The Saint Paul globe., 1900-05-27

been a belief, howaver unworthy or In.
consistent with EtruA. but that it's growth
was accelerated ana its adherents were
strengthened Id theft faith in it by perse-
cution
1t is an ineyitabi e fact that many
worthy and reRutable citizens believe in
Christian ScieuSe and have an unbounded
faith in It's teachers. They have learned
something thaH has satisfied their minds
that they have hita upon great truth
and SO long as their belief and the prac-
tice of it do not interfere with the
which they livs, they are entitled to hold
it undisturbed.
Usually the Christian Scientists are
harmless, and quite frequently they de-
rive much benefit from the practice OF
their belief. A nervous, irritable person
who succumbs to the calming influence Of
Christian Science is undoubtedly benefit
ed to large extent. 1t is -soporific and
philosophic in Its effects. Stiffness and
rep0se are among its essentials. The
hundred petty maladies which owe their
existence to the oYereXcited imaginations
OF nervous persons. cease to have an ex-
istence for the genuine convert. The I'M
agfnation which ran riot in symptoms of
physical disorders and led the nervous
sufferer to indulge in a rapid succession
OF patent nostrums. to the great detri-
ment OF his suffering stomach. is invert-
ed and ceasing to .imagine symptoms it
exerts itself to be convinced that there
are no symptoms and no physical dis
order. The Imagination from being posi-
| tive becomes negative in It's action And
even In the case Of actual sickness 1t
cannot be denied that the exercise of a
strong imagination which says, Il am not
sick. but am wen and sound will aid
very materially in the restoration of
health; while the imagination which is
persistently seeking to convince the pa
tient that heais very sick indeed viii
create serious 5sickpess out of trivial
maladics
The influence of@ehe mind In cases Of
S-OA~S' 49, u AoAAAilA1h " Plly
! s;cians and to all who have had expe-
rience with the sick Hence the constant
effort on the part Of the physician and
the nurse to inspire the patient with
hope and confidence and to maintain
his cheerfulness
If Christian scisAce can do this for
some persons,S in SO far Is Christian
Science beneficial. If it stopped there, no
hostile criticism need be leveled at its
teachers or believers. But, unfortunate
ly. the Christian Scientists go further
Emboldened by their small and natural
| successes in trif1ing ailments they are
led to disdaias the material assistance
which medicine and medical practitioners
can render in serious and real cases of
| disease. The occasional result is that
they allow a sick person to suffer and,
perhaps, die when the ordinary attention
of competent medical man would have
afforded relief and, perhaps, saved life.
This is the practical side OF Christian
Science. and it is rendered dark and dan
gerous when Ia such cases the disease
happens to be of infectious character
and the community is endangered by the
failure to adopt proper measures to pre-
vent eontagion.
If child has dlphtheria, or an adult IS
suffering from smallpox, the most vivid
imagination in the world will not charm
away the disease. The Christian
Scientist is Ike those who cry Peace!
! peace!" when there is no peace, when
he undertakes to say in such cases that
the disease is non-existent, except in the
mind of the sufferer. Mortal mind" is
a very tangible affair indeed when it
assumes the form of smallpox or diph-
iberia, and no amount of Christian
Science or faith In it can charm away the
fracture of limb
Summed up, it may be fairly said that
for the thousand and one petty all
ments with which this nervous genera
tion thinks It is afflicted Christian
Science in it's effect is beneficial, and it
would have an equally beneficial effect #
it was styled ethe PHILOSOPHY of Rest"
and taught mental $omposure ami cheer
fuiness. But inethescase of serious phys
ical ailments it is dangerous always and
| sometimes criminal. The belief is not
deserving of ridicule. nor does it call
for undiscriminating denunciation Some
of its professors are, no doubt very
worthy individuals, whose greatest f:tult
is a too ready eredultty, While some OF its
teachers are sordid charlatlns, who have
introduced much nonsensical kocus-rccus
into their business for financial reasors
In it's miider forms Christian Science may
prove beneficial to many, and it but
lacks common sense application to make
1t useful institution. But when 1t
attempts to deal with actual sickness,
such as organic or infectious diseases,
then it is high time for the active inter
ference of the police.
DOES MAN ONLY REASON AND
WOMAN ONLY LOVE.
Tom Smith. of Harlan, To-. has achieved
fame. much to his own surprise, and to
achieve it he climbed upon the unwilling
shoulders of Prof Oscar Chrisman, of
Emporia, Kan.
1t was at the Mothers convention at
Des Moines. and Prof. Chrsman had read
:, osea.r, -,