The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-04-12

The Evening Telegram OF New York
city is the afternoon issue OF the New
York Herald: or at all events a paper
issued by the publishers of that paper.
In a late issue was the following article
entitled 'Thristian Science and the
Cure OF Disease" The article seems TO
be SO fair and so just and is withal so
well written, that the News prints IL
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.
II is 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 II there is new thought
anywhere we are inclined TO stand at
Che doorway and give 1t welcome. 1t is
sxather humdrum world at best, and IL
the general monotony can be invaded
by something fresh and startling we
enjoy the novel sensation which 1t pro-
nuces 1t is not our habit to condemn
any theory until we know what 1t
wants to do and how 1t is prepared to
DO it. 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 TO be counted
by the million. This is probably an ex-
aggeration; but the fact remains that
they are very large body, and that
nhey are planting their churches and
propasating their doctrines I'm every
important centre and in many villages.
They can't cure everybody. and they
ever-estimate their ability to do so.
They have some queer notions TO which
we find IL impossible to subscribe. but
plenty OF people who have brains do
subscribe. and that is significant. III
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
y humbug or an honest delusfon.
Perhaps the medical fraternity lose a
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 10 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 doc
tors patients die, and how many OF
them. even though desperately i'll. are
savedy That is a side OF the question
we seldom look at. but It Is really the
only standard of value which can be
used in an argument.
In like manner, how many afflicted
Folk who refuse TO take medicine and
who demand the attendance OF the
trained mind curtst or the Christian
Scientist are brought back to health ?
Until we discover these facts IL is i'm
possible TO form proper Judgment II
Dou say indt u ffIidln NUMBER WHO
are sick would get well IL simply left
20 themselves, well and good. We don't
care 10 dispute the assertion. because
st Is probably true. II YOU add that the
Christian Scientists claim all these
cases as cures OF their own. well. that
may also be true. We believe 1t is
Still. beyond all that. are there in.
stances IN which real disease has beer
really cured by the operation of force.
which the Christian Scientist applies
but which he doesn't know any more
about than you do or than we do? That
is the crux OF the problem.
For ourselyesrwe confess degree of
Ignorance. ibut. being ignorant. we do
not for that reason condemn. Perhaps
yes, perhaps no. We have heard many
statements. but have not had time to
verify them. Therefore we say 10 the
mind cure folk that the Christian Sci
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