Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-07-14
TO CURB FAITH HEALERS
Object of Meeting Held in New York
Last Evening.
Alderman Dixie Submits Draft of q
Bill to Regulate Practice
of the Cult.

The New York Tribune of today says:
A meeting organized by the Medical and
Legal Relief Society for the purpose OF
securing legislation to regulate the practice
of healing by self-professed Christian
Scientists was held at the Waldorf-Astoria
last evening 1t was attended by more than
two hundred influential men and women.
Among them were many prominent law
yers, physicians and clergymen. In organ
izing the meeting the society promised tnat
to Christian Scientists an opportunity would
be afforded for putting forward their rea-
sons why their practices should not be
regulated, and the invitation extended to
them to be present was responded to by
fairly large number of faith healers In
point of fact, they rather monopolized the
evenings discussion, but for the most part
they carefully avoided the real question at
ISSUE and devoted themselves to extoliing.
from their point of view, the merits or
their beliefs. There were others, however,
who adhered to the purpose of the meet
ing, but opposed the idea OF restricting the
exercise of mental healing. on the ground
that it tended to interfere with the liberty
of the individual.
No attempt was made last night TO COM
NIT the meeting to any definite course OF
action. The purpose OF the gathering was
solely to discuss the matter from both
standpoints, and this resolution was ad-
hered to. The opponents of Christian
Scientists however. made their intention
clear to seek restrictive legislation, and a
committee will be appointed To-Day TO ue'ise
remedial measures.
Theodore Sutro presided. and among
those present were Albert Turner, Mrs
Theodore Sutro. George w. Delano, Axel
Gustafson, A v. Daniels, John D. Benedict,
Col. Michael c. Murphy, DR.. F. H. Dtllins-
ham, Albert Day. DR.. George J. Helmer,
DR.. ]. N. Helmer. DR.; E. e. Helmer. john
Sabine Smith, Edward Lauterbach. George
R. Phoebus, Alderman Howard T. Okie,
George E. Early, DR.. Edward F. Smith,
the Rev. Dr. Francis J. Clay Moran. w. F.
Lunt, United States general appraiser; T.
W. Burger and w. w. Urquhart
In his opening address Mr.. Sutro. after
outlining the purpose of the meeting, went
on to say: THE immediate operating cause
which inspired this meeting has been the
startling disclosures which have lately ap-
peared in the public press of cases which
unquestionably required the art of surgery
and the science of medicine, being treated
by Christian Scientists without the access
sorry of any of the accepted methods of
treating illnesses and disease. Conse-
quently deaths have resulted. and wide in
terest has been excited by reason OF the
fatal Examinations of these cases through
out the country and even beyond the bor-
ders Of the United States. 1t is very Sc
rious matter, and subject which appeals
to our self-interest and our self-preserva-
ing have not done so for the purpose of an
tagonizipg any creed or the so-called Chris
tan Scientist as such, or any method of
faith healing as such. But We have felt
that when believers in this creed, to bring
about results which can only come by the
Intervention of medicine and medical in
struments persuade weak-minded people
to dispense with these necessary instru-
ments of science, then we think the time
has arrived for serious public discussion to
ascertain IL there is any basis for the con-
tentions Of the Christian Scientists, and IL
there is none. then to appeal to the legisIa.
ture to restrain these apparently very
dangerous practices"
Alderman Dixie had drafted a measure
which he suggested might be presented to
the legislature, which he read as follows:
Ffrst-A person who advises, persuades
or attempts to persuade any other person
not to employ medical or surgical aid In a
case of illness or physical injury of that
other person, or in case Of Illness or
physical injury Of any person Influenced
or controlled by him, is guilty Of misde-
meanor: 1t IL no defense to q prosecution