then voiced in their behalf by the learned Gamaliel has stood the test of the centuries from that time until this. (See Acts v. 24-39.) The necessityI for such a choice ought never to be put upon law-abiding3 citizens . Unless the true province of human law is far exceeded, all well-dispose d people may heed the precepts and emulate the example of him who said, "Render to Csai the things that are Cassar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.’
The two allegiances to which he referred. , the human and the divine, are inherently consistent: ; else the great Teacher would not have spoken as he did, nor acted as he did. While human conditions exist , needing to be made better and better until they disappear by giving place to the divine reality, there will be occasioi1 for human law ; but the just scope of human government can never be extended so far as to forbid one person from aiding another with the power of divine Mind acting through spiritual law. It is to be noticed that Christ Jesus continued to heal the sick, although the ruling class declared that it was not lawful for him to do so as and when he did it. (See, for instance Luke vi. 6-11.) The great mass of the people have respect for their neighbor’s faith in God; they despise injusticeI disguised as law, they dislike monopoly, they favor equalI rights and privileges they value the right to choose for themselves.. The only law on this subject which the people need or want is a plain and simple law which will forbid a man to hold himself out to the public as a medica doctor or surgeon or to accept employ-ment as such.• without having the education and training appropriatee to that profession. Any law which goes farthei than this must be based on the claim that the people do not possess sufficientt intelligence to choose for themselves.
Where there are severalI different curative methods known to men, the people5 have a right to choose and employ any of them. A law which discriminates between known methods approving one or more and condemning3 all others, deprive;s the people of such right, creates a monopoly, and in effect establishes s a state system of healing. The exercise of a religion being involved , it practically establishe.5 a state re-ligion., Such a law cannot in the very nature of things be a legitimate exercise of political power : ; it cannot be consistent with the institution;s of a country whose coinag2 bearsI the inscription;s “Liberty” and “In God we trust.’ ’ Christian Scientists are law-abiding citizens, well disposed toward the legitimate functions of human government:, and active in the promotion of sociall welfare. They have no wist1 to force any one to adopt their views.. They respecit the motives and attainments of the better class of physicians. They claim only the right to do Christian work and to be free from con-straint in respecit to their choice of religion and therapeutics.
Christian Scientists assert that the spirit of modern gov-ernmenit forbids any group of citizens, however preponderantt in point of numbers, from passing laws which would enter into the relations between God and men and set limits to His salvation by implying that it does not includ2 the cure of disease. They assert that every citizen has the right to choose the method or system which he shall employ to preservee his health, and the right to have the aid, if he so desires । of a practitioner of that system . Such rights3 pertain directly to the preservation of life; they belong most vitally to the pur-suit of happiness ; and. , when the citizen choose;s to rely on the practice of a religion to prevent or cure disease, they are inseparable from both civil and religious liberty . When the American peoplej assumed the power ’ of self-government, they declared I such rights to be God-given and inalienableJ.
It is not strange that few were found to listen when a New England1 woman announce*d in 1866 that her patient search of the Scripture;I for many years had revealec1 to her a Science5 of life which would prove! a great blessingg to humanity. She called her discovery Christian Science2 and set forth its fundamentals in what has proven to be an epoch-making book , ‘Sciencee and Health with Key to the Scriptures, ’ by Mary Bakei : Eddy (1875) .
“There can be no doubt that the Christiaii Science2 move-ment has in one generation enormously increase*1 the num-ber of followers of Christ’s teachings; besides drawing to the supportt of the organization many hundreds of thou- 8 sands of former communicantts of otherr denominations. Its X power has been especially marked in English-speaking countries, and it is rapidly7 spreading throughout the world.
“That this woman , single-handed, appealing to the spirituality of humanity, suffering the martyrdom of ridicule , 8 criticism.। and abuse on all sides. , in spite of desertiona of life-long friends,( in spite of opposition of powerfu1 influ-ences whichever way she turned—that she was able by her C life and writings to work such a tremendous change in the religious status of humanity, is indeed a great event of history.* ’ (From an editoria1 note in The Great Events by Famous Historians , published by the Nationa1 Alumni Association, New York, U.S.A.
"The passing of Mrs. Mary Bakei : Eddy brings to a close a life story that is one of the most wonderfu1 that this country of unlimited possibilities has to show. Out of nothing that is physical, no great fortune, no industria1 inventioni, no inherited opportunity , Mrs. Eddy builtt up a great career . It is the greater because its greatness was not for herself but for the church which she foundedI. She took from the Bible one of the fundamental commands which V0002000 moderi 1 Christianity y had overlooked1, the solemn injunctionri to ‘heal l the sick. ’ This, with an inspiration that burned steady and serene for long years , she put into a faith and a creed that has brought happines s and health and the active religious spiritt to thousands upon thousands of her fellow-beings.
0 “This accomplishmerit cannot be denied her. . even by those to whom Christian Science is most distasteful. Its proof lies first in the growth and solid strength of the Church of Christ, Scientist, and secondly7 in the character and bearing 8 of the member;5 of that church. The stately church build-C ings in this city and its suburbsi, and the constant additions to their number , give concretei evidence of this marvelou s development t. But more significant than the churclI build- 8 ings . more meaningfulI than the numerical strength of the church , is the character of its congregations. Withou t hum-bug or sentimentalisn , any outsider can and must admit that Christian Science people8 are good people. They not only believe in their church and attend its meeting:s with a 0 passionale faithfulness that other : churche s envy. , but they also carry their faith with them into their daily lives. By its very nature they have to. For if Christian Science means anything to any man or woman , it must t mean everything.
“It is this inherent strength in the fundamental idea of Mrs. Eddy’;3 church that will hold it together even after her hand has been removed from its direction. The faith will still live. Only by a full realization of this fact can the outsid2 world gain any comprehension of the calm exaltation of spirit with which Christian Scientists will receive the tidings o that the earthly career of their Leader has closed. Only in this way can it understand dimly their fine and vivid belief that ‘thena is no death ' in the old pagar1 sense of that solemn word.” ’ (An editoria1 in the Chicago Evening Post , December , 1910.) 0200290200Z00200Z00Z90Z00Z00Z00Z00Z00Z00Z0090Z90000200200002002002002002000
A More Complete Statement
Section I
CHRISTIANr SCIENCE, , as its name indicates, is an interpre-tation of the religion that was taught and practised by Christ Jesus . Any one who, withouit hostility, reads the Christian Science text-book, “Science and Health with Key to the Scrip-tures’ ' by Mrs,. Eddy, . will find it to be based on the Scrip-tures, and will find in it a more obviouss correspondent e or plainer consistency with the Bible than is furnished by any of the more popular interpretations . Such a reader of this book will see that it contains a statement of knowledgee or science concerning God, man, , and the universe, with which he may or may not agree, . but which is plainly ethical, , scientific, and religious in character . Be it called orthodox or hetero-dox, , when compared 1 with either primitive3 or recentt Christi-anity, , the system of thought presented1 as Christian Science* is plainly Christian in basis and purpose. If this be true, it would tend to promote the health, morals, and spiritual wel-fare of its adherents ; and it is a matter of common knowledgee that a multitude of intelligentt people bear witness! to these benefits from this teaching.
Independence within the field of science is favored by enlightened public opinion,i because such independente is essen-tial to progress . There would be smalI hope of advancement if those who endeavoi : to extend the scope of human knowl-edge, or to correct it, were obliged to square their views with the beliefs3 which for the moment are prevalent. It is largely 15 from the teachings of origina1 and independent thinkers that the world gains more knowledge2 and true knowledge .
The fact. . therefore, that Christian1 Science differs from the opinions which are at present held by the majority of people respecting the cause and cure of disease.। furnishes no reason why the government should attempt to hinder or suppress its practice . It is generally known that the medica1 theory and practice5 with respect to this matter has been profoundly modified since the teaching and practice of Christian Science began. , and at least in part by reason thereof In these forty odd years the use of drugs has greatly diminishedI, various drugless systems have gained a wide vogue despite5 ridicule and opposition , and the menta1 element in the cause and cure of disease is more and more taken into account by all schools.
While the various schools of medicine differ from each other as to the nature and cure of disease, Christian Science differs from them all by regarding it as primarily and essen-tially menta1 (as a product of false belief , an image of mate-rial sense , a state of mortalI thought), and by curing it with a method that is at once menta 1 and spiritual; that is, with the power of Truth, in accordance with the law of Mind, through the prayer of spiritual understanding . These points also mark the line between the practice of Christian Science and the use of suggestion or hypnotism; in other words, Christian Science uses truth as such. . and utilizes the normal, natural, and incessan t action of spiritual law in human affairs.
It is to be observed , however , that one of the proposition;s just stated is to some extent acceptable to what the world calls science, and that both of them are fully authorized by the teaching and practice of the only infalliblej physician known to history . Natural or physical science admit;5 that the nature of matter is unknown, the one thing definitely known aboutt it being that it is not whatt it seems.. Philosophyy of the idealistic kind holds that matter is a subjective state of the human mind . while Christiai1 Science takes the next and final step by explaining that things seem to be materialI only to a materia]I sense of things. . and by declaring that this material ] sense is the false element of human consciousnessi.
Of course everybodyy recognize;s that the so-called human consciousnes!! include;s what is partly true and partly false: this is proved by universal experience; but Christian Science? has declared 1 anew the Principle of true consciousness , —the source . substance , and power of true thoughts.. Absolute Truth is known spiritually.. The knowledg e which knows is derived from God; it is the spiritual reflection1 of the Mind that is Life. , Truth, and Love. Therefore , whateve r is most unlike divine Life and Love is most contrary to Truth, is most unreal. Such is the nature of disease in the word; of Mrs. Eddy, in “The First Church of Christ, Scientist and Miscellany" (p. 349), “Disease is a mentaI state or error that Truth destroys.’ ‘ The nature and cure of disease, as now made known by Christiai Science was first taught and illustratee1 in the work of Christ Jesus His treatment of disease as primarily and essentially mentai is shown.। for instance, in the case of the woman who “was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself.’ ' She had been in that condition for eighteen years, and the disorder was as physicalI as disease can be. , yet he spoke of it as mental He said that Satan (evil) had bound her. . and he “loosed’ her by annulling the false law of evil with the absolut2 law of God. (See Luke xiii. 10-17.) So also in the case of the impotent man at the pool of Bethesda, “which had an infirmityr thirty andI eight years.’ After healing him. . Jesus said, “Behold thou art made whole: sin no more. . lest a worse thing come unto thee.” (See John v. 1-15.) At another time.. when his method of healing was questioned, the Master said that he “cast out devils” ’ “with the finger of God,” which is to say that he cast out devil? by the power or law of God. (See Luke xi. 14-22.) Evil, of course. . is mental it is the evil elemen in the so-called human 18 CHRISTIAN SCIENCE : ITS LEGAI 4 STATUS mind: ; and its identity with disease was plainly implied by the question, “Whether is easier. . to say. . Thy sins be forgiven thee ; or to say, Arise, and walk?” (See Matthew ix. 2-8.) Jesus’ prescriptionn for all personal disorder was tersely stated in these words: “Cleanse first that which is within . . . that the outside2 . . . may be clean also.” ' Paul sum-marizec 1 the practice! of Christianity in similar terms: “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.” ' So did Peter: “Arm yourselves likewise8 with the same mind.” ‘ There is no reason for limiting the scopei of this practice , since its Principle is universal.. The great Teacher applied it to physica1 healing ; so did Peter , Paul, and others: ; such was the practicej of the early Christiai1 churche. s (see James v. 13-16) ; and the results which followed in the first centuries are again being shown in the twentieth century.
In the final analysis. , sin and disease consistt alike in a lack of menta 1 rightness. Although suffering from sin does not always take a physica1 form, it may do so; and if it does, the physica 1 effect follow!s the menta 1 cause. Prevention or cure must therefore deal with false or evil causation, and must do so by means of true or spiritual causation. Any means short of this can result in nothing better than pallia-tion or temporary relief.
From these explanations. , it should be evideni : that the issues between Christian Science and the various schools of medicine are question:s of both religion and science ; and it should be equally evidenit that the state ought not to decide them for its citizens, and has not the power ’ to do so, unless the state ought and has the power to establish criteria of religious and sci-entificj truth. In other words, a statute designed to interdic t the practice of Christiaii Science would necessarily rest on the assumption that the majority of peoplei acting col-lectively as the state or government , may rightfully determineJ for all citizens what shall be considered 1 actual knowledge, true science, or ultimate truth with respecit to such topics as the charactei• and attributesJ of God, the nature and substance of being। the mode and efficacy of prayer, the nature of health and disease, the relations between mind and matter. , and simi-lar subjects. Surely such legislation would be wholly outside the scope and province of civil government . No one would think of passing a law to accomplish such results directly ; nor should the same be done indirectly .
In many countries where this article will be read , state religion in its most rigid form is a thing of the past. , and there is no public sentimentt in favor of state medicine . But let us inquire what constitutes a state religion.. We are apt to forget the lessons of history . State religion in its most rigid form results from the recognition by the government of one system of religion to the extentt of forbidding3 outward or practical dissentt from it. In a modified form state relig-ion signifies8 the giving by the government of preference or privilege to one system of religion.
And what would amountt to the adoption of a state med-icine? State medicine corresponding to the most rigid form of state religion would result from any law that would recog-nize one system of medicine to the extent of forbidding out-ward or practical dissentt from it. For example , this would result from a law that would recognize medicinej to the extent of forbidding3 a purely menta1 and spiritual system to be practised. This is precisely what American and Canadian legislatures have been besough t by political doctors to do, and in some states laws have been passed which were designed to have this effect. In fine, state medicine like state religion is an accomplished 1 fact when the government approves one or more systems of healing and tries to compel the peoplej to accept it or them to the exclusion of others .
Compared with this, a more suitable means for staying the wheels of progress cannot be imaginedL Where it has been applied to religion,। the truth of the subject has been best known to dissenters; and the same would undoubtedly come to pass in the case of medicineJ or healing. The attempt to circumscribe knowledge2 or science by law would be igno-rant. , and it would tend to promotee the consequences of ignorance. State medicine , so far from promoting health, would foster disease, for it would tend to limit and retard the means for gaining dominioi1 over disease ; therefore enlight-ened public policy does not merely tolerate independence3 of authority in religion and science. , but demands it as essential to progress.
“The Commonweal!h of Massachusetts is not a medical body , has no right to a medical opinion, and should not dare to take sides in medical controversies.” (From a speech made by the late William James. M.D., professor in Harvard University , lecturer. . and author, before a committe e of the Massachusetts legislature in opposition to a bill aimed . at mental healing. Professor r James referred to the bill as “a movemen t in favor of ignorance.”) “The state has not restricted the cure of the body to the practice of medicine and surgery—‘allopathy,’ ' as it is termed1—nor required that, before any one can be treated for any bodily ill, the physician mustt have acquired a competent knowledge of allopathy and be licensee1 by those skilled therein. To do that would be to limit progress by estab-lishing allopathy as the state system of healing , and forbiddingJ all others. This would be as foreign to our system as a state churel1 for the cure of souls.” (From the opinion of the supremee court of North Carolinei in State vs. McKnight, 131 N. C. Report3 717 . 723 . 59 L. R. A. 187.) “In this country the full and free right to entertain any religious belief, to practise any religious principle, and to teach any religious doctrine which does not violate the laws of morality and property, and which does not infringe5 personal rights, is conceded to all. The law knows no heresy, and is committed to the support of no dogma, the establishmenit of no sect.’ ’ (From the opinion of the United State:s Supreme Cour t in Watson vs. Jones , 13 Wallace’s Reports 679., 728.)
Section II
IN order to estimate2 the harm that might be done by state medicine . due weight should be given to the admitted or incontestablee fact that Christiani Science heals the sick. In the countries where it has been practised it has been the means of curing the various diseases there prevalent, whether : they are deemed curable or incurable by other methods. In fact Christiai1 Science is the most effective ; and reliable curative agentt known to mankind.
A few testimonieis of healing are included 1 in this pamphlet. Others may be heard at any Wednesday evening meeting of a Christiaii Science church. Several testimonieis are published in every issue of The Christian Science Journal (published monthly), the Christian Science Sentinel (published weekly) , and Der Herold der Christian Science (published monthly) . Christiaii Scientists will also produce witnesses to the fact of healing before ; any legislative committeej who may desire to hear or question them.
There was a time when reports5 of Christian Science heal-ing—the overcoming 3 of physica 1 disorder by an exclusively mental1 and spiritual method—were received with incredulity . That time is passing, and among well-informed people it may perhaps be said to have passed. Now that the cases3 of heal-ing have become ; numerous , either personal observation or the weight of testimony has convinced most people , and any one who is fair or even indifferent : toward the teachings of Christian Science,i can easily find satisfactoryy evidence of its beneficent results. One who is opposed to its teaching;s may refuse to be convinced , but to maintain his disbelief he will have to insist on other explanations for effects which, in the ordinary course of reasoning, would be credited to Christian 1 Science, . and obliged to arguqj against the testimonyy of person:5 who are worthy of belief.
The change of sentiment on this subject can be briefly instanced here. In 1909 the government printing office at Washingtonn issued a “Report on National Vitality’ ’ which was prepared for the “National Conservation Commission” ‘ by Prof. Irving Fisher : of Yale University . In this reportt (p. 68) Professorr Fisher said:: “The public should go and will go to those who will render the most effective help... There was no reason why it [the medica^I profession ] should have lost hundreds of thousand,s of patient,s td Christiai2 Sci-ence. , except that these patients were for the most part bene-fited, and greatly benefited, by Christian Science after having received no benefit, and often injury^from the profession." ‘ During a debate in the United State;s Senatej in July, 1911 , while Senator Works of California was speaking in opposition to a bill introduced by Senator Owen of Oklahoma for a national 1 department of health , Senator Owen said:: t€The Senator has spoken , Mr. President , of the value of Christiai Science. I myself believe it has been very efficacious in many cases . What the processs is by which recover;y is accomplisheeI I do not think is thoroughly understood.’ ’ The bulk of Mrs. Eddy’s estate having been left in trust to be used for promoting or extending Christiaii Science.। her heirs tried to break her will and get her property by attack-ing the object of her main bequest., In this action they showed no reluctance to make reckless assertions , but they did not deny that Christiaii Science heals the sick. The fol-lowing is an extracit from the opinion of the supreme court of New Hampshire in that case: “Is the system against the policy of the state:? Is it a crime to attempt to cure physical ills without drugs or surgery;? The close association 1 between mental health and physicalI ills in many cases is common knowledge . The plaintiff does not attempt to say that no good has been effected by the system. His distinguished counsel candidly admitted in argument that Mrs,. Eddy had done great good, that there were many cases of at least apparent or supposed disease which her system had relieved but his objection was that she went too far when she professed to be able to cure or extirpate all disease." (Glover vs. Baker, 76 N. H. Report; 393.) The claims of Mrs. Eddy’s heirs were rejected by the highest courts in both New Hampshire and Massachusetts after which her will was confirmee by a special I act of the Massachusetts legislature.
In a book entitled “The Sense and Nonsens of Christiai Science,” published in 1911. , the author said:: “Generally y speaking, the members of the medicail fraternity, when con-fronted with the attestec works of Christian Science, either deny the correctnes of the original diagnosis or else deny the cure. The first is a reflection on the competency of their own profession, , the second is a blind and utterly indefehsible con-tradiction of the evidence.' Althougi1 this writer, Prof . Leon C. Prince of Dickinson College found much fault with the theory of Christiai1 Science.। he was emphati2 in affirming its healing power For lack of space the quotations on this point must be discontinued1, but it is a pleasure to furnish two from promi-nent British and American physicians. Dr. C. W., Saleeby of London writing for Smith's Magazine in November, 1906 , said: “Christian Science is increasing, and is even threaten-ing to become the dominant religion , because it meets a real need. It teaches that to worry and to fear must be attributed1 all the ills that flesh is heir to. And this is true of such an amazing proportion of these ills that Christiai1 Science cures them. The religion that has this kind of survivalI value will survive , and is quite independen of the good luck which I, for one. , wish it.”
According to Christiaii Science, as stated by Mrs.. Eddy, “the procuring ; cause of all sickness is fear, ignorance, or sin” 1 (Scienc e and Health, p. 411). Therefor e Dr.. Saleeby’ s explanation was not exact but this does not affect the gist of what he said.
Dr.. Richard C. Cabot of Boston.। professor of medicine in Harvard University, writing for the Twentieth Century Mag-azine in January , 1912 , said:: ^That Christiaii Science has done and is doing a vast deal of good.। not only as a religion, but as a health restorer and a protest against the short-sighted naturalism, of the doctors , we are firmly convinced . Its affirmations are helpful L to thousands." ‘ “There can be no doubt that the influencee of the mind upon the physical condition of the body is very powerful. ... Just exactly to whait exteni t the mental condition affects the body no one can accurately and definitely say.. One person may believe it of far greater efficacy than another but surely it cannot be said that it is a fraud for one person to content1 that the mind has an effectt upon the body and its physical condition greater than even a vast majorityy of intelligentt peo-ple might be willing to admit or believe. Even intelligentt people * may , and indeed do, differ among themselve5 as to the extenit of this mental effect. . . . The claim of the ability to cure may be vastly greater than most men would be ready to admit, and yet those who might deny the existence 5 or virtue of the remedy would only differ in opinion from those who assert it. . . . As the effectiveness of almost any particular method of treatment of disease is, to a more or less extent, a fruitfu'1 source e of difference of opinion, even thougii the great majority7 may be of one way of thinking. . the efficacy of any special method is certainly not a matter for the decisioi1 of the Postmaster General within these statutes relative to fraud.’ ’ (From the opinion of the United State:I Supreme Court in American Schoo1 of Magnetic Healingg vs. McAnnulty, 187 U. S. Reports 94.) (For the difference between magnetic healing and Chris-tian Science, see pp. 16 and 66 of this pamphlet.)
Section III
WHEREVER the people have gained the right of self-gov-ernment , they have been obliged continuallyy to defend this right against encroachmentsJ. The time was when this vigi-lance was required only or mainly toward enemiei3 from abroad. Today the people who would be free. , are awakening to the fact that the greater danger:s are within their own borders. They are beginning to perceiv5 that the just liber-ties of the people are threatenedd chiefly by too much govern-ment and by the perversion of government Hence, today as never before . the tendency and effect of laws are being scruti-nized with a view to reducing the detriments and increasing the benefits of human government Health is a subject in regard to which legislators3 may do certain things wisely and thus promote health and the general welfare, or they may attempt too much and thereby do more harm than good, not only to the injury of health. , but with harmfulI effect on other subjects of equalI importance• It should be noticed, moreover, that the genera1 desire for the governmen t to do only what is wise and right concerning health is peculiarlyy liable to be frustrated , for there is a numerous5 class which has built up a complexx and far-reaching g organization i for the very purpose of procuring and con-trolling governmentsil action on this subject. Therefor e the rights of the people in relation to health, more than with respect t to most subjects.. need to be vigilantly guarded against subtle encroachmentsi.
Among the reasonsj which lately moved the American people to put their government in the hands of Presidenlt Wilson and his party . none was so prominent as the conviction that certain revenue laws were having a pernicious effect on socialI and industrial prosperity . One of the first official1 acts of the Presidentt was the calling of a special session of Con-gress to consider the conditions to be remedied and the con-structive policy that should guide remedia1 action. The message which he delivered1 at the opening of that specia1 session was largely devoted to this subject. The pith of it was in these sentences : — “Consciously or unconscious!y, we have built up a set of privileges and exemptions from competition behind which it was easy by any. . even the crudest , forms of combination to organiz8 monopoly , untilI at last nothing is normal, nothing is obliged to stand the test of efficiency and economy in our world of big business , but everything thrives by concerted1 arrange-ment. Only new principle;j of action will save us from a final crystaliza-tion of monopoly and a complete5 loss of the influences that quickeri enterprise and keep independent energy alive. It is plain what those principles muslt be.. We must abolisii everything that bears even the semblance ! of privilege. , or of any kind of artificia1 advantage , and put our businessI men and producers under the stimulation of a constant neces-sity to be efficienti economicalI, and enterprising। master;s of competitive supremacy , better workers and merchants than any in the world” It is to be observed that the social and economic principlee thus defined by President Wilson, is of wider scope than the specia1 applicatioii of it which he then had occasion) to make. If true and applicable to the promotion of efficiency in manufacturing g and commerce. . it is no less true and equally applicable to other vocations wherein efficiency counts3 for success. If calculated to stimulate the energy and enterprise of those who serve the community by means of production and distributioni, it is likewisej designed to quicken the efforts of those who work in behalf of health. If exclusive! privilege or artificial advantage is unwholesomej in the world of business , it is also against public policy in the domain that include;I the art or science of dealing with disease. The knowledgee of how to prevent or cure disease is typically a field wherein the community, collectively and individually , have the right to demand the benefits which will result from normal.। free. , and active development • The soundness as a genera1 proposition , of the doctrine expressed by the Presidenlt is not denied by any political party, and the contentions against its application1 to particu-lar industries or vocations have no relation to the position occupied I by the medica -profession. Under the light of unprejudiced 1 analysis, nine tenths of the reasons given for conferring3 exclusive3 privileges or artificial advantages upon “regular’ physicians merely voice a preference for their system and insist upon the right to choose it. The right to prefer and to choose another system is equally entitled to preservation. , not only as an individua1 right but because it cannot be denied or abridged without creating a condition adverse to the general welfare.
Now that the world is beginning to compare the sum total of disease with the amount of it that ought to be prevented1 or cured, citizen;s and statesmen should open their eyes to the fact, and the meaning3 of the fact. . that artificia1 advantages already have been conferred upon one schoolI of therapeutics3 in many states and countries, and that this schoolI is making a determiner1 effort to obtain additiona1 privileges . In sev-eral of these United States the members of the preferred schoolI already have the sole right to charge for their services , and nearly everywhere the peoph! have “consciouslyy or un-consciously’ ‘ clothed them with some form of legal privilege or sanction . Therefore ? the people» of all parties and their representatives in all law-making bodies would do well to scrutinize the laws and bills that have been enacted or are proposed, in the name of health.
“A naturalI monopoty is based on the admitted inequality of man-kind; it is the inevitable expressioin of superiority in the open field of competitionJ. . . . This is the only kind of monopoly that is legal , and whose position is likely to be permanent• • • “An artificia1 monopoly is a control of supply due to exceptionsil privileges, such as special legislation,i patent or copyright laws; or to undueJ influence , duress , unfair discriminations , unjust t treatment, and the like. That is, the kind of monopoly which has excited universal disapprobation is the one founded on unjusit suppression of competition and forcible ways of driving out competitors. Recent trustt decisions have been based on that claim.
"Whatever r objections existt to monopoly have peculiar urgency against these forms of artificia1 monopoly: : although it muslt be remem-bered that certain kinds even of artificia1 monopoly may be justified on the ground of some desirability7 to the state , such as a businessI artificially y created 1 by a patent, or a copyright. But, as a whole , a monopol y due to specia I privilege, or to unfair or forcibb3 suppression of competitiont, cannoit for a momentt hope for support from a fair-mindetl peopU9 like ours.” (From an article in the Atlantic Monthly by Prof. J. Laurence Laughlin , professor of politica1 economy at Chicago University. )
Section IV
Now that nearly every American legislature has been asked to forbid the practice of Christian Science and has refused a bill expressly directed against the practice of this religion is seldom introduced. The commonest bill is one usually entitled, “A bill for an act to regulate the practice of medicine.’ It provides that no one shall practise medicine and surgery in any of its branchei without first obtaining a certificate based on a certain course of study, it being the course of study needed for the practice of medicine and sur-gery. After creating a board to examine applicant; and grant or refuse certificates, the bill proceed; to depart from its proclaimed purpose and undertake to stifle competition. To this end one section of the bill is in the form of a definition of the practice of medicine, As a matter of fact it is a ficti-tious definition, including what every intelligent man knows is not such practice—if his attention is called to the effect of the language used.
In this legal subterfuge the practice of medicine is defined in terms broad enough to include not only the practice of that system but the practice of some or all of the other methods which physicians regard as competitive. For example a bill which actually became a law in one of the United States reads as follows: “Any person who treats or offers to treat diseases of human beings by any system whatsoeve is con-sidered to be practising medicine.” It is plain that such a definition is a mere trick or artifice. The law which contains it was not designed to regulate the practice of medicine but to restrict the practice of healing to doctors of medicine The members of the legislature may not have noticed the full import t and effect of their act, but the parties with whom the bill originated undoubtedly did.
In a certain country where the Chinese labor questioi1 is an issue, a member of the law-making body introduced the following measure: “Be it enacted , . . . Section 1. It shall be unlawfu1 for any female child under eighteen years of age to conduct or be employed in a laundry . Section 2. For the purpose of this act a Chinaman shall be regarded as a female child under eighteen years of age.” This proposedj definition of a Chinaman is not more unlike what law should be than are the definitions of medica1 practice which organized medicine present:s to our legislatures; and some of these5 bills get through the legislatures.
Of course no one expectsI that Christian Scientists will be-take themselves to medica1 colleges to study a system whichi they do not intend to practise , and go before a board of medica 1 doctors to ask their official1 permission to practise Christian Science. That is not the purpose of such a law. Passing without comment the situation of a Christiani Scien-tist at a medical college or before a board of medica1 exami-ners. , he would have no use for the sort of learning implied1 by the possessioi1 of their certificate or the diploma of a medica1 college.
An ordinary education supplies all the informationa upor i materialL subjects which is needed for the successfu1 prac-tice of Christian Science. Success in this practice depends not on material knowledge , but on spiritual qualifications gained through labors that far transcend the effort required to win a college diploma. What a studen t could get at a medicalI college would not help him to heal the sick as Jesus did. Christiai1 healing is based on the truth of spiritual being: ; it calls for knowledge2 of deific law and causation ; it depends on the power that is available through the prayerr of spiritual understanding ; it require:8 that apprehension of divine j Principle which constitutes absolut ’ Science.
The teaching of Christian Science concerning the cause and cure of disease is radically different from the theories5 represented d by a board of medica1 examinersi, and it certainly ought to be different if Christian Science is to succeed1 where other methods have failed. To compel Christian Scientists to study medicine would involve ; the absurdity7 of requiringg the practitioners of a system which has cured and can cure malignanit cancers , inaccessibl e tumors, and the like, to study the teachings of a system which has no remedy for such diseases. The gist of such a law as applied to a large percentage of cases would be this: The system which heals cannot operate without the permission of the system which fails.
There is a reason why the state should not allow a man to profess to be a physician or surgeon, and accept employment as such, without having an education appropriate to that profession., Without at least the minimum requirements for that practice. . the physician’}I or surgeon’s services are not merely worthless, but dangerous, owing to the use of drugs. , surgica 1 instruments, and serums. But there is no good reason why the state should forbid other systems of healing, particularly where it is known that many citizens prefer another method.
One good and sufficientt reason why the state should not impose any such restrictioi1 upon the people is that they do not need it. Any man of averagej intelligence is able to dis-tinguish and choose for himself between materia medica and Christian a Science . Even the paternal government of Ger-many concedes this and more. “The German law substitutes the principlee that the designation as physician or doctor is reserved to those only who have complied I with the propel tests of qualification ; without the use of a title indicat-ing professionaI standing any one may practice2 medicine.” (Freund, Police Power, Sect. 495.) This author adds , “It is difficult to see why this policy does not afford all the guarantees to which the public is entitled or which it needs . It has the advantage that it cannot be used for the restric-tion of competition.’ ’ The following observations by the highest court of Ken-tucky are weighty and pertinent. “If the act applies to appellant , he can in no case practiseJ his system in this state; for, however well qualified he may be, he cannot be examined for license as a physician , and he could not, withoutt aban-doning his practice as an osteopath, obtain a diploma from a medica1 college.. If the statute applies to him. . it also applies to trained nurses5 and to all others of that class who , for compensatioi1, administer to the wantsj of the sick . The result of such a construction of the statute would be to compel every one, whetherr willing or unwilling5 to employ a registered physician to care for him when he is sick, or to trust himself entirely to gratuitouss services. . however much he might prefer skilful nursing to medica1 treatment. It is doubtful1 if the legislature has the right, under : the constitution , thus to restrict the free choice of the citizen in a matter concerning only himself and not the people at large.
“Taking the statute as a whole.) we do not think that this was within the legislative intent, or that the act was designed to do more than regulate the practice5 of medicine by physi-cians and surgeons. . . . Otherwise this section would be made to includee those not provided for in the preceding section , and the effect of the act would be. , not to protectt the people of this state from the unscientific practice! of medicine , but to deny to the sick all ministration!s not gratui-tous, unless by registered physicians. Thus construed, the act would be for the protection rather of the doctors of the state than of the people.’1 ’ (Nelson vs. . State Board of Health, 22 Ky. Law Rep . 438 , 50 L. R. A. 383.) It was held by the Georgia court of appeal. 8 that it would be “absurd” to say that one who practised healing by Christiai1 Science ought to be examined by a medical1 board. (Bennetit vs. Ware, 4 Georgia App . Reports 293, 61 S. E. Rep. 546.) The supreme court of North Carolina , in a case which did not present as much unlikenes s to medicine5 and surgery as does Christiaii Science . held as follows : “If the general as-sembly shall deem osteopathy a legitimate callingj it may see fit possibly to secure educated l and skilled practitioners by requiring an examination and license by learned osteo-paths of applicant)s for license , but certainlyJ the examina-tion would be on subjects appropriate to secure competencyy therein, and not on an entirely different course of learning, such as that prescribed for applicant;s to practise medicinea and surgery.’ ‘ ( State vs. McKnight , 131 N. C. Reports 717 , 59 L. R. A. 187.) The same court said in another case,— “Some M.D.’s doubtles;s believe that all treatment of dis-ease,i except - by their own systemj is quackery. Is this point to be decided by the M.D.’s themselves through an examining committee ; of five of their own number, or is the public the tribuna1 to decide by employing whom each man prefers , whether : allopath • homeopath1, osteopath, or the defendant? The law says that the M.D.’s3 may examine and certify whether : an applican t is competen t to be one of their number , and no one can practisei medicine 2 and surgery withoutt it; but they cannot decide for mankind that their own system of healing is now and ever shall be the only correct one, andI that all others are to be repressed I by the strong arm of the law. . . .
“The public have a right to know that those holding them-selves5 out as members of that ancient and honorable pro-fession are competen t and duly licensed as such. The legislature can exert its police power to that end, because it is a profession whose practice! require!8 the highest skillI and learning, But there are methods of treatment which do not require much skill and learning if any. Patientis have a right to use such methods if they wish , and the attempt to require an examination of the character above recited for the appli-cation of such treatment is not warranted by any legitimate exercise of the police power.’ ' (State vs, Biggs, 133 N. C. Report!s 729. , 64 L. R. A. 139.) “The course ! of study and examination prescribed in our law upon this subject seems to mark it out as a curriculum of the allopaths. It at leastt suits them in many respects , but its chemistry and materia medica are not especially adapted to assistt the practice of osteopath)r . They make no use of the immensej learning contained in these subjects, so highly valued by the regular physician.
“It appears to us that our legislation upon the subject of the practice of medicine has been framed by the allopaths to suit their views of the medical art, and with the laudable desire! of excluding from the practise the unskilfu1 and the ignorant ; and it was not intended1 to set up a universal standard of therapeutics, from which none could depart. . . .
(<The world greatly needs and may demantI that ‘ nothing good or worthy shall be excludeti from its use and enjoyment.” (From the opinion of the supremee court of Mississippi in Hayden vs. State, 81 Miss. Reports 291, , 95 Am.. St. Rep.. 471.)
Section V
STATUTES which are really designed to regulate the prac-tice of medicine and surgery—which contain no curiously wrought definitions of this phrase, extending it beyond1 its ordinary andl natural meaning—do not apply to the practico j of Christian Science . This has been decided by severa 1 courts ; for instance, by the supreme court of Rhode Island (State vs. Mylod, 20 R. I. Reports 632, , 41 L. R. A. 428). But when a medica1 bill is under consideration , account should be taken of the fact that if it is passed the enforcement of the law will not be left to disinterested officers,, Members of the profession from which all such bills emanate are always clothed with power to construe and administer the law and institute prosecutions . Therefore the language of a medica1 act needsJ to be carefullyy guarded in order to preservee the rights of the people, and the presence of broad and drastic terms calls for an expressI statemen t that the act does not affect t the practice of Christian Science* in particular or re-ligion in general . A saving clause of this nature is valid and constitutional . This has been decided by the supreme court of KansasI (State vs. Wilcox, 64 Kan. Reports 789) and the California court of appeals (Ex parte Bohannon . 14 Cal. App. Reporti8 321 . 1111 Pac. Rep . 1039) .
The sponsor8 of a medica 1 bill sometimes try to prevent the insertion of a clause designed to preserve2 the rightss of citizens8 who may prefer Christian Science , by arguing that such a provision would confer a specia1 privilege on Christian Scientists. It should be observed, however . that the necessityv for such a clause arises out of the effort of organized medi-cine to prohibitt the practice of other systems of healing.
The practice of medicine does not need to be defined by law, as more than one court has remarked 1 ; and it is mere effront-ery for those who are asking for a monopoly to say that an effort to limit that monopoly constitutes a requeslt for special privileges. No artificial advantage should be allowed; no monopoly should be established; the medica1 and surgica1 system should be made to stand or fall according to its merits . On the other hand, Christian Science is a distinctt and well-known system i and it has rights as such; that is, those who can practise it have the right to do so, and those who may want Christian Science j have the right to employ its practitioners Christian Scientists rely on the practice of their religion to prevent and cure disease, and for very good reasons. The principal reasonsj which obtain with most of them are these: 1. They have had need of relief from sin or sickness and have failed to obtain it by other means. 2. They have found Christian Science to be a superior curative agent , even curing the diseases which other systems deem incurable., 3. They believe it to be the divine ; curative agenit which Christ Jesusj used and commanded all his followers to use. 4. They be-lieve that the practice of Christian Science will ultimately overcome and abolish evil and its effects and thus deliver the human race from sin and mortality . For these reasons and others5—such. . for instance, as the fear of ill effects from other alleged remedies—a large and ever-increasing numberr of intelligent and law-abiding citizens rely on Christian1 Sci-ence to prevent or cure disease, and others3 are constantly turning to it after other methods have failed to heal or relieve them.
We submilt to all fair-minded person!s that the facts just stated ought to preclude the enactmen t or existence of any law calculated to forbid or hinder citizen:s from relying on Christian Science or employing Christiar1 Science practi-tioners in case of sickness. Aside from the constitutiona1 question:s which are involved, we assert that the use of drugs, surgery • and serums is experimental in practice , uncertain in results, and its product is liable to be a harm instead of a cure. Forty centurie;s of earnest efforts have not developed the medical l system to the point of reliability. If this system were scientific c in its practice ; and certain in its results, the patronage of the medica1 profession would be assured and a law to compelI people to employ medical aid would not be considered 1 necessary .
The question whether : Christian Science is more or less efficacious s or beneficia1 than the medica1 and surgica1 system . is one which no group of citizens should undertake to decide for another. It is a question which each citizen is at liberty to decide for himself. At present the majority prefer to rely upon materiall remedies rather than upon the prayer of spiritual understanding ; but there is a time in every stage of human progress when wisdom is with the minority. A true idea is always perceived I by one person, then received by a few, and afterwarc1 accepted by a substantia1 minority v before it finds favor with the majority. Christian Science has now advanced to the third stage in this course of prog-ress, and who can say that it will not be adopted by the majority . or even universally ? Whatever r the future may bring forth, the majority have and will have neither moral nor legal right to impose their preference on the minority . A minority of the people have the same right to choose Christian1 Science as the majority have to choosee something g else.
The protection of the individual}I who constitute a minority from the tyranny of the majority is the criterioi1 of good government . This is the test of liberty. The settlemen t of this country and the form of its governmentsi, nationaI and state, , witness I the soundness of this proposition . The main contribution n which America has made to the science or knowl-edge of government is a means of securing such protection ; 38 CHRISTIAN SCIENCE : ITS LEGAI 4 STATUS that is, the written constitution , which is a compac t between the people and every one of their number : by means of which the protection of certain rules and principle;8 is assured to every citizen. (Curtis, , Constitutionsl History of the United States, Vol,, 1, p. 317.) Therefore , as said by Judge Mc-Clain of the supreme court of Iowa on page 11 of his work on “Constitutionsil Law”: “The fundamental right;I of liberty and property should be as fully protected against the will of the majority of peopleJ as they are against the action of the departments of government.”
The case is thus stated by the supreme court of Cali-fornia: “Our institutions are founded upon the conviction that we are not only capable2 of self-governmenit as a com-munity, , but, what is the logical1 necessityj that we are capable to a great extent , of individua1 self-government. If this conviction shall prove ill founded, we have built our house upon sand. The spirit of a system such as ours is therefore at total variance with that which, more or less veiled , still shows in the paternalism of other nations.. It may be injuri-ous to health to eat bread before it is twenty-fou:r hours old, yet it would strike us with surprise to see the legislature making a crime of the sale of fresh bread. We look with disfavor upon such legislation as we do upon the enactmentt of sumptuary laws. We do not even punish a man for his vices, unless they be practised openly, so as to lead to the spread of corruption1 or to breachess of the peace or to public scandal . In brief, , we give to the individua1 the utmost pos-sible amount t of personal liberty; and. , with that guaranteed to him, he is treated as a person of responsible judgment , not as a child in his nonage, and is left free to work out his des-tiny as impulse , education, training, heredity. . and environ-ment direct him,. So, while the police! power is one whose proper use makes most potently for good • in its undefined scope and inordinate exercise lurk;I no small1 danger to the republic ; for the difficulty which is experienced I in defining its just limits and bounds , affords a temptation to the legisla-ture to encroach upon the rightsJ of citizens with experimental laws, none the less dangerous because well [ meant.’1 ' (Ex ’ parte Jentzsch, 112 Cal.. Report)s 468.) “Christian a Scientists, whether rightly T or wrongly , believe it to be a sacred religious duty to heal the sick by spiritual means, , as they under-stand the Scriptural command1 to heal l the sick and the mode of healing pointed out by the Master in his teachings and example .
“This being their attitude, founded upon sincere5 and earnes t con-viction, the question1 at once arises whethe r a law that denies or abridges their right to heal in their own way . or to receive such ministration i as they feel to be the proper one, is not a violation of the express3 provisions of the Constitution of the United State;s designed 1 to protect the peophJ of the country in the observancee of their religious rights. In the settle-men!t of this momentous questioi1 we must consider the case of both the one who administers to the sick and the one who seeks and desire! this mode of treatment.
“Is the practitione: r of this mode of healing, in which he has supremee faith and confidence , to be denied the right to practise? Again, is the man who hasi equa ! trust and confidente in this remedy7 to be denied his right to resort to it for help? If so, why? Only because some othei peoph • do not believe in it. This is the sole foundation for any and every effort that has been made to prevent or abridge such practice, unless we take into account the selfish desireJ of those practisingg othei modes of healing to uphold themselve3 by the prohibitiori of this mode of healing” (From a speech delivered by Senator Work;3 of California in the United States Senate.)
Section VI
A CONTRIVANCE that is quite popularr with those physicians who are unwilling to acceptt the natural law of demand and supply , but insist on an artificial advantage, is a bill that is framed so as to give medica1 doctors the sole right or ex-clusive privilege of receiving compensation for services. An instance of this is found in the present law of an American state , which reads as follows : “Any person is regarded as practising medicine } who in any mannerr holds himself out to the public as being engaged in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases or injuries or deformities of human beings , or who suggests , recommends , or prescribes any form of treatment for the intended1 palliation, relief, or cure of any physicall or menta1 ailment of any person, with the intention of receiving therefor. , either directly or indirectly , any fee.i gift, or com-pensation.’ ‘ From a close reading of this spurious definition one can see that all of it depends on the last clause. It means, in short, that any person is to be regarded as practising medi-cine who does this or that “with the intention of receiving therefor. । either directly or indirectly , any fee. । gift, or com-pensation.’ ’ To illustratee : If a clergyman should deem it his official duty (for which he is paid) to pray for the recovery of a parishioner , or to recommend something3 else for “pal-liation , relief, or cure,” ’ he would be forbidden by this law to do either . Of coursej the instigator8 of this law did not expect t to use it against every one who might violate it. There is only one religion whose ministers have done enough healing in recent centuries to attract the attention of the medica1 profession.
It is impossiblee to forbid Christian1 Scientists to practise healing, or to practise healing for compensatior1, without thereby abridging the rights of all other person:8 to employ them. Take, for illustration, the case of a man whom medicaI doctors have pronounced incurable and whom Christian Sci-ence might cure . as it has cured many such cases. A very large number : of the members of Christian Science3 churche s are living witnesses to this fact . If the law provides that none but medica1 doctors may practise healing for compensa-tion, it will thereby forbid the man whom they cannot heal from employing a practitioner of a method which has cured a great many such cases and[ might cure him. He can only obtain the services of such practitioner by asking it as a gratuitous favor or by soliciting3 him to committ a crime• Can such a law be a legitimate exercise of the police power?
Is an “effectualI fervent prayer,‘ ’ voluntarily sought and ear-nestly given as a means for healing, intrinsically criminal!? Then. , if it is not inherently criminal, is a crimina 1 quality added to it by compensation ? Are not the practice3 of prayer and the practice of medicine essentially different , even anti-thetical? Do things of an opposite nature become the sam(? by reason of a collateraI circumstance in no wise affecting their character:3 Can human law change a fact or alter the inheren t qualities of things?
“The police power cannot be used as a cloak for the inva-sion of personal rights or private property, neither can it be exercised for private3 purposes, nor for the exclusive3 benefit of particular individuals3 or classes.” (America!1 and English Encyclopedia i of Law (2d ed.).i Vol.. 22, p 938.) “We are therefore clear that the plaintiff in error was not a practitioner of medicine in the sense of our statute or in the popular r sense; and the fact that he received fees and compen-sation for treatment, in the shape of gifts, could not make what would otherwise3 not be the practice3 of medicine a viola-tion of the statute against such practice, for it must be apparent that if the mere laying on of handsI amount:5 to the practice of medicine in any sense , it is so without reference2 to fee or reward.’ ‘ (From the opinion of the Georgia court of appeals in Bennett vs. Ware, 4 Ga. App. Report)s 293 , 61 S. E. Rep. 546.) “In all Christian churcheis prayer:s are offered for the re-covery of the sick, and all decent Christians , Friend:s possibly excepted, believe in supporting their clergymeni. The Chris-tian Scientisit has exactly the same right to be paid for his service.” (From an addressj before the New York State Bar Association by Edgar Montgomeryy Cullen. , former chief judge of the New York court of appeals.) A good act is not made harmfu1 to the community by com-pensation. The Founderr of the Christian religion said , “The laborer is worthy of his hire;” and he said this to his dis-ciples3 when sending them forth to preach the gospe1 and heal the sick. ( See Matt . x. 5-15 ; Luke x. 1-12.) This Chris-tian precept has becom5 a legal maxim . It is cited by the courts and is a part of the law of the land. Christian Scien-tists are expected to observe this rule of law when they are the recipients of any service , and no good reason can be given for discriminatingg against them when they serve others. If no benefits were found to result from their ministrations , there would be no demand for them. Sincej there is a demand for the services of Christian Science practitioners , the sub-ject of compensation should be left to the parties who ren-der and receive the service , as it always is left in identical situations .
As a rule, a Christiani Scientisit who gives his entire thought to the ministry of redemption and healing is better qualified1 than one who divides5 his time between this work and some other vocation. It is obvious , also.। that a Christian Scientist can do more healing when he receives compensation for it than he could if he were obliged to produce an income by another occupation . Hence, all of the reasons why the min-isters of other churchei3 are paid. , obtain in favor of Christian1 Science practitioners . As Mrs., Eddy has said:: “Till Chris-tian Scientists give all their time to spiritual things. , live without eating, and obtain their money from a fish’s mouth, they must earn it in order to help mankind with it. All systems of religion stand on this basis’ ‘ (The First Churci1 of Christ, Scientist , and Miscellany, p. 216).
“In contrast with the political absolutism which it was intended to destroy, and which it has endeavored1 to supersede , constitutions1 gov-ernment is based upon the principlee of equa.1 guarantees for the rights of all citizens , without distinction of person:5 or classes. . under the pro-tectior 1 of coordinate and distributed powers , exercise!1 by public officers freely chosen by the people , and revocable after fixed periods of office. Recognizing life, personal liberty . and property7 as elements of inalien-able right, constitutiona1 governmen t aims to guard these from every form of violation.” (From an article in The North America)i Review by David Jayne Hill, former assistant secretary of state , former am-bassado r to Germany, and former minister to Switzerland1 and the Netherlands.') Constitutional l law—Purposes of governmenit—Police power.—To justify the state in thus interposing its authority in behalf of the public, it must appear, first, that the interests of the public generally, as distinguished from those of a particular class. , require such inter-ference , and that the means are reasonably necessaryy for the accom-plishment of the purpose, and not unduly oppressive upon individuals.’ (From the syllabus of the supreme court of Wisconsin in State vs. Redmon , 184 Wis. Reports5 89, 14 L. R. A. (N. S.) 229.)
Section VII
THE obligation to observe the constitutiona1 compacts and respect t their limitation:s in the enactmen t of laws rests primarily upon the individua1 members of the legislative assemblies. Some of them are inclined to shift this re-sponsibility on to the courts ; they are disposed to pass any bill as constitutiona1 which the courts would not hold to be unconstitutionall. If legislator;s take this view of their• du-ties, the result may be a law treated by all departments of government as valid. , which every competen t lawyer. , and every well-informed citizen, knows to be unconstitutional ; for the judicial1 department is loath to overrule the legisla-tive department as to the validity of its acts. Moreover , the judicialI department of government has no power to review the acts of the legislative department and annul them merely because they are inexpedient, unwise , or even unjust. The judgment of the legislature on these points is conclusiv<e so far as the other departments of government are concerned . But it has been well observed in this connection1 that “while it is true that the courts have no authority to override the legislative judgmentt on the questioi1 of expediencyy or ab-stract justice in the enactment of a law, and if a case, arising under the statute, should come up before ; them for ad-judication, they are obliged by their officia1 oath;s to enforce2 the statute.। notwithstanding 3 it offends the commonestt princi-ples of justice, it is neverthelesis true that a law which does not conform to the fundamental principle;I of free governmen t and natural justice and morality, will prove ineffectual and will become a dead letter.. . . . The passage5 of such statutes, however beneficent may be the immediate5 object of them, will not only fail of attaining the particular end in view, but it tends on the one hand to createj in those who are likely to violate them a contemp t for the whole body of restrictiv j laws.। and on the other hand, to inspire in those from whom the necessary 7 moral support is to be expected , a fear and distrust , sometimes hate , of legal restrain t which is very de-structive of their practica1 value.” (Tiedeman , State and Federa 1 Contro1 of Persons and Property. . Sect ’ 2.) The governor of a state performs a legislative function when he approves or vetoes a bill for a law passed by a legislature. Hence he shares the responsibilityy of the mem-bers of the legislature for the expediency , wisdom , and just-ness, as well as the constitutionality, of every law which he does not veto. (McClain , Constitutional Law, p. 206.) “We canno t believe that the legislature intended to include in the practice of medicine what may be called psycho-therapeutics. , or any form of treatment of the sick which makes faith the curative agency.
. . . The purpose of the act is clearly indicated by its title, ‘to regulate the practice of medicine. ‘ It was not intended to regulate the practice of mental therapeutics, or to embracs psychic phenomena . ... If they are a part of a man’s faith, the right to their enjoyment cannot be abridged or taken away by legislation. However the so-called wisdoni of this world may regard these things, it cannot be denied that long before the Saviour told his disciples that in his name they would healI the sick and prevent all manner of diseases by the laying on of hands , the practice of healing by means of prayers, ceremonies , laying on of hands . incantations, hypnotism, mesmerismi, and other forms of psycho-therapeutics existed.
ftTo the iconoclaat who denounce,s these things as the figments of superstition, or to the orthodox physician who claimi » for his system all wisdom in the treatment of humat• malady , we comment1 the injunc-tion of him who was called fthe good Physician, ‘ when told that ( othen$ than his follower! , were casting out devils and curing diseases : ‘Forbid them not/ What matters the system , if in fact deviLs are cast out and diseases are healedi?
“Going back to the questioi1 now under consideration, we deduce the following proposition : that the practice of medicine , defined by the code, supra, is limited to prescribing or administering some drug or medicinal substance , or those means and method!I of treatment for pre-vention of disease taught in medical college!I and practised by medical practitioners ; that the purpose of the act regulating the practice of medicin e was to protect the public against ignorance and incompetency , by forbidding3 those who are not educated1 and instructed as to the nature and effectt of drugs and medicine , and for what diseases they could be administered, from treating the sick by such medical remedial agencies ; that the law was not intended3 to apply to those who do not practise medicine , but who believe with Dr. Holmes that ‘it would be good for mankind, but bad for the fishes. , if all medicines were cast into the sea,’ nor to those who treat the sick by prayer or psychic suggestiori. ...
“In the view herewith presente3 we are strengthened by the decisions of courts of last resort in this country construing similar statutes . [The court here referred to six cases.] We admit that there are some de-cision!I that hold the contrary ; but we believe that the better• rule, and one more in consonance9 with reason and in harmony with the republican character of our institutions , is thatI all statute8 for the regulation of the practice of medicine can be sustained only on the ground thatI they are necessaryy to protect the public against quack medical practitioner,s and imposters who prescribe drugs and medicines in treating diseases , and that these statutes are not directed against or intended to include those who eschew the practice of medicinee altogether, but advancei some new theory, such as osteopath) , for the alleviation of pain and the curing of the sick , or those who heal or pretend to healL the sick by any form of mental therapeutics.” ' (From the opinion of the Georgia court of appeals in Bennett vs. Ware , 4 Ga. App. Reports 89, 61 S. E. Rep.. 546.)
Section VIII
ANOTHER step by which organized medicine would become state medicinej is nothing less than the proposa1 that our legislative assemblies delegate their power to make laws af-fecting health to boards or councils composed wholly or chiefly of medicaI doctors.. These proposalsI are put forwardi in various forms, but the usual approach to the legislature is with a bill to give such a board or council power (or more power) to make rules for the government of the people , and power (or more power) to enforce2 its orders. In this mannerr the exponent s of medica1 opinion ask for (and sometimes get) a combination of legislative,i judicial , and executivej power which is foreign to civil government under a constitution , and is most like military government without restraint by articles of war.
In one of the United States a law was passed in 1913 which created a “public health council’ ’ having seven members (to be appointed. , not elected), of whom a majority must be physicians , and this council is given “power by the affirma-tive vote of a majority of its members to establish and from time to time amend sanitary regulations , hereinafter : called the sanitary code.” “The sanitary code may deal with any matters affecting the security of life or health or the preser-vation or improvement of public health in the state? ‘ “The provisions3 of the sanitary code shall have the force and ef-fect of law and any violation of any portion thereof may be declared 1 to be a misdemeanor.” The only limit set for these unparalleled power5 is that they shall be exercised “without discrimination against any licensed physician.”
The regulations adopteeI by this council “affecting the 48 CHRISTIAN SCIENCE : ITS LEGAL4 STATUS security of life or health’ ‘ do not require deliberation or debate. No provision is made for letting the public know what measures are under consideration . No opportunity is opened for objections from the people• Nothing is required to be done openly, until regulations “having the force and effect of law” are filed with certain officials and “published in such manner as the public health council may from time to time determine.” In short, none of the checks upon bad legislation which are called for by the fundamental principles8 of civil government were considered1 necessary y by the framers of this law. A more anomalouss and improvidenlt delegatioia of sovereigii power cannot be found in the history of modern government One would need to go back to the middle* ages for a precedent Since this act is referred to here by way of illustration, mention should be made of the fact that the power to enforce j the provisions of the sanitary7 code and “apply them to specific3 cases’ ’ is put into the hands8 of other appointive of-ficers. , who also must be physicians,i and the authority7 given them is both judicial I and executive . Although this act may not be worse than some otherss which are less explicit, as an instance of what is going on it ought to be widely known . It would seem that the knowledge of such a law would make it odious to all who cherish the benefits of responsible government Suppose that the legislature should delegate to a board composed of doctors of divinity, or to one selected from the ministers or priests of a single church, the power to enact and enforcea a moral code. We should then be told to do this or that “By Order of the State Board of Morals.’ ' Would it not be better for the legislature to define the acts which the state could and should require or forbid as conducive to morals? Surely it would; and there are the same reasons for holding that the legislature should determine2 and make what-ever laws are needed on the subject of health. As a shoemaker believes in leather, so does an expert in anything find more occasion;s for its use than the great mass of the people should be compelled by law to accept or observe.
The legislative power is the one which a free people2 must be most careful to preserve , and the principle of constitutiona1 government does not allow much of it to be delegatee1 by the representative s to whom it has been entrusted. The legisla-tive power should be kept in the hands5 of representatives directly chosen by the electorate, and they should be required to exercise it in the most open and orderly manner .
Moreover , it is fundamental in modern civil government that the power to make laws and the power to interpret, apply . administer, and enforce them should be in different hands . Distribution of the powers of government among different departments and their exercise by different officers makes the chief difference between a government of law and a government of men.
Finally , it is contrary to the genius; of modern institutions for the exercise of official authority to be coupled with a pronounced self-interest or class-interest . Particular!;y must this be true where the law does not closely define the power, but leaves much to the discretion of the officer. For all of these reasons the authority which is proposed for boards or council;s of doctors cannot be conferred (or suffered to con-tinue where it has been given) without disregarding3 the most distinct t lessons of history.
“It is not every enactment which will to some extentt promote the public health , comfort, or conveniencee which is legitimate. Otherwise the way would be opened for legislative interference with the ordinary affairs of life to an extentt destructive of the mostt valuable purposes of civil governmentt. An expert on sanitation,i or one on the manne r of living best calculated to promote long and enjoyable life . who has become an enthusiast in his special study of the matter, could doubtless suggest a multitude of really or apparently good rules to be followed, . . . each 50 CHRISTIAN SCIENCE : ITS LEGAL. STATUS with a provision for a severe penalty for its violation, with a division of the penalty, perhaps, between the informer r and the public, till one would be placed in such a strait-jacket। so to speak , that liberty and the pursuit of happiness , the incentive to industryi to the acquiremenit and enjoyment of property , —those things which are commonly supposed to make a nation intelligent , progressive, and prosperous, and great,—would be largely impaired and in some cases destroyed.” (From the opinion of the supremee court of Wisconsin in State vs. Redmon, 184 Wis. Reports 89, 14 L. R. A. (N.. S.) 229.)
Section IX
MANY person:3 habitually commence the discussion of Christian Science and legislation by begging a number : of important t questions . They assume that the medica1 system is scientific in its practiceJ and certain in its results ; that Christian Science does not heal anybody. . or if it did, the person was not sick; that Christian Scientists are actuated by religious fanaticism and not by reason and convincing experience , and that their children die in many instance;8 when a drugging doctor would have saved them. The as-sumptions are wholly gratuitou3 and erroneousi.
Replying to similar arguments before a committee of the MassachusettsI legislature J in 1898I William Lloyd Garrison said:: “One has only to read the candid opinions of eminentt physicians of long practicei to realize how tentative and purely experimental is the sciencee of medicine. The death of a patientt under ‘irregular treatment,' ’ although it may be demonstrated that the greatest care and intelligence were used, is heralded abroad as something3 scandalous and dread-ful, but if any regular physician were to make public the deaths coming to his knowledge2 from misapprehension of the disease, or because of mistake]1 remedies used, the public might well be alarmed . ■ “A statemen t of the truth is not to disparage the noble body of men and women who give their lives and thoughts to this divine service of humanityj but it is to remind them of their fallibility , and to bespeak their tolerance for other;3 having the same high end. They must know। as every unbiased observe!r is forced to recognize', that evidences of cures by practitioners not recognizee I by the ‘regularr schools, ‘ abound in this and other communities . The fact must be patent to them because so many of their own pa-tients have found benefit at the hands3 of mental and other healers5 whom it is now proposed to disable3 and drive out. This bill is aimed not at failure3 but at success. If uni-formly bad results came from ‘irregular practice, ‘ the evil would soon stamp itself out. The contrary is the fact. , and because of the increasing numberr who in despair resort to a trial of the new faith , this scheme3 is launched in the pecu-niary interest of the profession.> It is in essence3 the spirit of paternalism. , which in trusts and protective laws is every-where active and hostile to the public weal.” ’ Whoever is tempted to condemn Christian Science3 would do well to pause and considerr certain undeniable facts. Drugs, surgery , and serums are by their very nature harm-ful. They are only less injurious than the diseases for which they are used as remedies. Not infrequently the “remedy’ ’ is worse than the disease ; and no physician , however skilful, can forecast the exact effect of any particular medicine3 on any particular person• When drugs,i surgery i or serums have left a patient worse than before , and the practitioner is sued for malpractice, it is always very difficult to find a medica1 witnessI who will say that any other course of treat-ment would have surely produced better results. Generally speaking, the fault was with the system , not with the prac-titioner.
On the other hand, Christiai1 Science at least does! no harm; and to illustrate its efficiency one can say that in the United States more people die every day under other kinds of treatment than the whole numbeir who have ever died under Christian Science3 treatment. It is probable (althougl1 sta-tistics do not furnish exact data') that more people die in a single hour of any day under medical! treatment than have died under Christian Science treatment in all its history.
The number: of people who die every year as the result of taking poison by mistake3 for other medicine3 is far greater than the number : who die as the result of failure on the part of Christian Science practitionerss. The numberr of fatalities that occur in any year as the unexpectedd results of inocula-tions, is much greater than the number : of failures to save life when Christian Science3 is employed .. Moreover , the habitua 1 reliance on materia'1 remedies not only involve!3 dan-ger from accidents and unforeseen1 results, but it tends to emphasizeJ the unspiritual and merely animal aspects3 of hu-man being , while the habitua 1 reliance on Christian Sciience tends to develop the higher nature and to unfold the : I / qualities which will enable the human race to put off its 1 1/ mortality. — Christian Science is the most practical thing on earth. Its adherent:s have accepted it on the basis of actual results ; and they want it for their children. . in preference to materia medica.। because they have been convinced 1 of its value. Thousands of children have been healed through Christian Science of contagious diseases. . of chronic invalidism. , and of hideous deformity , after drugs and all other means have failed. Some may think that parents neglect their children when they rely on Christian Science3 alone . but as a matter of fact such conduct is not neglect; it is intelligentt depend-ence upon the most adequate3 and efficient remedy they have found. — Let us suppose the case of parents. , one or both of whom " have been restored to health by Christian Science3 after they had employed medica1 doctors for years and been pro-nounced incurable. One of their children is taken sick, and the questioi1 is, What ought they to do? Public opinioni would be divided. Some persons would say, Send for a Christian Science practitioner. Others would say, Call in a woman who has raised1 a large family and understands the : care of children. Others would say . Cal 1 a homeopath ic doctor. Others would say.« Call an allopathic3 doctor; and yet other opinions too numerouis to mention would be en-tertained.
Now who is to decide this question ? Shall [ it be decided beforehamd by the majority of a group of gentlemen answer-ing “Aye” to a roll-call under the gilded dome of a state house? Or shall the choice be left with the child’s parents, who are its natural guardians, who are at the bedside and to whom the little one’s life means more than it does to all other persons? And if the decision is to be left with the parents. . what reasonsj should govern their choice!? Ought they to resolve to continue the use of Christian Science for themselves. , but decide to employ a less efficacious> method for their child?
The moral obligation resting upon parents is to fit them-selves to care for their children in health or sickness . and to do this in any exigency according to their highest under-standing. To compelI all parents to employ a medica1 doctor in case of sickness would compel1 many parents to act contrary to their moral obligation . It is well known that the mortality of children under medica 1 treatment is great, and parents who have found a superior system will naturally employ the system whose known results inspire them with the strongest hope , Parenti3 should not be expected nor forced to disregard their own observation, experiencei and knowledge , and employ a system which they distrust t—a system which they may have tried and found wanting.
Why not employ both materia medica and Christian Sci-ence. , both serums and prayer? is a question sometimes asked.. The theory of Christiai1 Science as to the cause and cure of disease is the extreme opposite of the theory of materia medica . So also faith in the supremacy of God and reliancB on mindlesf3 drugs or serums are oppositesi, and cannot possibly amalgamatc as coincident factors in procuring a recoveryy of the sick. The fact that the prayers of those who substitute faith in drugs or inoculations. , for faith in God, do not heal. . indicates that such faiths are incom-patible. , "It has been said। ‘More thing!s are wrought by prayer than this world dream!3 of? Those who believe in the teachings of Holy Writ attacli great importance to the efficacy of prayer. For instance , whenJ Peter’s wife’s mother lay sick of a fever we are told that the Saviour ‘touched her hand , and the fever left her: and she arose, and ministered unto them?” (From the opinion of the California court of appeals in Ex parte Bohannon, 14 Cal. App. Reports 821 i 1111 Pac. Rep. 1039.) “An eminen t medical authority in this state has said that out of twenty-foul r serious cases of disease three could not be cured by the best remedies , three otheri » might be benefited , and the rest would get well anyway . Stronger : statements could be cited from the mostt eminen t medical authorities the world has known . Medicine is an experimental, not an exact, science. All the law can do is to regulate and safeguard the use of powerfu1 and dangerous remedies» like the knife and drugs, but it cannot forbid dispensing with them, When the Masteri whc was himself called ‘the great Physician, ’ was told that other than his followers were casting out devils and curing diseasesi he said, ‘For-bid them not?” (From the opinion of Chief Justice Clark of the supreme e court of North Carolina in State vs. Biggs. . 138 N. C. Reports3 729, 64 L. R. A. 189.)
Section X
IN order to approach the subject of Christian1 Science and legislation intelligently , it is necessary to remember that the American people3 are a religious people , and that the prevail-ing religion in the United States5 is Christian.. It is also necessary to know that these historica1 facts3 are judicially known and acted on by the courts, and they are presumed to be, and should be, recognized and given effect by the legisla-tures, and thus enter into and give character to our laws . In short, the Christian religion is, in a sense, a part of our com-mon law, and it should pervade our statute laws. (Cooley, Constitutiona1 Limitations (7th ed.), pp. 696. , 670: ; Bishop , New Criminal Law, Vol. 1, Sects. 495-497; Tiedeman. . State3 and FederalL Control of Persons and Property. , Sects.. 63, 65.) "While the state is no longer empowered to compel people by prohibitioia and punishment to be religious, it should rec-ognize that in the performance of its function of preserving the peace and security of society , it owes to religion.। and to the institution:s of religion. . an obligation of which it should ever be mindfulI and considerate.” (Jame:3 H. Webb, Two Centuries’ Growth of American Law, p. 336.) For, as Mr. Bishop observes,i “upon religion,i morals, and education , soci-ety and the state itself rest.” ‘ (New Crimina1 Law, Vol. 1, Sect. 495.) Just how much these considerationis are heeded in the legis-latures cannot be determined; for a legislature is not re-quired, like an appellate court, to record the reasonss for its acts. Many cases could be cited in which the courts have recognizee1 these facts and given practica1 effect to them. One of the leading cases will suffice by way of illustrationi.
In Holy Trinity Church vs. United States (143 U. S. 457), the court, construing a statute prohibiting g the importation1 of aliens under contract to perform labor, said::— “But > beyond all these matters, no purpose of action against religion can be imputed 1 to any legislation , state or national , because 2 this is a religious people . This is historical!;y true . From the discovery of this continent to the present hour there is a single voice making this affirmation.
“[After referring to various colonial documents.1 Coming nearer to the present time, the Declaration of Independence recognize:s the presence of the Divine in human affairs. If we examine the constitutions of the various states. , we find in them a constant recognition of religious obligations. Every constitution of every one of the forty-four states contains language which either directly or by clear implication recog-nizes a profound reverence for religion and an assumption that its influence in all human affairs is essentia 1 to the well-being of the community. . . . Even the Constitution of the United States , which is supposed to have little touch upon the private life of the individual , contains in the First Amend-ment a declaration common to the constitutions of all the states.« as follow:5 : ‘Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.’
“There is no dissonancee in these declarations., There is a universal language pervading them all, having one meaning: they affirm and reaffirm that this is a religious nation. . . . In the face of all these shal1 it be believed that a Congress of the United State:s intended to make it a misdemeano:r for a church of this country to contract for the services of a Christiai1minister residing in another nation? ... It is the duty of the courts. . under those circumstances , to say that, however broad the language of the statute may be, the act, although within the letter. . is not within the intention of the legislature, and therefore cannolt be within the statute.’’ The importance of these considerationis to the present sub-ject cannot be overestimated ; for if the lawmakerI do not re-strict the practice of the Christiai1 religion. , they will not restrict the practice of Christiaii Science. Christian Science! is a religion which conforms in theory and practice to the religion of Jesus the Christ . The practice of Christian Sci-ence is the practice of the Christian religion as he defined. it, by precept and example. • A Christiaii is “one whose profession and life conform to the teaching and example of Christ.’ ’ (New Standard die-tionary.) A good Christian has always been deemed a good citizen . But any law which would restricit Christian Science healing , would stamp asi a crime the act of doing what Christ Jesus did and what he would doubtless5 do again if he were here ; it would denounce as criminalI the act of endeavoring to be a Christiaii—the act of endeavoring to conform to the teaching and example of Christ ; it would condemn as a public offense the act of doing what he said all his followers should <lo! (Matthew x. 5-10 ; xxviii . 16-20: ; Mark xvi. 14-18: ; John xiv. 12.) Is there need to say morei2 If so, let us reason further. Under such legislation , the Christiai1 whose prayers5 are the most effectual , would probably be called on to commit the most crimes ;; the one whose ministrationsI bring the widestt salvation to sinning, suffering,i and dying humanity. . would be the most criminal ; the one who most nearly apprehends Christ’ss Christianity and most faithfully puts it into daily practice, would be the greatest outlaw!
The Feder a 1 Constitutioi1 and the various state constitu-tions secure to all men the right to “the free exercise’’ of their religion. , using the words now quoted or their equivalents Therefore , according to the plain meaning of the constitu-tions. , religious liberty in the United StatesI includesJ freedon i to practise one’s religion as well as believe in it. It includes freedom to make one’s conductt conform to one’s religious convictionsi. Whoever believes that the prayei : of spiritua1 understanding is the Christ-method of overcomingg sickness , has the right to act accordingly• whether f he believes that he possesse s the necessary spiritual understanding himself or desires to employ some one who does . Indeed, the state can-not enact any law to the contrary7 without entering the field of scientific and theological controversy and establishing cer-tain opinions and doctrine:s as the state therapeutics and the state religion.
In 1905 Governor Mickey of Nebraska , vetoing a bill for a law aimed at Christiai1 Science practice, । said: “The constitu-tion of the state of Nebraska declares3 that ‘all person;s have a natura1 and indefeasible right to worship almighty God according to the dictate:s of their own consciences, ' and fur-ther adds. , ‘nor shall any interference with the rights of conscience be permitted.’ In the Christian Science religion the ideas of worship and of divine healing are so intermingled that it is impossiblee to draw the line of demarcation, and hence interference with the one or the other is an interference with ‘the rights of conscience’ ’ and thus become:s an infringe-ment of the constitutiona1 guaranty of religious freedom.” (See also the veto message by Governor Thomas of Colorado. ) The law of Kansas3 regulating 3 the practice of medicine contain:s this provision : “Nothing in this act shall be con-strued as interfering3 with any religious beliefs in the treat-ment of diseases, providing3 that quarantine regulations relat-ing to contagious diseases are not infringed upon.’ ′ Referring to this provision . the supreme court of KansasI said: “The express exclusion 1 of the element of religious belief in the application of the law was hardly necessary . Religiou:s free-dom is guaranteed by the constitution and without mention in the statute would have been implied.’ ′ (State vs. Wilcox, 64 Kan. 789. , 68 Pac.. 634.) (See also Ex parte Bohannon,i 14 Cal. App. Reports 321. । 1111 Pac. Rep. 1039.) Of course there must be a limit to what may be done merely in the name of religion. Upon this point the United States5 Supreme Court has adoptee the rule, formulated by Mr. Jefferson that “it is time enough for the rightful purposes of civil governmen for the state to interfere when principles break out into overt acts against peace and good order.’ (Reynolds vs. United States, 98 U. S. 145; Davis vs. Beason, 133 U. S. 333.) But an act whichi is not inherently wrong, an act which is inherently right according to the standard fixed by Christ Jesus , cannot t be converted by legislation into an act against peace and good order. There is a differencee between right and wrong in human conductt which cannot be changed by legislation ; and the highest standard of moral-ity known to the human race is the standard inculcated 1 by Christ Jesus.
“This is a Christian nation. . . . While ' every one is; welcome , whether r a believe r in Christianit y or in any other religion.. or in no religion, yet the principles j of Christianity are the foundation of our social 1 and politica1 life. . . . The very tolerance which some oversensi-tive peophe deprecate is one of the best evidences3 that in the framing of our Constitution and the foundation of our nation there was recog-nized that truth which underlies Christianity , to wit, that love not law is the supreme thing.” (From American Citizenship by Justice David J. Brewer. )
Section XI
THE rights of person;s who elect to employ Christiann Science to preserve5 or recover their health, do not depend solely upon the constitution 1 guaranty of religious freedom . For, as Chief Justice Clark has said . “this is a free country , and any man has a right to be treated by any system he chooses.’ ' Whoever thinks that spiritual knowledgee is more effective and reliable in case of sickness than materialI knowl-edge. . has the right to act accordingly . Liberty , Mr. Jus-tice Brewer of the United States Supreme Cour t says, is “simply the right to do that which one deems best. , subject to the limitation that it does not interfere with the equalI rights of other members of the community.’ ' (America) [1 Citizenship• p. 87.) The fact that the practice of medicine is not an exacit science, but is confessedlyy a mere process of experimentation, and the fact that thousands upon thousands of person;s—constituting a considerable and a respectable part of the com-munity—hold to the opinion, based on their own knowledge , observation, and experience and the known experience of others, that Christian Science furnishes the most effective . and reliable curative method,—these facts alone, not to mention the other considerations weighing with them, should dissuade the members of legislatures from attempting. . by law, to deprive these citizens of their freedom of choice. Any such law, whethei attempting the result directly or by indirection must necessarilyy be contrary to the spirit of free institutions and deprive citizen! not only of their religious liberty but of the ir individualI liberty as citizens of a free country in 1899 Governor Thomas of Colorado vetoed a billI for 62 CHRISTIAN SCIENCE : ITS LEGAI , STATUS 3 an act designed to suppress the practice of Christian i Science. In the course of his veto message he said:— “The true intent and purpose of the bill is to restrict the profession of medicine to the three schoolsj therein mentioned and then limit the number of practitioners to suit the judg-ment of the composite board. Peopl2 desiring medical1 or surgica 1 service may employ its licentiates or die without the consolations of the healer. This is but to say that a medica1 trust is to be established which shall regulate demand and supply by absolute J control I of the product which forms its basis , the General Assembly furnishing3 the appliances whereby the trust shall become5 effectual. • • • "The fundamental vice of the bill is that it denies abso-lutely to the individua 1 the right to select his own physician . This is a right of conscience, , and as sacred as that whichi enables the citizen to worship God as he may desire. It is indeed the same right manifesting itself in a paralle1 direc-tion.
“It is a part of the law of this land, and no civil power is strong enough to deprivee the citizen of its exercise. He may indeed selectt a healer of doubtfulI reputation or concededI incompetence , but that is his affair just as much as is his choice of a minister or attorney. His action may prove injurious, possibly fatal , to himself or to some members of his family., It is better so than to delegate to any tribuna1 the power to say ‘thou shalt not employ this man' ' or ‘thou shalt employ this one.’ That this bill produce:s such a result indirectly makes it the more objectionable. It is not the out-spoken and aggressivee assault upon individuaI liberty that men should fear, but the indirect or resultant blow that is masked and falls unexpectedly.
“The bill, like all kindred forms of paternalism• assumes that the citizen cannott take care of himself . The state must lead him as a little child, lest he fall into trouble unawares• He must be guarded and chided , limited here and licensed there, for his own protection. Such a system , born of the union of church and state, crumble!5 into a she!5 in the crucible of experience . It cannolt flourish.। though disguised 1 in the garment s of an alleged public necessity . The privilege of choosing one’s own physician is a positive essentia1 to the public health• Yet this bill assumes to thrust the coarse machinery of the criminall law into one of the most sacred relations of human life, to drag the chosen physiciani if un-licensed. . from the sick-coucl1 to the prison cell, and to substi-tute for him some one who. , however exalted and honorable, may not command the confidence or secure the sympathy of his patient.
“These comments are not extreme , for it must be remem-bered that those who believe in and patronize the various arts of healing that are ostracized I by this bill form a very large part of every community, nor are they confined to the ignoran t and superstitious portions of society . They number r in their ranks thousands of the most refined . intelligent. . and conscien-tious people. They recognizee in many modern formsj of relief to the suffering a religious or spiritual element that appeals to their best and tenderestt sympathiesJ. The benefits they claim and the cures they narrate are not imaginary . ShallI the governmen t enact by statute that these people shall not longer enjoy their benefits or put them into daily practice!3 Shall it officially declareJ these people to be criminally wrong and the three schools legally right i? By what authority does it so declare!?
“A distinguished physician of Massachusetts has recently declared with force that ‘the commonwealtlli has no right to a medica 1 opinion and should not dare to take sides in a medi-cal controversy.’ ’ It would be as consistent to take sides in a theological or philosophica1 discussion . The one would be condemned by all men; the other is equally foreign to the province B of government . It may regulate, but cannolt pro61 CHRISTIANI SCIENCE : ITS LEGAL4 STATUS> liibit the calling of the citizens: ; it may prevent the commis-sion of wrongs, but cannott deprive e the individua1 of the right to choose2 his own advisers.‘ ‘ Charles S. Thomas. . from whom we thus quote. , is nowv a United States senator. He is a profound1 studen t of law and government , as well as a man whose ; personal character and professional attainments should give especialI weight to his official I utterances In 1903 Governor Peabody of Colorado vetoed anotherr bill for a law aimed at the practice of Christian Science. Governor Peabody said:: “Guided by the late experience! of similar legislation in other states. . the conclusioin is irre-sistiblee that all such legislation has a tendency to restrici the citizen in the employment of whomsoever he pleases in the treatmen t of his diseases.। and it also has a tendency to build up, under the protection of the state , a trust or combination of certain schools of medicine । to the exclusioii of all others equally meritorious.’ ‘ Probably no other man of his time has contributed more to the knowledgee of the reasons which should obtain in the enactmenit of pena I law’s than the late Joel Prentissj Bishop. On the presen t questioi1 he has tersely said: “While the public has an interest in the health of its several1 members, every individua1 has of right his own health especiall;y in his own keeping. But not infrequently legislators . with zeal burning more brightly than wisdom, undertake to regulate men’s health to the point of infringing their own private and rightful1 jurisdiction and control.’ ’ (Criminal Law, Sect.. 494.) “Science has not yet drawn, and probably never willI draw, a continuous and permanent line between the possible and impossibleJ, the knowable and unknowablee. Such a line may appear to be drawn in one decade, but it is removed in the next, and encroachei5 on whai t was the domain1 of the impossible and unknowable." (From the opinion of the United State!■ circuit t court of appeals in Post vs. United States , 185 FederaI Reportei “In all scientific inquiryi the first step is to scrutinize the evidence of the senses, whose indications are always imperfectt and often mis-leading History shows again and again that the supposed1 scientific belief of one age are at variance with the scientific facts of a later age. In every such case, it will be found that the earlier and false science has laid too great stress3 on the apparent and has failed through insufficien t [knowledge in apprehending the real.” (From the New Standard Ency-clopedia.) “These are times of advanced1 science and liberal 1 thought when every person may think and act for himself. Every community has its multitude of beliefs and modes of treatment of diseases and humaii ailments , and every citizen is absolute!y free to adopt, believe, or employ7 any one he pleases. If the results are not what he would wish or the rest of the community think they ought to be, he can nevertheless not be hauled into court and have his method of treatment and his school of though tested by the disciples or experts of some othei school1 or belief.’ (From the opinion of the Supreme Court of Idaho in State vs. Smith 25 Idaho 541. 188 Pacific Rep 1107.)
Section XII
THE distinctioi1 between Christian Science and all non-Christian methods of healing is importantt in constitutiona1 law. A quotation from "Scienee and Health with Key to the Scriptures” by Mrs. Eddy.* will make this distinctioii clear (pp. 482. , 483) : “Christian Science is the law of Truth, which heals the sick on the basis of the one Mind or God . It can heal in no other way, since the human, mortal mind so-called is not a healer, but causes the belief in disease. . . . We classify disease as error , which nothing but Truth or Mind can heal. , and this Mind must be divine , not human.” In other words, the healing which results from the practice » of Christian Science is due to the presence, power , and action of God. In fine, the saving and healing Principle is not materia][ or human , but spiritual and divine .
In this situation the effort!s of men who exercise the powersj of human government to hinder the practice of Christian Science , are in their nature excessive and unjust ; hence, their acts are apt to show the processes of human law at the worst. Take, for illustration, four prosecutions of re-cent date . In one case the immediate3 occasioi1 for the prose-cution was the healing, through the defendant’s ministration , of a well-known instance of paralysis , this being only one of several I notable healing;s which had followed 1 her work in a village or smallI city on the western plains.. It is also worthy of comment that this Christian woman’!s counse I at her trial \ were two members of the bar who had been restored 1 to moral or physica 1 health in the course of her service to humanity. Although she was acquitted by a jury, the local medicalI society insistec1 on another prosecution immediatelyy after-ward.
In another case the defendant was adjudged guilty of doing what was farthest from his thoughts. , namely, prac-tising medicine without a license. He had been cured by Christian 1 Science after years of illness! which medicine ; had been unable to relieve. . and he had therefore studiec1 Christian Science and entered upon the work of sharing with other;s the benefits which he had himself received. In this case also the attention of the local medica1 society had been attracted by the success of his healing work, and the prosecution was begun and mainly conducted 1 by its agents• In court at the trial were about twenty witnesses who were ready to testify to their healing by Christian Science after the failure of drug remedies.. and other witnesses to the same effect were within call. This proof was duly offered . For instance e : “We offer severa I witnesses to prove that they have been healed in Christiai1 Science. , through the mediation of the defendant as a practitioner of the tenets of the Christian Science church, of ills and sicknesses that had been pronounced incurable by licensed physicians of this city.” All such offers of proof were, however , rejected,, the court being of the opin-ion that the statutes of the state had been so framed as to make such facts immaterial. This case is now pending on appeal.
In another case two ladies were arrested at their home and hurried late at night in a police wagon to a distantt part of the city.) as though their hasty remova1 to a police station without opportunity to get bail were essentia1 to the public safety. They were released from custody as soon as their relatives and friends could be notified and furnish bonds for their appearance before the appointed tribunal: ; and after being dealt with for a time as criminals . they were finally acquitted and discharged. These were reputable and re-spected women, whose only offense was a trespass upon the exclusive privileges of organized medicine .
In the fourth case to which reference5 has been made, the defendant was a young lady, , one of the reader!I in a Chris-tian Science church . She was arrested after having been induced to pray for a pretended1 sick man, , was taken to a police station, , stripped to her underclothes, and searched in sight of men who were in the next room . One of the newspapers in that city pertinent!;y inquired • “For what was she searched!? What was expected to be found upon her? Was she, , an exponen t of a gospe1 of love and peace, expected to have a concealed weapon ? Was she expected to have burglar’s tools or contrivances by which she might break jail?”
Another r newspaper thus stated the case : “Why should gentle women, officers of a church, openly teaching and prac-tising what they believe to be Christian truth, be inveigled1 into false cases by a spy, arrested on the street, dragged to a police station, , and disrobec l and searched like a thief or a murderer? What did the police expect: to find on Miss R------ , dangerous Bible texts or the divinej power ’ to heal without medica1 license:2 These people make no secret of their convictions or practices. Whether ' right or wrong, their professions are candid. Laws to prevent quackery and dishones t practices in medicinei are weakened by the exercise of such brutal stupidity as that exhibited in Miss R ’s case.” In this instance the public prosecutor dismissed the complaint on being apprised of the facts.
These four cases, taken as they arose have been recounted 1 here for the purpose of drawing attention to the deeper significanc e of the facts which they present . Merely to condemn particular person!I for the mannerr in which they administered what they conceived to be the law, would be to take a very superficial view of the situation . Probably those person!I were not much different from other!J who may be in similar positions . The basic reason why these four cases and other!I of their kind have exhibited acts of such palpable in justice ; and oppression, is that the laws under color of which the acts were done were not drawn with due regard for human rights. The wrongfu acts were the nat- / ural offspring of the bad laws and they in turn were the product of that erroneou sense of things which once vio-lated human rights in the name of religion and would now do so again in the name of medicine J Christian Scientists have thus> far made a splendid record . with respectt to observing the rightsI of others. They have been more scrupulous than most peopleI in obeying laws which require vaccination the reporting3 or isolating of contagiousi diseases, and acts of a similar character Health officers have more than once borne witness to this fact.
In so far as hygiene! and sanitation denote purity and cleanliness , Christian Science is in full accord. It values pure thoughts as well as pure air and food: ; it commends a clean mentality as well as a clean body and clean surround-ings . The inward state is primary and the outward con-sequential; but both are to be desired above rubies .
As the outcome of her medica1 and religious experience , Mrs. Eddy has set before all who may choose to follow, a practica1 ideal1 which has already blessed a multitude of people . She was consistent in saying to them. . “The way is absolutee divine Science: walk ye in it; but remember that Science is demonstrated by degrees. , and our demonstration rises only as we rise in the scale of being’ ' (Miscellaneouss Writings p. 359). Christian Scientists have no wish to force their views on any one else. . but they claim the equal benefits of free institution:s and the equalI protection of constitutiona1 government , with all that is therein implied .
The intelligent: attitude of other citizens and the govern-ment toward Christian1 Science and Christian Scientists , was stated by the supreme court of Mississippi in a decision that dealt with another departun from conventional beliefs : “The world greatly needs and may demand that nothing good or wholesome shall be denied from its use and enjoyment? ‘ 70 CHRISTIAN SCIENCE: ITS LEGAL4 STATUS (Hayden vs., State, 81 Miss. Report;I 291 , Am. St. Rep,.471.) The necessary y correlative or complement of this view was thus stated by the Supremee Court of the United States: For the government to “establish criteria where opinions are far apart,” as with respect to the curative effects of medicine, would be “to distort the uses of its constitutiona1 power.’ ’ (United State; 5 vs. Johnson , 221 U. S. Reports 488 , 498.) And whoever would be just toward those who believe in Chris-tian Science , or who may believe in it, should remember that its practiceJ follows, in their plainest import , the teachings and example of Christ Jesus .
“Form:I of government are causes as well as effects and give an intellectualI and moral trainingg to the people;s that live under them, , as the character of the parent affect;j the children of the household. ” (James Bryce. , —Viscoun t Bryce. . British ambassador at WashingtonI—in his book on Studies in History and Jurisprudence , p. 158.) “The highes t conception a of the state repudiates the absolutee and unquestioning subordination of the individua1 to society , and insists upon the preservation of individua1 liberty T as an essentia1 factor in civilization and as one which will ultimately lead to a more perfect social welfare, thougi1 it may produce temporary disturbances or delay;I in the ac-complishmerit of whatt is believed to be the public good,. This conceptioin of the state is endorsee1 by our constitutions. . and the idea of a public welfare bought at the cost of suppressing individua1 liberty and right is, therefore, in our system of governmentt, inadmissible.” (Prof. Ernst Freund of the University of Chicago in his work on Police Power , Sect. 16.) “We live in an age three hundred year;3 later than the eve of St. Bartholomew or the fires of Smithfield. The fruits of the age, grown from the rough but kindly soil where our fathers planted the good seed, are charity and toleration.’ ’ (From the opinion of the supreme court of New Hampshire! in Warde! vs. Manchester, 56 N. H. Reports 508.)
Section XIII
No one, probably is more aware than the write) of this article that it does not adequately present its theme. But perhaps it has made clear that the questions involved 1 in Christian Science and legislation include the right to equalI privileges and immunities, the right to the equal protectioi1 of the laws « the right to religious liberty and the right to civil or individua1. liberty in general . There are involved in these questions , moreover not only the rights of those who practise Christiai1 Science , but the rights of all person:s to re-sort to every known method to recover health and preserve life.
If human law should deciart that none but medica1. doctors may endeavor to relieve human suffering. , it would then be criminalI for a man whom they cannot heal to attempt to obtain relief through the practitioners of any other system The members of a legislature who vote for such a law will thereby unite in saying to every man whom the medica1 doc-tors cannot heal. . “The medicaI system is the state system of healing if it can’t cure you, you must be deemed, in point of law, to be incurable!" They will unite in saying to every man in physica extremity , “If medicine or surgery can’t save you, your death must be deemed to be legally inevitable!’ Who, knowing the uncertaintyy of all materialI remedies. , wants to assume such responsibility If legislator; are willing to assume such responsibility by what right or authority can they do so, and what constituency would they represent in so doing?
If the indestructible facts respecting the Principle, practice and result! of Christian Science be considered and acknowledged , then the conclusion fairly and necessarily follows that Christian Science does not need to absorb medica 1 theories 3 and could not do so without losing its essen-tial nature and efficacy; also that Christian Science has come to fill its own place, and is doing a good work for the advancement of human welfare.
“Progres. s was the keynote of the add res;s of Gov. Samue1 D. Felkeir of New Hampshire! at the dinner and guesit night of the Daughters of New Hampshire! Club at the Hote 1 Vendome, Boston, last night.
“Speaking especially of the famous New Hampshirei women , Gov-ernor Felkeir said that no state had boasted women of higher intelligence, greater womanlines!5, or more genius. He said that as Daniel1 Webster was the man of New Hampshire, so Mrs. Mary Baker Eddy , the Dis-covereir and Founderr of Christian Science, was first among the women of the Granitej State. ‘She has left the impres;s of her work not only on New England, but on the entire world,’ ' he said, . ‘and we are proud of her.’ ’ Miss Edna Dean Proctor he mentionedd as being another woman who will be remembered3 by her writings.
“Men noted as the great men of New Hampshiree included, in addition to Danie]1 Webster. . Horace Greeley, Salmon P. Chase , Justice Clifford., Henry Wilson, and Senator John W. Weeks of Massachusetts.” (From The Christian Scienct3 Monitor October, 1918. ) “I have been asked to preside at this meeting , and it gives me much pleasure to do so.. I used to feel that certain lines of thought which pertained to life. , whethe r in politics or religion, were right। but I have come to think that there is no politica1 party which has not some elementt of good in it, and that all denominatioris and sects have the well-being of the peopleJ. at heart. I am glad to say that I have known Mrs . Eddy well, and I am very proud of her for her religious views and citizenship. I consider her the most remarkable woman , perhapsi, that this country or any otheir country has produced.”1 (From the introductory7 remarks of Hon.. Edwin G. Eastman. , former attorney-genera ! of New Hampshire , before a lecture on Christian ScienceJ at Exeteri N. H.)
A Table of Statutes
Exhibit Showing Where the Laws REGULATING3 THE PracticiE of Medicine Expressly Recognize the Rights of Citizensj Who May Prefer the Practice of Christian Science or Other Religion.
(Compiled Sept. 1, 1914)
Note—The absence of such a provision does not indicate that the practice of Christian Sciencej is forbidden . for no saving clause5 is neces-sary unless the statute covers more than the practice of medicine
Arizona. —"Nor shall this act be construed so as to dis-criminate against any particular school of medicine or surgery or osteopathy, or any other system or mode of treating the sick or afflicted. . or to interfere in any way with the practice of religion; provided that nothing herein shall be held to apply to or to regulate any kind of treatment by prayer; and provided further , that all sanitary laws and regulations regarding contagious and infectious diseases. . applicable to practitioners of medi-cine shall be held to apply equally to the practiceJ of any system or mode of treating the sick or afflicted.”
Arkansas..—The State Board of Health “shall not regulate the practice of medicine or healing, nor interfere with the right of any citizen to employ the practitioner of his choice.”
California.—“Nor shall this act be construed so as to dis-criminate against any particular school of medicine or surgery , or any other treatment, nor to regulate, prohibi t or to apply to, any kind of treatment by prayer , nor to interfere in any way with the practice of religion.’ ’
Canal ZoNE.— (Executive e order by the President of the United States.) “Provided, That nothing in this order shall be construed1 to prohibit (a) the practice of the religious tenets of any church in the ministrationQ of the sick or suffering by menta1 or spiritual means with-out the use of any drug or materialI remedy , whether r gratuitous!;y or for compensation , provided that such sanitary laws , orders, rules, and regulations as now are. or hereafter may be, in force in said Canal Zone are complied with.”
COLORADO1.—“Nothing in this act shall be construed1 to pro-hibit ... the practice of the religious tenets or general beliefs of any church whatsoever not prescribing medi-cine or administering drugs.’ ‘
Connecticut.—“This chapter shall1 not apply to any persoii practising 3 . . . Christiai1 Science.’’
Georgia.—“Nothing in this act shall be construed1 to pro-hibit ... the practice of the religious tenets or general beliefs of any church whatsoever.”
Hawaii.—“And further provided, that nothing herein con-tained shall apply to so-called Christiaii Scientists so long as they merely practise the religious tenets of their church without pretending a knowledgee of medicine or surgery; provided, that the laws and regulations relat-ing to contagious diseases are not violated." ‘
Illinois.—“And this act shall not apply to . . . any person who ministers to or treats the sick or suffering by menta 1 or spiritual means, without the use of any drug or material1 remedy.”
Indian Territory. —The Act of Congress9 which continued1 in force until the end of the territorial government rec-ognized Christiaii Science by name.
Addenda to pages 73-76 of Christian Science : Its Legal Status.
Since Sept. 1, 1914 . when the table of statutory pro-visions3 in this pamphlet was compiled the following changes5 have occurred or have become5 known :—
Florida..—(Part of an act taxing certain vocations.) “Pro-vided that nothing in this clause shall be construed as affecting the members of any Christian denomination who pray for the recovery of the sick.”
New Hampshire.—“This act shall not be construed so as to interfere in any way with the practice of those who endeavor to prevent or cure disease or suffering by spir-itualI meanss or prayer.‘
New Jersey.—“The prohibitory provisions contained in this act as amended shall not apply to the ministrationn to, or treatment of, the sick or suffering by prayer or spir-itual I means, whetheir gratuitously or for compensatioii, and without the use of any drug or materialI remedy.”
North Carolina. —“The provisionsJ of this section . . . shall not apply to . . . Christian Scientists.’ ’
Wisconsin.—“None of the provisions of this act or the laws of this state regulating3 the practice of medicine or heal-ing shall be construed to interfere with the practice of Christian Science* or with any person who administers to or treats the sick or suffering by menta 1 or spiritual means, nor shall any person who selects such treatment for the cure of disease be compelled to submilt to any form of medical treatment.’’ The paragraphs relating to Florida,i New Jersey, and Wisconsin should be added to the table of statutoryy pro-visions . The paragraphs relating to New Hampshiree and North CarolinaI should be substituted for the presen t para-graphs beginning with the names of these states.
Kansas. —“But nothing in this act shall be construed as interfering 3 with any religious beliefs3 in the treatment of diseases; provided,i That quarantine regulations relat-ing to contagious diseases are not infringed1 upon.’ ’
Kentucky.—“But this act shall not apply to the practice of Christiaii Science.’ ’
Louisiana.—“Nothing in this act, however , shall be construed1 to prohibi t the practice of Christiaii Science or the religiousi tenets of any church whatsoever.” ‘
Maine.—The law recognize:5 Christiaii Science by name.
Massachusetts. —The law recognize:s Christiai1 Science by name. .
Michigan. —“This act shall not apply to . . . person:s who confine their ministrations to the sick or afflicted to prayer and without the use of material remedies.’ ‘
New Hampshire..—The law recognize:s Christian Science by name.
New York.—“This article shall not be construed1 to affect ... the practice of the religious tenets of any church.’ ’
North Carolina.—Christian Science practitioners are li-censed to practise the “professed art of healing.’ ’
North Dakota. —“Nothing in this act, however, shall be construed ... to prohibit the practicei of Christian Science or other religious tenets or religious rulesj or ceremonies as a form of religious worship. , devotioi1 or healing, provided that the person administeringg or making use of or assisting or prescribing3 such do not prescribe or administer drugs or medicines nor perform surgica1 or physical1 operations.• nor assume the title of or hold themselves out to be physicians or surgeons.’ ‘
South Dakota. —Certain sections of the act “shall not apply to Christian1 Scientists as such. , who do not practise medicine. , surgery , or obstetrics by the use of any mate-rial remedies or agencies.’ ‘
Tennessee.—Nothing in this section shall be construed 1 to apply ... to Christiai1 Scientists.
Utah.—“Nor shall anything in this act be constructi to apply to those who heal only by spiritual means without pre-tending to have a knowledge of the science of medicine.’
Vermont. —“The provisions of this chapter . . . shall not apply to person;5 who merely practice the religious tenets of their church without pretending a knowledge3 of medi-cine or surgery.”
Virginia..—“Nothing in this act shall be construct1 to affect ... or to limit in any way . . . the practice of the religious tenets of any church in the ministration 1 to the sick or suffering by menta1 or spiritual means without the use of any drug or material remedy , whether r gra-tuitously or for compensation1, provided sanitary laws are complied with.”
Washington. —“Nor shall this chapter be construct] to dis-criminate against . . . any system or mode of treating the sick or afflicted , or to interfere in any way with the practice of religion ; provided. , that nothing herein shall be held to apply to or to regulate any kind of treatment by prayer.”
Wisconsin.—“Nothing in section 1407a—1 to 1407a—6, in-clusive , shall be construed 1 to empower or authorize the board of health or its representative to interfere in any manner r with the individual’;3 right to select the physician or mode of treatment of his choice.’ ’
Testimonies of Healing
[A statement of the following very interesting case appeared in the Journal1 of the Americani Medic a l Association , under date of July 27. 1907. The article, which was written by one of the physicians who had attended 1 Mrs. Oliver. . began with this explanatory statement:: “The following case is reported because it is, I believe . the first instance recorded 1 of recovery from generalized blastomycosis.” The conditions are then described 1 in detail, one statement being, “The lesion;I in some instances , as on one of the fingers, destroyed the bone.’ ‘ The general report bears out the husband’s statemenlt, except t where it says that she “lived much of the time out of doors.” The article gives the names (which we omit) of a number of physicians who attended3 Mrs. Oliver , and conclude:s as follows ;---- “No medicinee was taken after March 23, 1906. In August, 1906. , the last sore had disappeared. I have seen the patient severa1 time;5 since.. and she is apparently . at the date of this writing, July 12, 1907 , in perfect health. She writes me under recentt date, . ‘I am better now than I have ever been in my whole life, and can endure anything and never have an ache or pain.’ The diagnosis of blastomycosis was made , not only on the clinicalI symptomsJ, including the naked eye appearance of the lesions and the exclusioin of other diseases , —tuberculosis, syphilis. , etc.,—but by the microscopic examination of the pus from the wound:s with a cultura1 developmenit of the blastomyces. The culture experiments were made by Dr. -- . The patient was seen at various times by Drs..-------- ,---------- , and --. These! agreed in the diagnosis of generalized blastomycosis.”] The writer has come “face to face” with a case of so-called organic disease, which he is fully convinced was cured in Christian Science.
An article appeared in the American Me die al Association? Journal , under date of July 27,( 1907 , which gave a complete statemen t of the case to which referencj is made. By way of explanation it may be said that according to medica 1 opinion blastomycosiis is a so-called organic disease, as unsightly as 77 leprosy and as painful as any form of rheumatic trouble known to suffering mortals. To impress3 one with the sever-ity of this case , it may be noted that the knife was used some eighty odd times.। and that up to the presen t time there has never been a positive cure of such a case known in the history of medicine . It may also be of interest to know that the patient suffered from this terrible disease for over two years, and was treated by a number : of eminent physi-cians. , and that they agreed upon the diagnosis of the case as given in the medica 1 journa1 already named. The writer of this testimonyy is the husband1 of the patient , and the facts herein related can be substantiated by any of the medica1 doctori3 who attendeel the case . The article referred to would give one the impressionn that the "out-of-doo r life” ' in sunny California had a decided tendency ; toward the healing of this case, but the facts are that the weatherr during the patient’s3 stay in California was rainy and disagreeable , which confined her to the house during her entire stay, with the exception of a few hours which were spent upon the porch.
The patient was taken ill the latter part of May. , 1904 , and was not able to leave her bed except for a short period until taken to California in February, 1906. Upon her ar-rival in Los Angeles, she was refused admissioi1 to all hotels , hospitals, and sanitariums, nor was it possible5 to lease a house after the owner had ascertained 1 the nature of the disease. At last, as a final resort. . it becamee necessary y to purchasee a house for her shelter . A remarkable coincidence happened in the purchase of that house. After being turned from door to door, it certainly seemed a miracles to have the owner of that house recommend Christiai1 Science, thougli she herself was not a Scientist.. Like all others who have had to be driven into the acceptance ? of the truth my wife scorned the idea of being cured in Christiai1 Science. . until she was told pointblank by her Los Angeleis physician that her place was at home, where she could “die among her friends.’ ’ Then came the resolution to accept the truth, and she did so right there and then,, The physician was dismissed in the forenoon 1 and a Christian Science practitione r called in the afternoon. At this time she weighed less than ninety pounds, her normal weight being over one hundred and thirty. The rapidity of her progress under Christian Science treatment was almostt phenomenal , and unless substantiated by re-sponsible 2 people would certainly sound mythical , or, to put it stronger, . like a downright falsehoodl.
March 28, 1906, , was the last day that the physician called and the first day of the Christian Science treatment. It may seem past belief , but after the first treatment in Sci-ence the patient drank two cups of coffee and ate several1 doughnuts and a plate of baked beans for her evening meal. She then slept until after seven o’clock the next morning, , and without the usual “capsule,’ ’ too. Within a month she returned to Chicago, and although able to walk but little. , showed rapid daily progress under treatment by a Chris-tian Science practitione:r in that city,. In July of the same year she had regained I her normal weight, and could walk and stand as much physicallyy as she could prior to her ill-ness . Today she is the same, after having spent the past year in a trip around the world without a sign of the achess and pains which usually accompany such a feat.
It is well worth one’s while to take the time to think of what Christiai1 Science did in this case . Those who read this article carefully7 will see that Christian Science actually put life into a human being who had been as it were at death’ss door for more than a year.—David Oliver,। Evams ton. . Ill, May I be permitted in a few words and with an humble spirit, to bear personal testimony to some of the things Christian Sciencej has done for me. I believe that “Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures,” ' written by Mrs. Eddy , is the greatest book, । save one, on earth today, । and its author the greatest benefactor since the days of the : apostles . One year ago my life was threatened 1 by a cancer, and an immediate2 operation was pressed upon me with some hope of success. I went to Christian Science, , and in seven-teen days, without a drop of medicine . the cancel : was dead and nearly gone, and in thirty days the doctor who urged the operation , when he saw the place where the cancel : had been, , after saying other sensible things as a Christiai1 man. added. . “I am sure of two things. First, that you had a cancer: ; second, you have none now.’ ’ This I most firmly believe, and to God I give all the glory . This is but one of several I things that have been done for me and my family, and besides it has made life far sweeter and the Bible plainer and dearer, and more than ever made God an ever-present help in every time of need . —G. F. Deal, , D.D., , Dayton , Ohio.
THREE years ago I was a sufferer from what is known as Bright’s disease, seven j nervoui8 exhaustion, with many symp-toms of paralysis9 respecting which attending physicians could offer little hope. For five month:I I was unablej to attend to my professional1 duties, with the outlook. , accord-ing to medica1 science, of never being able to do so. In this discouraging condition I was led to try Christian Science .
I experienced 1 marked benefit immediately , and was completely healed in less than six months . The physicalI benefits received led me to take up the study of “Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures,’ " that I might learn the reasons for my healing and understand the Principle of Christiaii Science.
While I was glad to give private testimonyy of my healing as soon as I experienced 1 that blessing9 yet I have been backward about accepting the teaching of Christiai1 Science as the truth . From years of study, experimentation, and teaching, I have acquired a so-callec 1 careful analytica1 method of thinking , and for this reason each step has to be proven by demonstra-tion before I can acceptt it and understand it as true. For eighteen years, prior to 1911 when I resigned , I had been head professor of materia medica therapeutics and special pathology in one of our largest university schools , and for nearly sixteen years I directed a laboratory for medica I research . I therefore brought to this new study consider-able prejudice , which doubtles:s account:s for my slowness in accepting and bearing public witnesss to the healing and redeeming power of Christian Science as taught and demon-strated by Mrs. Eddy.
After three years of constant, earnestt daily study and investigation during which time I have seen many cases5 of healing of all sorts of diseases, both functiona1 and organic I deem it a great privilege indeed to give this, my first testi-mony These physical . benefits have been the least of the blessings that have come to mine and me, for the spiritual regeneration, the joy and peace which have come through this earnest : study and applicationa of the basic teachings of Christian Science has indeed made all things new. My thoughts are filled with the deepest sense of gratitude and a sincere desire to be helpful —Elgin MaWhinney, Chicago III.
Monday , Jan. 27, 1908. , an unknown and unnamed disease made its first appearance upon me in the form of pain in my knee . At that time I was employeeI in one of the large department stores in Denver. The pain became so sevenaI was compelled to leave my work in the afternoon of that day and start for home, which was eleven blocks away. I reached home with great difficulty,i and as I grew rapidly worse a doctor was called and my knee was bandaged: ; but no relief came. My knee and leg turned black, and finally this dis-coloration , which was seemingly beneath the surface, spread over my whole body, a condition , the doctors asserted, that existed all through my body, and was caused by hemor-rhages • My forehead 1 and face turned black, and my body became greatly inflamed and much swollen.
On the fifth day I was removed from my home to a hospital , and the physician who attendee1 me, never having seen such a disease, called in many doctors in consultation. One from New York city. , who was in Denver at the time, examined me, and I should say.> speaking conservatively,i that upward of twenty doctors visited and examined me. They seemingly all agreed that they had never seen such a disease and could find no record of such a case . Two days after I was taken to the hospital, the doctors informed my wife there was no chance for me to recover; that I was then rapidly passing away, and would be gone by two o’clock.
At half-past one of that day my wife telephoned for Christian Science treatment. Absent treatment was imme-diately given , and within a half hour I gained strength and began to speak , although before ; this I had been unable! to. From that hour I gained day by day, until March 2, and just one month later I returned to work. I had been at the hospitalI but two weeksI when I was moved home . The black-ness disappeared from my face and body, and I have been well ever since. I am thankfu1 to God for the Christ-powe:r that healed me, and to our beloved Leader , Mrs. Eddy, through whom this healing truth has been revealed to our age.
—Walter Kessler , Denver, Col.
In “Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures,” by Mrs.• Eddy. . there is a paragrap]h (p. 462) which commences as follows : “Anatomy , when conceived of spiritually, is menta1 self-knowledge , and consist:s in the dissectioin of thoughts to discoverr their quality, quantityj and origin • Are thoughts divinej or human ? That is the importantt question . This branch of study is indispensable to the exci-sion of error.” The truth expressed in this paragraplh began for me a mentalI reconstruction which resulted in two physicalI changes that may be of interest to others and show the possibilities of Christiann Science.
From the time of my birth my feet were imperfect ; I did not walk until I was three years old. After I was otherwise full grown my feet were less than half the size they should have been , their structure j was abnormal, and I had no use of my toes. This condition continued until I was thirty-five years old. , three years after I began to read Christian . Science literature!. During these three years I received much physical I as well as moral benefit from Christian Science , but no change took place with respectt to my feet. Indeed I did not expectt them ever to be different.
Something occurred, however> to correct my thoughts about myself’. A friend of ours whose feet were somewhat like mine, went to a hospitalI for an operation . The “dissec-tion of thoughts’ ’ which this incident aroused , and the earnest study of Christian Science which ensued, broughit about aI complete change in my feet. Five weeksj after this more active menta1 work began . and within the coursej of twenty-four hours, the size and shape of my feet became in every way normal. Even the nails, which had been defective, be-came natural . I was obliged to get new shoes the next day. and the differente in my walk was noticeable at once to all . who knew me.
The other healing to which I have referred took place about t two and a half years later . occasioned by the recur-rence of a disorder of the teeth or gums with which I had been afflicted. . more or less at different times. . since I was seventeei1 years old . Twice before I began studying Chris-tian ScienceJ this disease had become seven ; and had been treated by a dentist, who called it pyorrhea . When the same symptoms appeared or became acute the third time. , my reliancee was on God alone as a “present help” ‘ in all times of need. The healing was complete2 in aboutt five weeks; and what was unexpected 1 to me, a tooth in which there had beeri a cavity was cleansed and filled , while my jaws , or upper and lower teeth.। were adjusted so that the teeth came together where they had never met before . The gums and teeth be-came firm and healthy, and all these normal conditions have continued to this day.
The benefits related in this testimony were receivedI with-out the aid of a practitionei , and solely through the purifi-cation and liberation of thought gained by the study of Mrs. Eddy’s writing;s and the Christian Science periodicals• —Neal Heely Hayes , Boston , Mass.
Over nine years ago there came2 into my life a light which has never been extinguished. It was the light of hope. , and it came through a dear uncle who had been healed in Chris-tian Science. When I was aboutt twelve years old my mother discovered 1 that I was growing crooked 1—until then I had been very straight and erect. I remember that when this informatioii was first communicate)d to me, the first shadow of disappointment rose upon my horizon, and deep depres-sion came with it. I soughtt refugej in my room and gave way to a burst of tears, crying for what I hardly knew. , only I felt something3 had gone wrong which I was powerles;s to control.
Some time after this I went to Philadelphia., where I under-went a carefull examination by severalI physicians . My parents were then informed that I had a curvatureI of the spine , but might outgrow it in time by wearing a spinal braceJ and exercising daily. These instruction;s were heeded , and I was under the watchfu1 care of one of Philadelphia’s emi-nent physicians. During these years I wore various kinds of braces , including a leather jacket and a plaster cast. I was obliged to sleep in this cast during a period of six weeks. Yet with all of this I grew into womanhood 1 decidedly y de-formed and a daily sufferer. There was then no hope for me of ever having a straight back, and this in addition to my suffering was a great trial. I was considered 1 a patient sufferer, as I had been taught to believe that God sent all things ; and I tried to be resigned 1 to this trouble, thinkingg it God’s way of discipliningg me.
After finishing my school studies5 there followed a general breakdown in my health, And for some years I went through a siege of suffering.. For six weekss I was a surgica 1 patient : in the University of Pennsylvaniai hospital . An operation on the spine was performed,i and nervou.s collapse e followed The years passed . and after I had been married a year and a half, . still wearing a spinal brace and continuing to suffer, was it any wonder that I was ready to listen to the “still smalI voice” of Truth when it spoke to me through the healing of a dear uncle i2 This was the first proof of Christian Science brought to my notice, and I was satisfied 1 that it was of God. I found myself an eager listener to all my uncle had to relate, as his healing seemed wonderful to me.
One day while in conversation with him I asked the question, “Do you think Christian Science could give me a straigh t back?” His answer, in the words of the Master, “ ‘With God all things are possible,’ ” I shall never forget . Hope j came to me that moment, . and my only desire was to have Christian Science treatment. Mrs. Eddy tells us in Science and Health (p. 1), “DesinJ is prayer: ; and no loss can occur from trusting God with our desires.” My prayer was an-swered very soon, as it was my privilege to visit a Christian Science friend. While there I attendee1 my first testimonial meeting . and I shall never forget the bright happy faces as the different ones testified to the healing power of God. Having gained the consentt of my husband, who is a prac-tising physician , I was not long in seeking a Christiaii Science practitioner, who faithfully unfolded to me the truth about t God, and also man’s relation to Him.
In a few days all pain in my back had ceased. I echoed Job’s words, “In my flesh shall I see God,” as I gradually saw my back assuming its natural outlines, and with no mate-rialI assistance whatever , as I had removed my brace at the request t of the practitioner, after having worn spinal sup-ports for eighteen years. I felt like one taken out of prison to be rid of a rigid steel brace and free from all pain. To me the whole earth was transformed ! My joy was un-bounded . I longed to tell every one this truth about God. I have been relieved of other ailment:s and limitationsI through the study of Christian Science. Out of weakness I have been made strong.
Nearly five years ago a little son came to us, and he has always been a picture of health and happiness . Christian i Science has been invaluable to me in the training of this little child. The study of “Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures” has illumined the Bible to me. I was a daily reader of the Bible before coming into Christian Science , a firm believer in prayer , a member of the Presbyteriana church for years, and an active worker in the Sunday schoolI and the Christian Endeavorr society ; but the joy and fulness5 of the Christiai1 life came to me through the understanding of this truth, that God is Love. . and that He is not the creator of sickness or evil of any kind. My benefits have been so numerou: s that I feel in giving this testimonyy “the half has not been told.”—Estelle Cochran Pearson. , Middiet own , Del.
One year and a half ago, , I was entirely helpless• My trouble was called locomotor ataxia , and the Boston specialist who examined me said the underlying3 condition was a seriou:s spinal affection,. There had been indicationss of the trouble for a long time. , until I was entirely helplessI from my waist down; I could do nothing to help myself at all. The disease was rapidly developing3 and I was in agony night and day. My appetite was gone and I was reduced nearly to a shadow• The functions of the body were inactive, and doctors who had me in charge told my family that nothing more could be done for me.
I had heard a little of Christiaii Science , but was not interested enough to ask what it really was. After all materia . means had failed, I was advised through relatives to try it. My mentality was in a greatly disturbed condition and I consented to take treatment simply to please my friends. I had very little faith in it at first. I thought it was all right for good religious people but I failed to see how it could heal me. After a short time. however through the earnest help of a practitioner, I began to realize that God was the only power which could save me, and I turned wholly to Christian Science I first noticed that the advance of the disease, which had before been so rapid had ceased my appetite returned, and I began to build up. I could see that the blood was circulating, and life was surely being mani-fested in my limbs, though for some time I remained helpless After several month} of earnest work in the truth, volun-tary action began to appear. Improvement was then very rapid My family and friends wondered and rejoiced at my restoration The healing was complete I went from wheel-chair to crutches, then to a cane, until I could walk long distances and I have not had to use the cane or any other assistance for a long time. I have been back at my work over a year and a half. I do heavy work and am on my feet ten hours a day, yet I never was so well and strong as I am now. Above all else has been the rich spiritual blessing which has come to me and to my family Old ailment: and habits have passed away in this healing work of divine Mind, and we have entered into a rich inheritance never before known by us. We now rejoice in the wonderful truth that has come to us in Christian Science —Harry Crowther Worcester Mass.
It is with a deep sense of gratitud that I give this testi-mony I was healed of what is known as lockjaw in less than two hours after a Christian Science practitioner was called in. When she came my jaws were locked my throat and tongue seemingly paralyzed , and I was suffering intense pain. The work was done so beautifully , and such a wonder-ful transformationn took place, that I realizec1 there had been a mighty struggle with error.
Thinking that some one may profitt by this testimony, I send it for publication••—Ida Wood, St. Paul, Minn.
Seven years ago last Novembe r (1910 ) I was completely healed of acute lung trouble, neuralgiaj and rheumatisni, through the operation of Christian Science. I was also freed at the same time from the liquor and tobacco) habits. For a number ’ of years prior to my healing I had suffered attacks of lung trouble.। often complicated with other ills. I had tried various materialI remedies, and had been treated by physicians of different schools of medicine , but all to no pur-pose. My last physician told me that the Chicago winters were too severe! for me, and that I must seek a milder climate . In my extremity I turned to Christian Science. . and was com-pletely healed. Since then I have suffered no inconveniencee from cold weatherr in Chicago. , and do not think that in all that time I have lost one day from my business on this account. But what has always seemed to me to be the most wonder-ful part of my healing, was the entire recovery of the use of my right arm and shoulder . Forty-sevei1 years ago.» on the twenty-firs t of July, during a battle in front of Atlanta. Ga., I was shot through the right shoulderr with a Minicj ball. My shoulder was thrown out of joint. , the bone between the shoulder and elbow was splintered as the ball passed through. For sixteen years after receiving this wound I suffered greatly from it. The loosened bones caused me much pain. , and when the opening:s in the wound closed up it was necessary y to have them reopened. During the sixteen years I had fourteen operations of this kind performed and seven-teen pieces of bone removed.
The physicians who attendee1 me were greatly puzzlec ! over the case. Finally three army surgeon.*I came to my house, and after cutting and probing diagnosed 1 the case as dis-eased bone,—I think they called it cariesj of the bone,—and told my wife that there was danger of poisoning and that the entire bone between the shoulde:r and elbow should be re-moved ; but this my wife refused to have done. After six-teen years all of the splintered bone had worked out. . and the different openings were healed over. . but up to the time that I was healed in Christian Science of pneumonia, and other ills, I had to be assisted in dressing, had a flannel-lined chamois5 skin padding to cover my arm and shoulder in cold weather , and was in constant fear that if great care were not taken the wounds3 would break out again.
At the time I was healed of the ills spoken of, I had no thought of having Christian Science treatment for my crippled arm and shoulder, but from the time I was healed the pain said to be from broken bones entirely ceased, and I have had no pain whateverr since. Besides3 this, strength gradually re-turned to my arm, the muscles became firm and strong. , and after three years the entire arm resumed its normal condi-tion. It has since been as strong as the other arm, so that I have been enabled to do any kind of manual labor required, and that. . too, without unusual fatigue. Is it any wonder : that I fee]I a deep sense of thankfulness to almighty God, and of gratitude2 to Mrs.. Eddy for this wonderfu 1 truth that has made me free? I am indeed grateful.—Oscar Ludwig, Capt . 20th III. Inf. Volt., , Bristol , Pa.
In gratefu 1 acknowledgmenit of many benefits received through Christian Sciencei I gladly give my testimony to the healing power of Truth.
Over twenty-sevein years ago, my attention was called to Christian ScienceJ by the wonderfulI healing of a friend. Later,। when in great need of physica I help , after different methods of treatment failed, I turned to Christian Science and received the help sought• Several years later I had a tumor form in my left breast, which grew in size very rapidly. It was examined by two physicians . and both recommended its remova1 by a surgica1 operation. I entered a hospital , and after the remova1 of the growth I was assured I would have no further trouble. In a little more than a year I had five growths. , three in one breast and two in the other, and the physician who had treated and removed the first one, again treated these, but failed as before to check the growth,. He finally recom-mended the remova1 of both breasts . I had treatment from a Christian Science practitioner , however , and the growths were entirely wiped out.
Not understanding Christian Science sufficiently to apply it to my needsj and living , where there was no one at all inter-ested, I turned to materia]I remedies for the little needs . But when four years later a polypus growth of the womb appeared, and the same physician recommended its removal I turned in my extremity, , as before, to Christian Science and was healed,. At the time of my last healing, I not only found the physical 1 benefit, , but was awakened to the need of knowing a God whose love and power was thus proven to me.
With my whole heart I thank God for these lessons that have broughit Him into my life and home as nothing else could have done, and I feel very gratefu1 for the life of Mary Baker Eddy. , whose close walk with God made this possible .
—Lillian L. Varrell , Portsmouth , N.H.
The words from our text-book । the “unlabored motion of the divinej energy in healing the sick’ ‘ (Science and Health, p. 445) , sent my thought back over the years that the divine-energy has been broughit to bear upon the health of my loved ones and myself . One case of healing standsJ out very clearly. , because it was a most beautifu1 exposition of the fact that sickness is not the truth of being. A year ago last summer I was called home to find my little son of six lying very still and white . apparently y at death’:s door. A Chris-tian Science practitioner soon followed i me, and a change for the better was noted from the first treatment. To comply with the law regarding so-called contagious diseases.) a phy-sician was called to diagnose the case , but it was not until months later that I knew his diagnosis. I was not concernedI about t it, as I realized that healing for my child did not come* from any mortal. Day by day under the practitioner’s care the child improved. The normal action of practically every organ of his body had been impaired ; but one by one these limitation:s disappeared before the declarations of Truth’;j power . One day he opened his eyes for an instant. A few days later he turned off his back on to his side. Then he sat up to take his food. And so the improvement went on, silently and beautifully, without t human effort. , the child responding to the truth as declared in Christian Science .
Within a month every condition was normal again. Some time after i at the physician’;8 request , I spoke with him for a few moments at his office. He then told me that when he stood at the bedside of my little boy he only expected to be called back to the house to sign the death certificate, because he felt sure the child could not live until morning. , and that he had never known such a seriousI case of tubercularr spina]I meningitis to be cured by materia medica. Many other proofs of what Christian Sciencej can do have been vouch-safed me, in the spiritual realm as well as the physical. But as our revered Leader says , “Gratitude is much more than a verbal expressioin of thanks’ ‘ (Science and Health, p. 3), and I desire that my life may attest my sincerity—Georgia T. Wheeler , Minneapolis , Minn.
It gives us great joy to tell what Christian ScienceJ has done for us. Before we understoodd its teaching we seemed to have our full share of trouble and difficulty. We had a very sickly child who had convulsions every ten or fifteen minute;s for twenty-fou r hours at a time.. We employed one doctor after another, until we had had seven of them. One of the best doctors in the city came to see our child, but he said he would not undertake to cure a disease that had never been known to be cured . He also said we could read of it in the Bible. , but that there never was any cure for it. After the doctor left, I asked God to take my baby rather than have him suffer so; and after that I felt comforted. Then my husband told me of a famous doctor, and we had him treat our boy for five years ; but he did not improve . The boy was then eight years old. . and a few day!I later, when I was telling a friend how badly we felt about him. she asked me why we did not try Christian1 Science . So I took the child to a practitioner , who said , “Your child need not suffer, for God is All-in-all, and you must trust to Him.” I took the boy home to see what his father thought , and to get his consent to have him treated in Christian1 Science. We then wrote for the practitioner to treat him. , and he was cured in a week. This healing was over two years ago.। and the child has been well ever since.
We had been brought up in a Christian way and were alway. 5 praying for our child to get better, but our prayers did not seem to be answered until he was treated by Christian Science. We are deeply thankfu1 for all that this truth has done for us. Words fail to express it, but they that love will understand..—Mrs. George Etta, Ibapah , Utah.
I am writing this in the hope that some poor sufferer may read it, take courage, and find health and happinessi. For more than thirty-five years I was a sufferer from stomacii trouble with all its attendant ills, but during all these years I had the care and advice of as good doctors as our country afforded . I remember when I was only twelve or fourteen1 years old I had to drink mineral waters, and from that time on my condition grew worse and worse. , until about seven-teen years ago rheumatic gout set in. For three or four months I took the usual medicines given for such cases, but at the end of that time my stomach was in such a condition I could no longer take the strong medicines . It was then decided that I should try another remedy , and after doing so for six weeksI I was able to walk without my crutches . For sever a]! years after this I would go each summer to these springs. , but after a while they failed me. I also went to a sanitarium , where they gave me hot baths and bakes. At first they seemed to help me very much . but later• on they too failed. All these years I was living on the strictestt kind of a diet ; still the attacks became more and more frequent and more and more severe, until, in July, 1907 , I had a complete breakdown. Former methods were repeated., but without the desired results.
In the fall of 1907 I learned of a doctor. . in a northern city, who was said to be a fine specialist on stomach troubles. , gout, etc.. . so I went to see him.. After making a very thor-ough examination he said that my condition was very bad , and to add to all my other troubles, he found that I had Bright’s disease. When I got back homei I was still suffering with nervou.s exhaustion, on crutches from the gout, suffering with my stomach , with the kidney trouble added . Soon after this I experimentsd with electricity. The treatment seemed to help me, but at the end of forty-fiveJ days the doctor said it would not do to continue this treatment ; so it seemed as if there was nothing left but to wait for the end.
During the last week of May, 1908i I met with an old friend, who told me that I could be cured in Christian Science. He did not say very much. . but seemed very sure about what he did say, and he gave me the addresss of a practitioner who lived in a city about two hundred miles from my home. I hardly know why I went—I had no faith in Christian Science2 ; but I did go. When I reached the city where the practitioner lived , on Thursday, May 28, I at once telephonedi to her and was told to come up to see her the next morning. During the night I gave the matter a good deal of thought , and the next morning I told my wife I would not go to see the practitioner; that I could not afford to do it, as I had been raised in the church where I had held importan t offices for more than twenty years, and that it would not do for me to take up Christian Science . She had no faith in it, so she said we would go home that day. I said no, that we were there in the city, which was my old home, and would stay a few days, as I felt that it would be my last visit there. Sunday I seemed to get very much worse• and on Monday morning I said to my wife that I was going to see the Chris-tian Science practitioner, as there was nothing she could do that would make my condition worse,. So, after having been in the city from Thursday until Monday, I did go to see the lady,, She gave me treatment,i and told me I could go home ; any time I wanted to, as she could treat me at my home . At the time I went to see the practitioner I could eat hardly anything at all and was living almostt entirely on liquids ; but the next morning after I received the first treatment I ate a hearty breakfast and did not suffer from it. I left the city that day and came home, having obtained 1 a copy of “Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures,” and this I read and studied as best I could .
I am a traveling salesman, and one week from the day I had the first treatment, I took my samples and went to work, a well and happy man,, And now, . three years from that time, I can eat anything I wish , am in a healthful I condition, and am able to work all the time,. I am trying to show my gratitude e to God by trying to lead a better : life, and I thank God that He gave Mrs. Eddy the understanding needed to teach Christian Science to us. I have had some ailments since then , but I thank God that through Christian1 Science they have all been overcome ; and I am trying to live each day so that I may have a better understanding of God, and to have that same Mind “which was also in Christ Jesus.’ ‘ — P. C. Pope, Greensborc), N.C.
As it is considerably over two years since I was healed by Christian Science treatment of a so-calleci incurable type of heart disease, it occurred to me that a statement from me for publicatioi1 might, in a smal measure help to pay the deep debt of gratitudee I owe to this cause, as my experiencee would in this way reach and perhaps influence , some other;3 who may need Christian Science as much as I did.
At the time I took my first treatment, I was practically helpless on account of a serious and aggravated form of the disease above mentioned I was almost constantly under medica I treatment from the time I was stricken until I was healed in Christian Science a period of about six years and a half. When I went to a Christiaii Science practitioner for treatment, I was like a drowning person that grasps at a straw. I had tried prominent doctors of both schools and “hopelessly incurable’ seemed to be the only verdict.• They were all good, kind men who did all they could for me.. and I have always been gratefu to them for their efforts.
While in this hopeless condition my attention was called to Christian Science by a friend who was not himself a Scientist and I soon decided to try the treatment. I remember he stated that it could not harm me in any way. When I applied for help I felt utterly worn out, life seemed so dark and dreary and hopeless. To end it seemed cowardly how-ever, and so terrible; yet I often wished I had never been bom. No words could ever tell how much I suffered I had not walked any distance for so long that my legs seemed to have lost their former strength yet under Christian Science treatment I was practically well in less than three weeks, and could walk for miles. I shall never forget how grand those walks seemed. In less than six week; I accepted the position that I had given up over six and a half years beforeJ on account of being stricken with this terrible disease.
I am thankfu1 to God, and deeply gratefu1 to Mrs,• Eddy. , not alone for the physica 1 healing, but more especiallyy for being able to realizei so much better now than formerly the power of the Master’:s teaching, and to understand. , at least in some measure . what he meant when he said , “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.’ ’ I know of a great many physica1 healing;s through Chris-tian Science, and have witnessed one, a case of kidney disease, which was almostt as remarkable, though perhaps not quite so well defined. . as was my own. The physica1 healing in Christian Science is only a proof of Truth’sj power , the “signs following.’7 The healing of sin and the many impurities5 of mortals, , and the spiritual uplift and cleansing 3 that it is bringing to the world, are the great blessings3 by which we may know that this Science is “not of men,’ ’ and that “the gates of hell' ‘ cannot prevailI against it.—Joe G. Petmecky, Tonopah , Nev.
It is with sincere gratitude2 for the many blessings8 which Christian Science has broughtt to me that I give my testi-mony . About t thirteen years ago I was attacked with spinal meningitis, from which I did not fully recover. Two years later I was again seized with a similar attack. I was un-consciou s for seven days, and when I became consciou:s again my sight was gone. This happened 1 in December, 1899. Dur-ing those ten years of total l blindness8 I hardly knew what it was to have a well day. At times I would suffer : terribly with my spine and head.. Eight years after the first attack I was again taken sick with spinal trouble, which left me unable to walk or talk, , and my limbs were paralyzed from my waist down . The doctors told me they could not do any-thing for me and that I would have to spend the remainder of my days in that condition., At this time I was only able to move about in a wheel-chair, much discouraged and with but little to live for., It was then that I realized that “man’s extremity is God’s opportunity.” ' Having exhausted1 all known materia][ means, and being in a hopeless state. , Chris-tian Science was brought to me, and after taking treatment for eight months5 my speech suddenlyy returned. Six weeks later I arose from my chair and walked . I continued to im-prove rapidly from then on. After another year’s treat-ment I awoke one morning in January, 1910 , to find my sight fully restored. My eyes are strong and my health is perfect since I was healed.
While I am deeply grateful for the physica1 healing, my gratitude 2 for the menta1 and spiritual regeneration is beyond expression . For all these blessing:s I am truly thankfu1 to God, and grateful to our beloved Leader, Mrs.• Eddy. , for all that has helped me to the truth.—Amelia E. Gerbig , Chicago. . III.
Aboult the middle ; of June, 1911 . I discovered i that I had a left inguina1 hernia, and although it daily grew larger , I did not give it much thought till aboult a week later. . when one day it caused me considerable pain and annoyance, and I realized that it must receive attention . I asked a Christian Science practitioner for help , and after four absent treat-ments had been given me, the manifestation entirely dis-appeared, the usual tests showing normal strength to have been regained • Fifteen years ago I had a similar difficulty on the right side. I consultec 1 a surgeon, who told me that the “radicalI cure”1 (an operation) was the only satisfactoryy treatment.. I demur rec 1 at this, however . and was recommended to a recog-nized expert in surgica1 appliances who might give me tempo-rary relief. The expert promisee 1 that if I would follow his directions he would cure me: ; and I did so with the result that I had a week of torture , a month of acute discomfort, and six other month;5 of continua1 annoyance. At the end of that time I was pronounced cured , and the surgeon had to admit it, although he expressed doubt;s as to the perma-nence of the cure. A year later I entered the employ of this surgica1 appliance expert, and was with him for several1 years, during which time I became familialr with hernia in all its form;j and with the opinion of the medica1 profession concerning it, having called on over three thousand doctors in his interest. I have recited the above to show that. . when I say that on a Wednesday night I had a well-developeci case of hernia and on the following Monday7 I was unable2 to find a trace of it, or even of weakness.। my experience2 makes me competent t to speak as to both diagnosis and cure.
The foregoing is merely one and possibly the least im-portant reason for my gratitude2 to Christian i Science . It has also relieved me from the tobaccoJ and drinking habits, removing 3 all desire in both instances before2 I gave up the practices. With tobacco, particularly , I used to wonderr why I could no longer find a cigar that tasted good.। until I dis-covered that the appetite for tobacco had been destroyedI, and my freedom from that habit was immediate . While2I have enjoyed many proofs of the healing power of Truth and of its ever-presence , that for which I am most deeply gratefu1 is the change I recognizee in myself—in my char-acter, my ambitions, and what I now regard as essentials. These2 changes may possibly not be perceptible to others , but they loom large on my menta 1 horizon and there is no dodging the issue, namely, that the study of Christiai1 Science , as taught by our Leader , Mrs.. Eddy, has wroughit them.
Daily I have cause to rejoice in Christian Science , to thank God for this manifestation of His love, also to be deeply gratefu1 to Mrs.. Eddy for her unselfish devotion to the up-lifting of mankind.—Benj. F. Chandler, Savannah, Ga.
It is with a heart full of gratitude2 that I give this testi-mony, hoping it may be of benefit to some one seeking the truth. Six years ago. . while living in Memphis. , Tenn. । I was suffering from a severe2 cold and cough , so I placed myself under the care: of an eminent physician• After treating3 me for two or three monthsj with no apparentt success. . he decided upon examination that tubercularr disease existed . A further test was then made by the city chemist , whose diagnosis agreed with that of the other physician , and was so reported to my husband.. Our physician immediate!y ordered me to Denver, so we went there at once.
On arrival we went to a lung specialist. . who stated that the right lung was affected and that it would take a year to cure me, if I should live up to a strict diet and never be out in the rain or catch cold in any way. For the first two or three monthsI I seemed to fail, but after that I gained in weight and felt much better, until1 one afternoon while out walking I was caught in a severe2 snowstorm, and before reaching home was thoroughlyy drenched.. Having been told so often what to expect if this should happen, I immediately began to fear the consequences.. My throatt commenced to trouble me a great deal. . and I did not get relief from the material means employed At this time my sister, who was visiting me, persuaded 1 me to go to the lung specialist to see whetherr or not my condi-tion was serious. When I walked into the office my first act was always to get weighed . but that afternoon the doctor insisted that I keep off the scales.। as I was in no condition to know my weight. Disregarding his advice . however , I got on the scales, and the information thus gained was very discouraging. After examination he told me I was in a serious condition. . that both lungs were badly affected , and that as I had lost my voice completely at times,i my throat t must be affected , so I must go to a throatt specialist at once. Upon visiting the throatt specialist he pronounced my diffi-culty a most serious5 tubercular r one । and told my husbandI that he was throwing away money in trying to have me cured, —that it was his duty to send me home to die among rela-tives and friends.
At this time Christian Science was mentioned1 to me, and after buying a copy of “Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures” by Mrs. Eddy. . we attended severalI Wednes-day evening meetings and one lecture. As I was apparentlyy growing worse , however , and had not decided to try Chris-tian Science , I continued treatment by lung and throat : specialists in Denver for two years.
In June, 1908. , we went to Salt Lake City, and I sent my little boy to his grandparent;s in Indiana, as I was not able to look after him. After being in Salt Lake City a month, I placed myself under the care of two physicians , who told me that I could spend only the summer monthsI there and must go back to Denver for the winter.. I became complete!;y discouraged and gave up, telling my husbanc 1 I never intendec1 to get out of bed again. He then said , “Well , here’s where I start for a Christiaii Science practitioner, if that is the way you feel.” The next morning he called a practitioner over the telephone, and it was arranged that I should go to her that afternoon. My husbanc 1 accompanied I me to her home, as I could not go alone. We had to walk only two blocks to the car, but I was compelled to rest severalI times.
After having a talk with the practitioner I arranged for treatment. I improved very slowly for about a week: ; then I began to gain in weight, to eat heartily, and to sleep well. After four weeksI I had only an occasional treatment, not more than five in all, and was completelyy healed and have continued in excellentt health . We went to Indianai for our little boy, then to Memphis,i where we spent severalI months , and from there to Dallas , Tex., for several months. I gained steadily in weight and enjoyed excellentt health, although the specialists and physicians3 under whose care I had been would not consent to my visiting theseJ placesI for even a week . It has now been three years since my healing was complete . and I am quite well all the time. For all these blessings , and many others that have come to our home, I am gratefu'1 to God; also thankful that Mrs.. Eddy was pure enough । and walked closely enough in the dear Master’s footsteps, to be able to give this wonderful1 truth to the world.—Mrs,. Willie J. Collier York^ Anderson। Ind.
I wish to corroborate2 in every detail the foregoing testi-mony, and to add that it was my opinion at the time Chris-tian Science treatment was taken up for my wife that she would not live a week. Her condition was indeed pitiful , and only those who have closely watched cases5 of this sort can appreciate just what the conditions were.
While accompanying my wife to the practitioner’s house, for she was unable to go alone, I received one treatment for the tobacco habit. The healing was instantaneous. I had gone to the house smoking’, and when I left there to go home I found the desire for tobacco had left me. I had been a user of the weed since a very young boy (twenty years) and had tried severalI times to give it up. The desire to use it has never returned in the slightest degree.. and this was over three years ago.
We are indeed gratefu1 for the many blessing:s we have received through Christian Science . —Roy H. York. . Ander-son, Ind.
In the early part of 1907 I was taken very ill, the physi-cian calling the disease rheumatisn1. The pain was intense in my right leg, and I suffered agony for about four months, when the hip showed signs of inflammation, which resulted1 in an operation after a consultation of doctors.. Each day after the operation I had to undergo what they called irri-gation of the hip with extreme suffering , for the first opera-tion meant an incision deep into the hip. In three months5 I went through four operations.( and after suffering intensely for nine months , I even prayedI for death as a release. I had been taken from one hospita1 to another and had the opinion of four different doctors . The one we had. from the first took my husband I aside and told him that there was no possibl 2 help for me, as I had tuberculosis of the hip, in fact of the whole system . and could not live longer than two days at the most.
For six weeksJ I had not moved off my back without : help , and had been kept under an opiate all that time. My hus-band was beside himself with grief , as we have three children; and he had started to make the final arrangements, when a friend asked him why we did not try Christian Science . We knew nothing about it, having both been brought up in an-other faith , but when he mentioned 1 it to me I consented, making the statemen t that while I did not think there was any help for me, I would try it to please him.
A practitioner was found and I was taken home from the hospita 1 the following day under her care. That was the last day of October, 1907 . and the doctor said I would die on the way home. I then weighed about forty pound;s and my husband would hold me on his hand?I like a baby when the nurse dressed my wounds , of which I had a number . Gangrene had set in, and as the back of my head was covered with a bed sore, my head had to be shaved. I came home in this condition.. I could not raise either my head or my hands , and could not speak above a whisper.
In spite of all this, I was restored I and sat at the table for Christmas dinner with my husband1 and children, every wouncI and sore entirely healed ! I will also state that a cord had been cut in the leg, at the last operation. , which caused me to be somewhatt lame, but the lameness can scarcely be no-ticed now. , and I can walk as much as I ever did. I do all my own houseworlk and sewing . and I am so happy!
I cannot put into words my thankfulness to God for Christiai1 Science . the revelation of Truth, Life. . and Love brought to us by our beloved Leader Mrs. Eddy. —Nellie M. Mosso, Spokane, Wash.
I have hesitated to give my testimony for the reason which no doubt many othersj have, of my inability to expressj in words the countlesss blessingss that have come to me and mine within the past seven years, through the ministry and knowl-edge of Christiai Science.
A recent victory of spiritual law over materia] belief, made manifest in one of my children. . has broughtt me to a place? where I feel it a duty to God and to mankind to testify pub-licly. My boy (now thirteen years of age) was looked upon as a delicate child from birth. The first two years it was a continuous struggle for life, and when he was about five years old his left leg and foot began to change in shape. The leg was taking on quite a curved appearance and was diminishing in size as well as becoming3 shorter.
This condition continued 1 till the heel was raised almost four inches from the level, throwing the weight on the toes and outer edge of the ball of the foot. Added to these, the ankle joint had become stiff and the ankle bone protruded1 abnormally on one side of the foot. These conditions gave a very deformed 1 appearance to the child, and it was quite a cross to him. bringing as it did an over amoun t of attention and depriving him of many pleasures and sports so dear to the hearts of boys. Massage and electricityy in their turn were each given a fair trial, without any benefit Friend;s suggested an operation , but I shrank from it.
About this time I became interested 1 in Christian Science and as the wonderful truth unfolded I realized that here was help for my boy, and by degrees all faith in materia] remedies disappeared. For some time I endeavored I to do the healing work myself, feeling that it was my work. but my limited understanding together r with the human sense of pity and fear, preventecI the best results.
A change of location took us to Ann Arbor. . Mich., and in a part of my house lived a specialist of nationa1 reputation who was at that time connected with the University of Michi-gan . This physician , who by the way was very fair toward Christian Science , remarked 1 to a mutual friend.. concerning my boy’s condition. . that while he was willing to give Chris-tian Science its just dues, he thought it was carrying it too far ever to expect to reach this particular case, adding that there was but one thing to be done, namely, an operation. This message carried no assurance of a cure. , however; indeed this was regarded as a physicalI impossibility .
This opinion did not move me one whit; on the contrary, I clung even more steadfastly to the truth that there is but one physician and but one law to operate,—that of the divinej Mind. At that time the child was having Christian Science treatment, and that the demonstration was not made was no fault of the Principle or of the practitioner , who was most faithful and active, but lay in my own limited and disturbed consciousness.
Another : change of location followerI soon, and with it came a change of consciousnesis to me—a breaking away, or rather leaving behind a burden of false beliefsj which had held me in bondage . Over two years ago the boy’sI case was again given to a practitioner, whose loving devotion to the cause of Truth and to the child’s welfare is responsible in large measure for the completei demonstration. In a month’:s time it was noticed1 that he was walking better. Then gradually the leg began to straighten and fill out, the heel began to drop to its natural position i the ankle joint began to be active . and the ankle bone was restorerI to its natural posi-tion. This operation was not rapid , but it was sure and it was painless . At the same time an obstruction of speech, which had been not only distressing to the child but to on-looker!8 as well (besides 8 being an interference in his schoo 1 work) was overcome. In short, his whole physica1 condition is changed , —he is now a strong. , well-shapedI, active , nor-mal boy.
When I think of what was, these words invariably come before me, "Whatt hath God wroughit !” “Who is so great a God as our God?” I cannot enumeratej the blessing:s that have come to me and mine through Christian Science in my seven years’ experience, for they seem more in number : than the sands of the sea., Christian Science came to me at a time when I was in great menta1 distress. Physical ills were present . too. . yet the condition of worry was seeminglyy so much greater as to make the physica1 of secondary impor-tance ; but Christian Science has made the world a new place for me. There is joy unspeakable in the consciousness that at all times.. under all circumstances and conditions. , and in all places , this wonderfulI Christ , Truth, is available.
I desire to take this opportunity to acknowledge with deep gratitud e the loving help I have received from loyal Scien-tists in different parts of the country where I have been located . My hope is to be able to help otherss as I have been helped .—Mrs,. Lulu Yingling Geddes , Detroity Mich.
In Isaiah we read: “Behold , the Lord’s hand is not short-ened . that it cannot save: ; neither his ear heavy , that it cannot hear.’ ' That this is a demonstrable fact I have had overwhelmingg proof. Sixteen years ago.i my second son, then aboutt twelve years old, was examined by an eminent : brain specialist in London , England, who pronounced him to be mentally deficient , owing to a supposedly hereditary form of disease, which he diagnosed I as suppressed I epilepsy. As he held out no hope of cure , the boy was placed in an asylum for the feeble-minded , and for eleven years, although he devel-oped physically, there was little change in his menta1 condi-tion. He could read and write a little , but did not expresi3 himself very coherently.
Five years ago I came into Christiai1 Science . and after seeking and finding help for myself, began to work for my boy, he being then twenty-three years of age. I had very little understanding , but my own experiencee convinced 1 me that this wonderful truth would heal him if I persevered . I knew that God could not create5 a weak mind , since He is infinite intelligence, and I endeavored to hold this spiritual fact constantly in thought.. There was little change5 for two years, and I often had to meet the suggestiona that such a case needed present treatment. I was in America , while my son was in England, and it also seemed more difficult owing to his surroundings , there being nearly five hundred patients in the institution where he was; but Mrs. Eddy tells us that “the transferr of the thoughts of one erring mind to another, Science render;s impossible” (Science and Health, p. 211). I had not been working on this thought long, before j my son was removed to a seaside home in connectiona with the asylum and kept there permanently.. This was done by the authorities 3 without any request. The third year my son’s letters showed market1 improvemeni and I sent him a copy of our text-book,i Science and Health, telling him to read a little each day. This he did, and after a few monthsI he was able to begin to study the Lesson-Sermons. Little by little he took greater interest in them, and he then began to improve e rapidly.
Step by step he won his freedom , gaining permissionn to go out and aboutt the smalll town where the home was situated , and finally enrolled himself as a member of the movement known as General Baden-Powell’;3 Boy Scouts. Very soon he was appointed assistant Seoult master, taught himself sig-naling. , and became instructor to his corps. At this point the way opened out for me to visit England, and I was en-abled to spend some week;3 with him. I found him not only normal, but keenly observant, anxious to make up for his lack of education, and full of ambition to take his placej in the world. He is now self-supporting , and has gone to Natal, _So..u,th. TA. f.rica I cannot close this testimony without express-ing my deep gratitude for the great work done by Mrs, Eddy, in giving to the world this practica Christianity. Without it I should still be struggling with a hopeless sense of bond-age to material conditions which for so man} years ap-peared to be insurmountable. Now I have the happiness of seeing my sons united with me in the study of that truth which makes us free indeed.—Mrs Ina Goldsmith New York, N. Y.
From a child I had weak lungs. I would take cold easily and had to have special care My lungs grew weaken : as I grew older until in the year 1898 the doctor said nothing more could be done for me as I was in the last stages of consumption. He gave me three month: to live. It was necessary for me to settle my business affairs but I was feeling so badly when the lawyer came to make my will that he had to leave it unfinished , as I was unable to talk.
The next day while sitting in a chair at the front window, Mrs. Eddy passed in her carriage The thought instantly came to me, Why not try Christian Science: The doctors can’t help me and Christian Science cannot hurt me. With this thought strength came to me. I put on my wraps and walked out. no one knowing, and went to the Christian Sci-ence hall. After asking the practitioner if Christiani Science could cure consumption, I had my first Christian Science treatment . Then I realized that God could and would heal , me. After this treatment my throat : was better and I could speak aloud. I slept that night. the first night for years without coughing, or taking any medicine or alcohol bath; and had no night sweat. I cut the stitches of the padded1 lung protectoir that night and took it off and never put it on again, as I realized I that God was my protector• The cough never troubled me after from that day to this.
I had been forbidden to eat solid food on accoun t of valvulai heart trouble, but the first night after turning to Christiai1 Science I ate meat and other solid food for the first time in months 5 and had no bad effects from it. At that time I weighed eighty-two pound;8 and now weigh one hundred and forty pounds. I was really healed in the one treatment, though I continued 1 treatment for awhile with a steady gain in strength and flesh.—Anna G, Hosking, Concord , N.H.
For fourteen years I was a sufferer from a very objec-tionable disease of the blood . I also suffered from neuras-thenia, catarrh of the bowels. , for which I underwent an operation • but without experiencing permanent relief; from catarrh of the head from childhood, extreme nervousnes:s and loss of memory , the latter being a great handicap to me in my business, a valuabl e adjunct of which is the ability to remember the names of my patron;j and greett them when they enter my shop. For many year;I I had soughtt relief from my difficultie s and had had the professional1 ad-vice of some of the most noted members of the medica1 profession in America.
For the six month;j prior to July, 1910 , I was unable to attend to my business at all. On July 5 of that year, acting upon the advice of a friend. . I called upon a Chris-tian Science practitioner and asked for help . From that day and hour, I have never lost a day from my business on account of illness . My memory has not only been restored1 to me, but is keener than ever before , and my business ability is very much enhanced . I do not say that I was imme-diately healed of all the difficulties that burdened1 me, but they left me one after another until I am today entirely free.
Through the study of the Bible in connectioi1 with the Christiaii Science text-book, “Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures,” by Mrs. Eddy, I have not only been made free physicallyy but I am each day becoming a betteiP man.।—more honest . more loving. , more unselfish . By put-ting into practise what I read , I am able to work out my own problems and to help others5 work out theirs, including members of my family when they call for assistance . From the very first day that I became interested in Christian Science , my wife, noticing the change in my condition. . has relied entirely upon Christian Science for healing.
I feel that the only way in which I can show my gratitude to Mrs.. Eddy for the blessing;8 that have come to me through her wonderful discovery and unceasing labors for mankind is to study well the letter of Christian Sciencej and imbibe its spirit, letting my light of understanding so shine that other;I will see it and of themselves desire to glorify God by learning and living this blessed Truth.—A. Waren-dorff , New York, . N. Y.
With a heart full of gratitude , I desire to bear testimony to the healing efficacy of Christian Science• In September , 1907i I becam e quite ill, and during my sicknessI I was under the care of four good physicians , but they gave me no encouragemen t that I would ever get well.. The last one advised me to leave my home at Mechanicsburg , O., and go to my mother’s home, near Dayton, O., where she could care for me, remarking , “I can see that you are failing from day to day.” The physician;i stated that I had a growth just below the liver, besides an affection of the liver. I also had female trouble in its worst form, spinal disease. , a bad eruption over a portion of the body, bowel1 trouble, etc. I had suffered extremely for six years, and before beginning Christian3 Science treatment I was taking med-icine every fifteen minutes , and for six month;8 lived on a milk diet , I also had a sevenj affection of the eyes, which pre ven tec1 me from reading or writing for six weeks—this latter ailment was healed in three treatments in Christian Science.
I had treatment in Christiai1 Science six weeks3 before ; I could see any perceptible change for the better, excep!t with the eyes . I seemed • if anything , to grow weakerj scarcely able to turn in bed, and I was greatly reduced in weight . In due time I began to improve, could eat without suffering.> gained rapidly in strength and[ flesh, and I am now well and have been enjoying good health for some time.. I am glad to say that Christian Science healed me.. Recently I met a gentlemai1 who had not seen me since my recovery, and he failed to recognize me. When informed of my name he remarked “I thought you were dead long ago!’ ' Another r friend remarked , “I never expected to see you again alive.” ‘ Thank:s to God, also to Mrs.• Eddy. . Christiai1 Science has lifted me almost from the grave , and restored 1 me to my family. . well and strong and able to care for them. It not only has healed me, but it has given me a better under-standing of the Bible; it has increased my faith in God, and awakened a greater desire to walk in the footsteps of Christ Jesus . —Mrs,. Bessie McConnehea, Mechanicsburg , 0.
For about two years I was treated by materia medica ior a disease which was diagnosed 1 by a physician of this city as tuberculosis of the ankle . My limb was placed in a plaster paris case, and I was compelled to go on crutchesi. Instead of being healed I gradual!;y grew worse , when Christian Science treatment was recommended to me by a friend. It was taken up at once and continued 1 for some months, which resulted 1 in a complete and perfect healing. This was in 1904. । and I have continue!1 well and in good health ever since.—(Miss') Kate Anderson, . Topeka , Kansas.
It is now over five years that I have depended on Chris-tian Science to meet every need which has come to me, and with a gratefu1 heart I give this testimony, with the hope that it will bring help to some one. , even as the testimonie.3 in our periodicals have done for me and mine. My little daughter was operated upon for so-calleci infantil 2 paraly-sis, after which she wore a brace for over a year. At the end of that time the limb was half the size of the other. Then a specially constructed shoe was worn nearly another year, but with no good result. Electricity was next sug-gested.) but after consulting authoritiesj in New York city, I learned that they could not promise any cure . They, how-ever, continued the experiments without success.
Christian Science was next broughtt to my notice , and I cannot tell the eagerness with which I grasped this truth, when I was told that God could heal my dear one. Thank God, the burdei1 was lifted at once, when a chronic bowel trouble, which was in evidence from birth, was overcome . I then felt sure that God does heal. , and through divine power . my child is now a well. . happy girl of ten years, with both limbs perfectly developed .
My heart goes out with deepest gratitud2 for all that we have received through Christian Science . When the remark is passed , “What a healthy looking child she is!" I answer, “Yes, she is a living testimony to the healing power of Truth.” About two years ago we had a beautifu1 case of instantaneous healing when my child was thrown down by a runaway horse attached to a carriage , and was brought to me unconscious. An hour later , she was out walking with the practitioner who had treated her! This certainlyy was a revelation to us, and it recall;3 the words of the 91st Psalm respecting the ever-presence of divine2 Love, as taught : in Christian Science . I could enumerate2 other instances of healing which have been broughtt to us through the: under-standing of Truth.
For all that I have received in Christian Science , —the spiritualj physical , and financial blessings,—there are no words that can express3 my gratitude . I pray that my life may prove me worthy of the name Christian Scientist,a faithful witnesss to the truth which our dear Leader , Mrs. Eddy.। has again brought to this age through her works.—Mrs,, Mildred Hirsch. . Mountain Lakes ! N. J.
In thinking over the events of the past three years, I find that we have indeed “freely received,” and out of my bounteous cup of blessings8 I would now “freely give”1 this testimony of the healing of our little girl, Dorothy , of a serious8 kidney trouble.. After doctoring her for many months , our physician candidly told us that he could do no more. He said there was no known cure for the disease, and that he could give no hope of recovery. When ques-tioned as to how long she might linger. , he tersely replied, “Maybe ten minutes, possibly a week . When she goes it will be quick.’ ’ In such an hour, strugglingg with my sor-row, beginning to think there was nothing left to strive for, Truth softly whispered “Try Christian Science.” I was acquainted with a few Scientists. , but knew nothing what-ever of their teachings ; in fact. , I had never wanted1 to know . as I had been taught that it was the work of evil. Upon proposing3 the treatment to my wife, to my amaze-ment she readily consented. A practitioner was sent for, and after the first treatment absolutely all trace of the kidney trouble ceased: ; the heart regained 1 its normal condi-tion, and in a very short time the child was entirely healed. Today she is as strong and healthy a child of five and a half years as one could wish to see.
Our three children have also been healed of many minor diseases. My wife has been healed of bowel trouble, and I have experienced 1 the healing of chronic throat trouble Christian Science has been my sole help in two sevenj acci-dents; in fact, it is our only remedy for all our ills, and we find that the more this remedy is applied the better the result.18 we attain. It has also helped us financially beyond our greatest expectations, and it is steadily healing me of a hasty, criticizing temperament , while words fail to expres:s the spiritual uplift it has brought . It has solved many seemingly 7 unsolvabl e problems . Our hearts are full of grati-tude to God, and to our- dear Leader , Mrs.. Eddy.. Our constant endeavor : is so to live as to reflectt more and more of divinej Truth.—Theodore A. Chelson , Los Angeles, Cal.
From invalidism pronounced hopeless by physician;5 of two schools , and when doomed by them to drag out a miser-able existence » if I lived at all, Christian ScienceJ raised me to health and strength in a few days. In gratitude2 for my healing and that other;I may profit by it, I wish to tell the facts.
In September , 1909 , after a severea illness, I underwent an operation for intestina 1 adhesions, said to have been the result of surgica1 operations at an earlier period., After this operation I suffered keenly for five month;3 and was confined to my bed most of the time. All food distresseeI me, and at last opiates were prescribed to relieve the pain. I changed from one form of medica1 treatment to another, and though buoyed up by hope so that I at first seemed to improve slightly, I soon sank back into a state of hopelessness.
Christian Science had been broughtt to my attention , but I hesitated I to try it; at last.. however , utterly discouraged, I decided to do so. A practitioner was called who told me something 3 of its teachings and of Truth’;I healing power. The next day I ate hearty food without distress; the second day I was up and about the house ; the third day I went up and down stairs without giving a thought to it, though for months before I had had to be carried whenever I went from one floor to another, and the fourth day I walked more than a mile and experienced I no ill effects. Six days from my first treatment my healing was complete . I did not know unti1 after my healing that my relatives had been told by my physiciansI that I could never again be well: that if I lived, which was doubtful , I would be a hopeless invalid.
I once said I was afraid to take up Christian Science lest it should prove to be a mere fad, and I should be tempted to use it for my little boy and findi too late, that it was a failure. I had read distorted storiesj of such cases. On the contrary , however , it has proved its power many times as a safeguard to the child, in cases of croup, chickenpox, fever. . and measles. An attack of the last was overcome within an hour, not long after my own healing, by the realization that a child of God could have nothing that God did not send.
I could not be without the understanding of God as divine ; Principle in the solution of my daily problems . My desire is expressed in the words of Paul: “Brethreni, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting 3 those things which are behind , and reaching forth unto those things which are before , I pressI toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.’ ‘ —Mrs. Ethel L. Stocker,i Springfield , Mass.
Three and a half years ago a baby was born to me with a foot turned so that he would never be able to walk. The doctor asked me to put braces3 on him. . but I did not like to do that; yet I knew something3 must be done if I wanted my boy to walk. Later. , on hearing of Christian1 Science , I went to a faithful practitioner, and with one treatment the child not only stood but walked. He was then fifteen months3 old , and ever since he has been perfectly7 straight . People who do not know that he was crippled . would never think of it. This great truth not only cured my baby, but it has healed me of a stomach trouble that doctors pronounced incurable, and has helped me to the righteous way of living. I am glad to say that my healing has provec1 permanent , more than three years having passed since it occurred. My oldest boy had been a sufferer from malaria , but since he has learned of Christian Science and attends Sunday school , he has not had a sick day.
This teaching has indeed broughtt health, peace. , and hap-piness to our home, and for the understanding3 of Truth which I have gained, words fail to express3 my thankfulness to God and my gratitude to our dear Leader . —Mrs. M. Frick, St. Louis, Mo. • As a child I was never called strong. . and I had many sick-nesses when a girl. After my second child was born it was discovered 1 that I had spinal trouble, caused by being thrown from a carriage when a child. Some years later I com-menced to suffer severely all over. , and my ankles3 began to stiffen . A doctor who was called in, said it was rheumatism: that the joints were drying, and that I had let it go too long to get help . I was then attendee1 by another physician for aboutt six weeks, he claiming the bladder was the cause of my trouble.
After a time I was treated by still another doctor who did everything possibleJ for my relief, consulting eminentt physicians in Boston and New York hospitals.. For six monthsI I could not step into a carriage or car, and walked but little. I thought it would be better to die than live to be helpless , which was the prospect, , and my physician finally refused to come to me, saying he could do nothing to relieve the suffering and could not bear to witnessI it.
At this point I was advised to try Christian Science. I was so desperatea that immediatelyy I turned to it. At the end of the first week I was greatly improved, at the end of the second week I went shopping, . and in three weeks stopped regular treatment. Now I never fear rheumatism, and go out in all kinds of weather ; I have been able, when necessary , to do work for seven in the family . Myself and family firmly believe in Christian Science and love Mrs,. Mary Baker Eddy, its Discoverer and Founder . —Mrs,, Cora Mead Cheney , Con-cord, N, H.
During the six or seven years prior to February, 1909 । I had been rigidly dieting myself, trying to overcome a chronic intestinalI trouble.. One physician had said I was suffering from appendicitis , another that it was a diseased liver. , and still another that there was a partial obstruction . It finally resulted in an acute attack of gall-stones, which lasted from Sunday until Thursday. During this time I was unableJ to take food, had high fever , and was compelled to remain under the influence5 of an opiate, to allay the paroxysms of pain.. The nausea from which I suffered caused a great loss of flesh, and I was all but prostrated Two of the most eminent physicians3 in this city attendeel me, one of them being my regular family physician and the other called in consultation . Both physicians concurred in the advice that an operation was necessaryy to give me perma-nent relief. My sister in Los Angeles had been telegraphed for, and was expected to arrive the next day. The physi-cians were so positive in their statement:s as to the necessity for the operation. , and were so gentle in their bearing and so reassuring as to the outcome of the operation. » that I agreed to submilt to it as soon as my sister came, though I had enter-tained a fear for years that my life would be forfeited if I ever had to submitt to the surgeon’:s knife. The physicians left a supply of the opiate for me to take until my sister’s arrival, saying that this was all that could be done until the gall-stones were removed by the proposed operation.
Just as the physicians3 left my home, a good friend,i who had not learned1 of my illness , telephoned 1 to my wife an invi-tation to attend a social function at her home, and upon learning of my illness and the proposed operation,i protested against it, and asked that she be permitted to send a ChrisTESTIMONIES O*F HEALING . 117 tian Science practitioner to give me treatment. I had never read anything of Christian Science and knew virtually noth-ing of it up to this time. . but my extremity was such that I was ready to try anything which promised to save me from the operating-tablej and so I consented to take treatment.
A practitioner came in a few minutes , and told me of God’s love and His infinite goodness . and assured me that I could be healed without an operation and withoutt medicine . I agreed to give up medicine while being treated, and I might add that I have needed none since that time., Very soon I fell into a peaceful sleep, the first real rest I had enjoyed since becoming3 ill. After sleeping an hour or so I awoke. , perfectly refresheq 1 and hungry , I ate heartily and during the afternoon I dressed and walked two blocks to a barber shop. . and after being shaved walked back home.
Ever since that time I have been a healthy and happy man., Not only did the gall-stones disappear , but other ailmentis have been cured, defectivee hearing has been helped, and failing sight has been restored by reading that wonder-ful book. . “Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures” ‘ by Mrs.. Eddy.. While I am deeply grateful for the physi-cal blessing!3 bestowed upon me.i I am yet more grateful to God and to our revered Leader for the spiritual blessing:s I have received from reading Science ; and Health, for the better understanding it has given me of the Bible,i and for the desire it has given me to know and demonstrate the truth.—William Merritt Pardue , San Antonio , Texas.
It is with deepest gratitudee that I send this testimony.* with the hope that it may be of help to some one. Aboutt five years ago I was operated on for an interna1 malignant t growth, . and the doctor told me that it would not return . It relieved me to have him tell me this, but I suffered1 on for nine months more.. and the wound did not heal. , as the growth was giving me more trouble. The doctor told my children that there was no hope for me, that I was a hopeless invalid. A kind Christian Scientist then called to see me and said , “Why not try Christian Science?” She told me she had been healed of a malignant growth when she was left alone in the world with five little children to care for. , and her doctor had told her there was no hope. She was ad-vised to try Christian Science.I and she did, with the result that she was permanently healed. , and her children are now grown to manhood and womanhood.. This set me thinking; still, I did not try Christian Science , but put it off with doubts, as I had always heard it scoffed at. I was raised in a Christian church and all my people were much opposed to Christian Science; but the more I thought about it the more I wanted to try it.
At last a Jewish woman , who had been healed of a malignant growth such as I had. , came and wanted me to go to the practitioner who had treated her, so I went.• To my joy I was healed in one treatment. Is not this beautiful i ? I had paid out nearly all I had of this world’s goodsj for doctors, hospitals. , nurses , and drug bills,i but after my healing I was given work and have been able to do it ever since. It has been very hard work, too, such as cooking in hotels , etc., yet I have never had a return of the disease. I have never enjoyed life as I do now.
My heart is brimming over with joy that I have learnedi of this great truth, and I thank God for His wonderful[ love in giving to the world Mrs. Eddy to show us the way out of sickness into health, out of poverty into wealth . I am thank-ful that I have been the means of helping othersI who were under the bondagei of illness as I was. I am so glad to know that God is not the author of sickness. , but of health, and that He frees us from fear of all kinds, for in fear there is torment.
The Bible is a new book to me since coming into Christiani Science. I always5 tried hard to be a good Christian , but now I have given up trying and am resting in Love and Truth . I am very much alone out here, in this wonderfu1 teaching, but “if God be for us, who can be against us?” He is an ever-presen t help in time of trouble,>—Mrs. Jameis McKeown , Cadogan, Alberta , Canada.
I wish to add my testimony to that of Mrs , McKeown I was healed five years ago of the same trouble. , interna1 malignant growth,i after three days’ ' treatment in Christian Science . I had undergonee two operations at the local hos-pital with no beneficia1 result, and was told that my consti-tution would not stand a third operation. It was at this time that I heard of Christian Science , and I was healed as stated above.
I am the Jewish woman of whom Mrs,. McKeowi1 speaksj in her testimony.—Leah Pullmer , Winnipeg , Manitoba , Canada.
I can truthfully say that I have been helped more than I can tell through Christian Science The doctor said I had a malignant growth. I had medica attendance for three months getting no better, and was finally told I would have to submil to another operation Instead I had Christian Science treatment, and was perfectly healed.
It has been almost five years since that time. and my healing has been permanent. We have attendee Christian Science services ever since, and are members of the society at Jerome We are truly gratefu for all the benefits we have received through Christian Science —Mrs. Sarah At-wood, .Jerome Idaho.
It is with the deepest thankfulness to God for Christian Science that I give the following testimony of menta surgery: Two years ago my son was engaged in a game of basket-ball at the gymnasium of the University of Chicago. During the game when jumping after the ball, he fell, incurring a badly fractured 1 ankle-bone ’. The surgeon , who was always at hand in case of emergency , was called . The boy declarec1 himsel f a Christian Scientist and asked to be sent home. The sur-geon smiled and said it was too serious a case for Christiani Science. He was allowed to bandaga the ankle , and then he sent my son home in a carriagei with a message to me, saying that the ankle-bone was badly fractured and he ad-vised the X-ray.। in order to have it set properly . He also said that the boy must not put his foot to the ground under any consideration ; if he did, the consequences would prove dangerous.
When I saw my son being carried into the house, my fear was very great, but the comforting thought came to me that “divine Love always has met and always will meelt every human need’ ‘ (Science and Health, p. 494) , and I also realized that only radicalI reliance e on Truth would heal a broken bone. We then sent for a Christian Science! prac-titioner . Upon arrival she inquired of the boy'sj father if he was willing to have Christian Science treatment, and when he gave his consent , we were all grateful, for at that time he was not much interested in Science. Treatmen t began at once. In three days my son was able to hobble around the house with the use of a cane, without touching his foot to the ground ; in ten days he put on his shoe$ and walked with the aid of a cane to the practitioner’s home, one block away . In two weeks3 he returned to schoolI with scarcely any trace of a broken ankle. In three weeksj he walked from schoo 1 with his companions , a distante of three miles at least• Mrs.. Eddy says. . “Christian Science is always the most skilful surgeon, but surgery is the branch of its healing which will be last acknowledged” ( Science and Health , p.402). I was indeed gratefu1 for this satisfying3 demonstration ; it proved to me that Truth does heal and blessI mankindI . Christian 1 Science has met our many needsI for five years.—Grace Ellwood , ChicagOy III.
A few years ago we came to Christian Science for the healing of our child. We had been told. . and believed. , that the case was hopeless and incurable. The boy was then three years of age, and he had not made any progress from the time he was a baby a few months3 old. He could not stand alone. , was fed with a spoon. , could not eat solid food or take much liquid.. Toys did not interest or amuse him. He could not hold anything in his hands , but dropped everything immediate?y and cried ; and there were times when he abso-lutely refused to take food. He had curvature j of the spine , and he could not stand or walk or talk. . and the bowels had never acted naturally.
The doctor said the child should have training in an institution.. where he could be taughtt to be clean , that was all. He would never walk or go to school , never be able to earn his own living. We had consulted 1 a brain specialist. . and also one of the leading physiciansI and surgeon:s in Man-chester ! and the opinion of both was that he had never been a normal child and never would be. Both admitted they could not accoun t for cases3 like this and could not do anything at all for us. We had to resign ourselves3 to the inevitable, thinking it must be God’s will and that this was our cross .
Christian Science treatment was commenced in August, 1910 . and since then all those discordantt conditions have vanished , and the child is a new creature.. He is a very affectionate little chap, with bright, intelligent eyes . Even the skull has developed and raised, and the spine is no longer curved , but perfectly7 straight . It is a great joy to us to hear him talk. . and his speech is daily becoming3 clearer. He is now able to play out-of-door:s with other children. He continue:s to progress splendidly . and has been attending Sunday schoolI almost t twelve months . A month ago he started day school , and this is a great pleasure to him. It was reported to me, at the end of three weeks, what good progress he was making there. One golden text which he learned for Sunday school is very fitting . —“Stand still , and consider : the wondrous works of God.” Truly the power : of God has been manifested l to us!
We have received so much help from the testimoniess in the Christian Science? Sentinel that we desire to send this message out into the world to help others . For this and many other blessing;3 that have come to us, we are truly grateful; and for the better understanding of the Scriptures , which have been revealed to us through the study of Science and Health and all the Christiani Science literature , word;3 can never express3 our thankfulness.
Our gratitude2 for all this is beyond words. But great and wonderful I as is this healing, it is nothing compared1 to the knowledgee of God as Love which has come to us through Christian Science . —Mrs., A. Tyrer , Long sight , Manchester , England.
It is with a heart filled with gratitudee for health and happiness gained through Christian Science that I send this testimony. I had been interested in Christian1 Science for a number ' of years, but had worked with it only in a feeble j way. At last I had a great deal of trouble and sorrow, and while in this condition of thought I was taken sick in November , 1911 । with a very severe case of throatt affection .. I called for Christian Science treatment, but did not seem willing to let go of the things that had caused me so much suffering, so I made little headway . One ailmen t would disappear only to be followed1 by another.
This state of affairs lingered until the non-Science mem-bers of the family , and some of the neighbors, were aroused and insistec1 on a doctor being called . The first doctor said I was a nervou;3 wreck and there were symptom:8 of tubercu-losis.» A second one said he could do nothing for me; that the trouble appeared 1 to be tuberculosis, but even if it were not, there was nothing to build on. A third one was called, and he said it was tuberculosis ; that I probably could not live longer than a week . As the doctors gave no hope and said they could do nothing . we again turned to Christian Science for help .
This was about the last of December• By this time my throat had been eaten out by ulcers so that I could not con-trol the swallowing, and I choked on trying to take even a little water. Then my voice left me. My eyes were in such a condition that I could not see to read | I also had great difficulty in breathing and was so weak I could not move, while my arms and limbs were so numb I had no contro1 over them. When I again began treatment in Christian Science, there was a steady gain in every way. Soon after the prac-titionen ’ was called, I fell asleep and slept for two hours. In a short time I was able to move myself in bed and take a little liquid food. By the first of March I could walk acros:3 the floor with help. I had to learn to walk, just as a child would.
The condition of my throatt was the last to yield, and I feared it would never be natural again. One morning , how-ever, while eating my breakfast , I felt a change take place, and I found the swallowing to be perfect . and it never trou-bled me again. In a few weeks3 all numbnessI left my limbs, and today I am without a trace of the illness . I am in a happy . gratefu] state of mind, and enjoy better health than ever before.
For this healing I am very grateful, and the spiritual uplift is indeed much to be thankfu 1 for. Words cannot express my thankfulness to God and my gratitudee to our Leader . Mrs,. Eddy,। who in Christian Sciencej has shown us the better way.—Tillie Show, Centra1 Cityy Neb.
On Novemberr 13, 1911, , my little girl, aged five, was taken ill with fever, , and two days later, « alarming symptoms having developedi my wife called in a doctor. , who diagnosed 1 the case as blackwater fever.। and said that he would take the child into his nursing home at the town thirteen miles away. I took her there with her motherr that evening (November 15) and cabled the same night to a Christiai1 Science practitioner in England for treatment. I also told my little girl that I was going to do this, as she is being broughtt up as a Christiai1 Scientist. She was no worse for two days and then made rapid improvement , to such a degree that on the eighth day after going into the nursing home I was able to bring her home . She has not been ill in any way since, but has been well and normal. I may say that blackwater : fever is regarded as a dangerous type of fever out here; recovery is generally slow and convalescences long. My daughter had no medicines in the hospital. , as the docton : could not get her to take the only medicine he wished to give her; and she told him beforej leaving that Christian Science had cured her. , not the doctoring . —Col. H. G. Kennard , Mergui, Burma , India.
Although not a Christian Scientist i I can vouch for the above statement made by my husband 1 as regards my little girl. She certainly made a marvelouss and rapid recovery, so much so that many people of our acquaintance doubtedI it really being blackwater fever . I myself would have doubted it if the symptom;s had not been so remarkably different from the ordinary malaria.—Mrs. A. Kennard Words fail me when I endeavonr to expressI my thankfulness to God, and my gratituds to our Leader. . for the blessing;5 which Christian Science has broughi ; to me and mine. In the month of August , 1911 , our youngest daughter was in-stantaneously healed. . by this wonderful truth, of what materia medica calls St. Vitus’ dance.. from which she had suffered some three or four years. She had violent attacks at times. , and finally was not able to use her left hand at all.
She would have sudden and sometimes serious falls. and on one of these occasions it was thought that she was dead. These symptoms continued for about four years, and as we were not able to demonstrate over the condition ourselves we called a Christian1 Science practitionei . The little girl was healed with the first treatment, and she has been per-fectly well ever since.—Edward C. Oertel, Pittsburgh, , Pa.
For a long time I have felt that it was my duty to give my testimony to what Christian Science has done for us. It was in 1898 that I had the first attack of epilepsy, and for a while I had one about once a month. I tried the best spe-cialist in the country also electricalI treatment.। but with only temporary relief, for the trouble continued . to return more frequently and in an aggravated form. Before coming into Christiai1 Science I had as many as three attacks in one day. Finally . I was told by one of the best doctors in this part of the state that there was no hope whateve:r for me.
Some time after this announcement a friend who had been healed through Christian Science asked me to try it, and as I had tried everything else. . I said I would. She gave us a copy of the text-book. . “Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures,” saying that I would surely be healed by reading and studying it. I was not, however quite ready for the truth and would not read the book, but my wife started to do so, and in about a week she was healed of a chronic bowel trouble of over six years’ ' standing. Her healing opened my eyes somewhat and I began to read also. I then called on a practitioner. The result was. that the attacks grew less severe and came less frequently until they finally disappeared, and it is now over three years since I had the last one. I was also healed of rheumatism , with which I was greatly troubled every winter.
I am gratefu for the physical healing, but it is little com-pared with the spiritual benefit which is gained through studying the text-book. Words cannot expressI my thank-fulness3 to God for what Christian Science has done for us.
—G. Klopfenstein , La Grande, Ore.
In the summer of 1905 our daughter,> then five years of age, showed symptom:s of a nervou:s disease. These gradu-ally grew worse , and the spells; were of longer duration; then light spasms , which gradual!;y increased 1 in violence until she would fall and lose all consciousness. The spasms occurred frequently , night as well as day, and numbered from eight to over thirty in the twenty-fou r hours. Her mentality was affected, also her memory; she lost all desire to amuse herself or to be amused. Still she grew worse, until the spasms would leave her in a paralyzed condition. Our family physician was called at the start, i and found the symptoms puzzling , for while they pointed to epilepsy in a genera1 way, they were adverse in the minor details. On his advice I called the other local physicians, one at a time,। but could get no encouragementt. Osteopathic treat-ment was suggested at one time, , and a course2 of that treat-ment had; but she was no better.
In the early stages of the trouble.। I took her to the city and consultee] an oculist, thinking the trouble might come from the eyes ; but they were pronounced all right. She also underwent a minor operation for adhesions , which are supposec1 sometimes to cause such trouble. Still the spells grew more severe, more frequent, and of longer duration. I then con suite( I one of the most prominent physicians in a near-by city, who also pronounced it a case of epilepsy , but gave us some hope. We tried his treatment, and kept the child on a strict diet for a period of three months; still with no results. Having reached the end of our re-sources, . we were awaiting the time when we could take her to the university to consult the best authorities5 there upon the disease.
During the interval Christian Science was suggested but I was decidedly opposed to Christian Science or rather like a great many whose knowledge of it comes from those who know nothing of it, I was prejudiced It held out a hope, however and we grasped it, with the belief that the treatment could do no harm, if it did no good Drugs were doing no good, and our physician was frank enough to say that it was useless to give them. Nine month; had elapsed since the first symptoms and the strain of constant watch-ing, never allowing the child out of sight for a minute, was telling on the mother, and she was at the point of a nervou breakdown.
These were the conditions when Christiai Science was presented and now comes the part I do not fathom and cannot understand. Skeptic that I was. it was not long before a feeling possessed me that we were doing the right thing. Although the child continued for a time to grow worse. yet something told me that she would recover in all, Christian Science treatment was had for about two months, and one morning after probably the severest night we had experienced the child arose as bright as any child of her years,—her mentality restored, her interest in things around her renewed. From that day to this, now over three years, she has not shown the slightest sign of the disease further-more, I do not believe she ever will Since then we have had several of what might be termed minor demonstrations; but this major demonstration has proven to me. beyond a doubt, that there is much in Christian Science —Chas W. Cotton ,D-.Dc .-S. Grand -H--aven Mic- h, .. , [NOTE—The origina statements signed by the witnesse. and other proofs relating to the foregoing cases, are on file with The Christian Scien e Publishing Society.]
