The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-04-14

city Is the AFTERNOON issue OIL the New
York Herald: or at all events a paper
issued by the publishers OF that paper.
In late issue was the following article
entitled christian Science and the
Cure OF Disease" The article seems to
be 20 fair and so just and is withal SO
well written, that the News prints 1t
entire:
A good deal Of fuss Is made whenever
somebody dies under the ministrations
Of what is called mind cure or that
other popularity known as Christian
Science.
1t Ia said that In a large number OF
cases the patient is brought back TO
health by the same means. but these
are never recorded.
We like TO be entirely fair in such
matters. and IL there Is a new thought
anywhere we are inclined TO stand at
the doorway and give 1t welcome. 1t Is
rather q humdrum world at best, and if
the general monqtony can be invaded
by something fresh and startling we
enjoy the novel sensation which ii pro-
duces. II is not our habit to condemn
any theory until we know what IL
wants to do and how 1t is prepared to
do IL. and. therefore, we have no whole
sale criticism to offer on either Chris
tian Science or the mind cure people.
The Christian Scientists are certainly
very numerous In this country. How
many they are we have no means OF
knowing, but they claim 10 be counted
by the million. This is probably an ex-
aggeration; but the fact remains that
they are a very large body. and that
they are planting their churches and
propagating their doctrines in every
important centre and in many villages.
They can't cure everybody. and they
They have some queer notions to which
We find IL impossible 10 subscribe. but
plenty OF people who have brains do
subscribe, and that is significant. II
we knew everything that is TO be
known we could at once decide whether
the theory is true or false. but since our
knowledge is limited we rather hesi-
tate to declare that the whole thing is
q humbug or an honest delusion.
Perhaps tho medical fraternity lose n
patient every now and again. AT any
rate, people die. and we judge that
some physician did his best to keep
them alive. 1t would be unjust to Judge
OF the value of medical treatment and
skilled surgery by the list OF deaths in
the morning newspaper. Some must
die anyway. and nothing will save
them. But what proportion OF a doc
tors patients die, and how many OF
them. even though desperately III, are
saved? That is a side OF the question
we seldom look at. but 1t is really the
only standard OF value which can be
used In an argument.
In like manner. how many afnicted
folk who refuse 10 take medicine and
who demand the attendance OF the
trained mind ourst or the Christian
Scientist are brought back TO health
Until we discover these facts Il is i'm
possible to form proper judgment. +.
| you say that certain number who
are sick would get well n simply lef,
90 themselves. well and good. We dom,
care TO dispute the assertion because
is probably true. II YOU add that the
| Christian Scientists claim all these
casss as cures OF their own. well. ths,
may also he true. We believe Il is
still. beyond all that. are there In.
stances in which real disease has been
really cured by the operation of forces
which the Christian Scientist applies
but which he doesn't know any NOR,
about than you do or than we do? That
Is the orux oi the problem.
For ourselves. we confess a degree ol
1 ignorance. hut. being ignorant. We a,
rot for that reason condemn. Perhap,
| Yes. perhaps no. We have heard man,
statements. but have not had time I,
verify them. Therefore we say to Tn,
mind cure folk that the Christian Sci
ence folk and the physicians Of the Of,
school and the homeopaths. 20 ahea
with your medicine and your no medi
/ cine. with your big pills ana your llitl
] pills and your no pills. and the mor