Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-06-24
The Faith Cure?

The rain Cureg
EDITORS HERALD-Is it not strange
that such an outrage on civilized COM
munity as occurred in East Los Angeles
few days ago is allowed to go unpun-
ished? Is there no law to reach these
"Christian Scientists" "Faith Curists,"
"Divine Healers," and all other "Voo-
dooists" that relate mainly to the cure
of physical diseases by imaginative
means? Is there no law for the "pre-
vention of cruelty to children?" There
is a law for the prevention of cruelty
to animals" Is child considered
in law below an animal? Not
only are medicines denied in many of
these cases, but the patients are often
led to believe that they must persecute
themselves by hunger, cold and all kinds
of suffering worse than martyrdom. 1t
appears that this case is extremely sad,
but it is only repetition of many SINH
lar cases reported from other states
brought ON by the same doctrine, and,
if my memory serves me right, it is not
the first case for Los Angeles. 1t was
only few weeks ago in Chicago that G.
R. Teed, whose only remedies were
prayer and faith, was by order
of the Coroner's jury turnsd
over to the civil authorities for
practicing this method upon Mr.. Bene-
dict. About the same time a Mrs.
Graves, of Charles City, Iowa, was an
other victim to fall into the hands of
these quacks. She was urged to stand
out against the doctors. Death relieved
har of har ffarinno Tho ind
of the citizens was aroused to such a
pitch that coroner's jury, after spend.
ing two days examining the case, made
cure treatment in strong terms. James
Clark, the fourteen-year.o son of
photographer of Salids, CAL, WAS treate d
lately by these fanatics for dropsy. They
would not permit physician in
died. For three days after his death the
deluded parents claimed that the boy
was only sleeping, and would be brought
ter his burial his sister was taken sick.
Medicines were refuted her by the heart
less parents. Soon the circumstances
spread, and the citizsns organized law
and order society, and relieved the inhu
Ildh phIOHbs vi tllC Cdi 2 VI lLlC Chlid' IL
was almost impossible to restrain the
people. Tar and feathers and rails were
provided, but cooler heads prevailed.
May 9th at Syracuse, NY, Mrs. R. E.
Fox, another victim, was buried. In
her agonies She called for help, but was
told to pray and have faith. Hours after
the death of a child at Pierre, D. T., last
January, inquiring neighbors were told
fha oh, a
evidence brought out at the coroner's
inquest shows that the concealment of
the death was due to the Scientists"
who we're trying to resurrect the child by
prayer, even telegraphing to Mrs. Eddy
tent. In the East Side case we are not
interceded 1t would he too severe a |
setback to the cause. We only know the
result is the fact. On the leaders of
this movement there should be severe
censure if nothing more. 1t might be
summarized as numbering a child, for it |
is little less than criminal carelessness. |
Is it any wonder that men look at these |
revelations with fear, not knowing when |
the next blow will fall, or who will be
the next victim? l believe in a "total
scphEdllOu Vi SluI dhu JpdtCt Ot ~
may be necessary in communities only
partially civilized to make legislation to
protect the poor victims of superstition
against the Vaccinations of their leaders
against the strong brains which delude
the weak-against the designing who
deceive the ignorant and lead them to
crime. Society demands protection. We
are told this is difficult case to handle,
but law to punish parents for allowing
a child to die without doing for it all that
human skill can accomplish is not violat-
ing any right OF conscience. Such neg
lect is positive act against humanity.
1t is simply reminder that the super
stitions of Christianity are still imbedded
in the minds of the ignorant. The alb
surdity of such treatment, or want OF
treatment, is comprehensive to any in
telligent being. Let us be charitable,
let us be just, but let us protect the
young, the innocent and the weak.
F. S. L.