Evening journal., 1900-09-13
LETTERS FROM TIE PEOPLE
Mr.. Herring EXPLAINS


To the Editor Evening journal
Sir: In your issue of August 20 you
published an article referring to the
death Of Giles Jay Burgess, of Phila-
delphia, who had been under Christian
Science treatment This account gives
a wrong impression, and as l was in
Philadelphia at the time this event oc-
CURED, and became familiar with the
circumstances, l ask you kindly to al
low me to make a brief explanation.
Mr. Burgess married a widow with
two children against the advice Of his
mother, and as he was unable to sup
port his family his mother paid their
board for a long time, and finally took
them to her own home. The young
mans wife left him of her own accord
in the midst Of his sickness, and was
never refused admission to his bedside
as she alleges. The animus of his wife
which inspired her onslaught against
his mother. as stated in the papers,
was due to domestic reasons, and not
at all to Christian Science.
The facts Of the case are as follows:
Mr.. Burgess, prior to taking Chris
tian Science treatment, had been un-
der the care of a physician last Winter
for hemorrhage of the lungs. and this
physician said that he administered
such medicine as he thought would re-
lieve him, but that Burgess was too
far gone to recover. The young man
then, of his own volition, decided toI
try Christian Science, as there was no
other hope for him, and as his sister
had previously been cured Of consump-
tion through Christian Science. He
had the privilege at all times of having
L ,f rrf o1r NO
fused everything but Christian Science.
He told the practitioner attending him
that Christian Science had helped him
great many ways. and that he
knew nothing else could do him
any good. The doctor who was called
in at the end said his freedom from
suffering was remarkable, that nothing
more could be done for him than was
being done, and that he would give him
no drugs whatever. The coroner did
not make any formal investigation,
nor take any official action in this case,
as was reported would be done.
The account which you publish says
that Mr.. Burgess illness and subse-
quent death were due in a great meas
ure to neglect. There is q very gem
eral belief that Christian Science
treatment affords little or no relief, and
! that when a person is under the treat
ment he is left to the mercy Of the dis
ease. and is virtually receiving no
treatment at all. The same thing was
said and sometimes is now said, about
homeopathic treatment by believers in
/ the allopathic school, Notwithstanding
/ that homeopathy has always had a
/ larger percentage of cures. Christian
Science may, like homeopathy, seem
neensical to some people, but that
does not alter the fact that Christian
Science is a therapeutic system, which
has proved itself to be very successful
in all kinds of human disorders, ant
that it is a most efficient prophy
, lactic as well.
: Everything is done for a person un
der Christian Science that is necessary
and the various symptoms in their DIFF
ferent stages, as well as the genera
needs of the patient are Intelligent.
p taken into account. But this is all don
q on an entirely different basis, VIZ, iron
the standpoint of mental causation an
with the understanding of the Principl
S of Life and existence which governs al
d growth and action, and produce all tru
results. Il is the practical application
:. u the religion of Christ Jesus, who's
Principle is now understood. a Chris
Z tian Science patient is therefore nc
d neglected, but is placed under a differ
Il ent system, which in reality, has S
l. far proved much more successful tha
10 any other. These charges or insinus
- tions of neglect are therefore entirel
. groundless.
= VIII you kindly print this correctio
Id in the interest of truth and justice?
~ Cordially yours.
h HERMAN s. Herring.
III Baltimore, September z. 1900.