The sun., 1890-01-12
Now They Have Martyrs.

Now They Have Martyrs.
-Four believers In tho faith cure, or mem.
bers OF the scot calling themselves New
EvangeliSts, have been sentenced In Brook
lyn to pay fines varying from 500 to $500, or
to stand committed one day for each dollar
OF the fine. They had refused to give medi-
cines prescribed by physicians for children
suffering from dphtheria and scarlet fever.
The penalties were imposed under the sec
ton OF the Penal Code which reads:
"sEorroH csa. A person who wilfully omits without
lawful excuse TO perform duty By law imposed upon
him TO furnish food clothing shelter or medical A.
tendance to . minor. Is guilty of . misdemsanor."
Tho accused undoubtedly violated this
provision Of the law, and they made no
effort to escape apprehension and punish
ment. Both LARSEN and JANSEN, the fathers
OF the sick children, called In physicians In
order to comply with a regulation Of the
Brooklyn Board Of Health, but they openly
and stubbornly refused to administer the
medicines ordered. on the ground OF reli-
gious scruples. The two others Of the con-
victed were women OF the sect who acted as
volunteer nurses. They are all sincere con-
scientious, peaceable, and generally law
abiding people, in that respect standing
above the average Of the community; but
they believe that in leaving their sick In the
hands Of GoD alone they obey divine
command which no human law can annul
Therefore, 80 far as the present members
OF the sect are concerned, such punishments
as were inflicted on these four will be Of no
avail. They look on fines and imprisonment
as trials sent by Cop to strengthen their
faith. If they can give up their children to
death because they believe 1t to be the
Divine will, mere temporal penalties intiict-
ed on themselves will, Of course, be without
effect to change their, faith and their prac-
tice. But DR.. BIERwIBTH, a physician to
the Brooklyn Society for the Preven-
ton of Cruelty to Children, thinks that
"a few severe punishments will frighten
OF newcomers and prevent an increase
in their number" We very much question
whether that will be the case. The expert
enee Of the past is that such fanatics. If you
may so call them, are rather multiplied by
what they regard as the persecution of the
world. 1t affords them an opportunity to
manifest before society the strength and
sincerity OF their convictions, and doubtless
therefore all these four convicted are now
rejoicing that they were chosen Of GoD to be |
witnesses to the faith.
This ID also the opinion Of our orthodox |
contemporary, the Christidn Union. For its |
own part 1t holds that "faith In COP is best |
shown by using the means which He has
put In our power, and then trusting In Him"
but 1t doubts the wisdom, not to say the
OF furnishing people for be-
lieving differently. Itcontends that while 80
ciety, forts own protection, may and should
rescue children from neglectful parents, 1t Is
another matter "to punish man for not
taking the right kind Of medicine, or
not taking any medicine at all. or for
refusing to give 1t to his wife or child"
There are other people besides the New
who do not believe In doctors
Or drugs. They throw the doctors stuff out
of the window, preferring to leave the cure
to nature EN)n now many homaopathists
regard the Aedicines administered by the
regular school as little better than rank
poison, and those who trust the old school
'f medicine look with pity on their neigh
oors who rely upon homeopathic doctors.
There are also minor sects In medicine
which distrust both the one and the other
AS the Claristian Union asks, "if society
nay determine that prayer will not heal
md punish man for administering prayer
Why may it not determine that allopathic
'emedies will not heal, and punish him for
allopathic remedies /" 1t says
llso. and very truly. that compelling man
o pursue a method OF healing simply be-
'ause the majority think 1t right LIS carrying
umptuary legislation to an extreme limit.
Moreover, the attempt at such compuision
n the case Of the New Evangelists and the
believers In the faith cure will only serve to
feed the fires OF fanaticism."
1t appears from the report OF DR.. BIER
y1RTH that he treated LARssEN's child by
aking forcible possession Of the little girl, 1
md she is in tho way of recovery, or has
lready recovered, and the child and wife
u JANSEN were removed to the Flat [
'ush Hospital with view to the pro- I
ection OF the public against contaRion.
such a course was undoubtedly justih-
Ible, but the punishment of tho two mon
or following out their convictions was
! different affair. 1t may have been In ac- {
with provisions of the Penal Code Z
Inserted under the inspiration OF other {
ranks. but 1t was not In accordance with I
rood sense and sound policy. There was no &
Ieeesslty for II. and 1t gives the New Evan '
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