The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-11-20

~arroRates to itself the right to deal with
human life ndhealth as divinely appointed
"healers" infinitely superior to the medical
profession, which relies on human skill.
The grave peril to the community in
volved In any legal liberation OF such a
~fanaticism is shown by statistics, concern
ing the extensive spread Of the supersti-
ton, which were presented TO the Massa-
chusetts legislative committee. The repre-
sentative Of the Christian Scientists" said
that they have at Boston a church edince
which cost 5000, 600, with a regular at
tendance of at least 1,5oo;" at is called
the Mother Church, and has q total men,
bership Of 10000 !" "its basic teaching is
that sickness as we'll as sin can be de-
stroyed through the understanding OF the
Scriptures 1t imparts !" lit hae upward OF
$50 branch churches and societies in va
rious parts OF this country and Europe"
A bill directed against this grave danger
was introduced In the last regular session
Of the New York Legislature, and at a hear
ing upon It last March the Christian Sci
entists" gathered In 80 great force that
the committee was obliged to sit in the SEN
ate chamber, which they filled completely,
both floor and galleries. The result was
that Senator C~oaoEsHAbn, who had intro
duoed the bill, promised either to withdraw
the measure so requisite for the protection
Of the public or to amend It 80 that the
christian Scientists" should be exempted
entirely from Its provisions. The commit
tee OF the Massachusetts Legislature also
reported adversely to the bill there intro
duced, and declared it ~"inexpedient and
unnecessary" under similar pressure.
1t Is not surprising that at Boston the
christian Scientists" had as a strenuous adj
vocate WILLIAM LLOYD GARRISON, not as a
christian Scientist" himself, but because
he Is always on the side Of cranky devices,
and is a natural enemy Of common sense.
"Our protest" said the impassioned GAR
R1soN, lis not against education or skill,
but for liberty, without which both must
suffer" The proposed legislation, he cried
out, "is In essence the spirit Of paternal-
ism, which In trusts and protective laws is
everywhere active and hostile to the public
veal" All laws for the protection Of life,
the punishment OF offences against 1t,
are Of a perniciously protective sort, &C
cording to the dictum Of this Boston Mug
wump. What he calls elderly" is really
iohh ohdAShy. NJ II hlDduy u6dTluR Ju0
Hon. P. @. TAnMAN Of Brooklyn defended
the Christian Scientists " not less holly,
saying that they could not be prohibited by
legislation from applying their methods
to the healing Of the sick without deal
ing "a blow at religious liberty such a
blow as it deals already at limitations of the
Abraham and %Jephthah sacrifices.
Bills to prohibit the substitution Of
Christian Science healing " for the medical
and surgical treatment Of the sick and in
jured should be introduced promptly at the
next sessions Of the New York and Massa-
chusetts Legislatures, and their principle
should be made the basis Of legislation in
all the States. A grave danger is to be
warded of from society, and that it could
be warded off effectually by the passage Of
such a measure is proved by the arguments
against it OF the Christian Science " advo-
Gates themselves. at is prohibitive out
side the lines OF the practice Of medicine"
said the Massachusetts, representative of
the cult; ats manifest purpose is to
rule out Of the healing realm all who can
not pass al examination in the branches
Of medical learning satisfactory to the ex-
aiming board" That is exactly the pur-
pose the legislation Of civilization should
seek to effect. .