The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-04-28

'I am Sir Oracle
And when ope my lips let no dog
bark
Our ilIustrious morning contemporary
has given its entire mind recently TO
the consideration and elucidation OF
Christian Science. A week or two ago
Il built a stately column twenty-one
inches In height in further attempts at
edifcation upon the same subject. so
instructive and entertaining was the
paper that the News may well be for
given for drawing upon IT for this ex-
tract:
There are many victims Of Chris
tian Science who. like Cardinal Beau
fort, die without sign. Can illegitimate
son OF John OF Gaunt whom Hume de-
scribes as an intriguing and dangerous
character--in this connection the point
Is obscure.) Indeed, one OF the
prominent advocates OF the cult
boasts that there are hundreds of death
certificates granted in cases where the
medical attendance required by law
has NOT been given. But the facts
connected with the death OF a we'll
known man in New York are not to pe
hushed up in this way. Mr.. Osgood
was n wealthy importer who attended
Christian Science church and put
into practice the doctrines OF that Or
ganisation. He had suffered for years
from Brights disease; but after he
came under the influence Of the healer
he refused to follow medical advice any
longer and tried to believe that there
was nothing the matter with him. II
was an excellent theory; but as an ex-
ample of II Mr.. osgood was failure.
him except TO hasten his end. II he
had only held TO the opposite theory.
that something was the matter with
him and that he needed the care OF a
trained physician, he might still be
alive. Such a physician, in fact. was
called in at the last momQnt, but 1t was
then too late. And since the physician
of course. could not certify that Mr.
Osgood had enjoyed proper medical at
tention. the case has been brought tc
the notice OF the coroner and an In.
vestigauon of the manner OF his death
has been Instituted. Wealth and 'in.
fiuence' arc being used. N is asserted
TO conceal the name OF the healer
and to prevent a public exposure. BuI
these should avail nothing"
Bear with us a moment while ws
summarize this stun. which in courtes,
We will call argument
A man had "for years suffered from
Bright's disease" In despair "he cam.
under the influence OF a healer ant
refused TO follow medical advice an,
longer" Mental treatment did moth
ing but hasten his end" Had he hel,
the theory that something was the mat
ter. that he needed trained physician
he might be alive" Where is Henr,
b. Anthony? He once had somethiie
10 do with this Oracle" He ha,
Brights disease and consulted m
healer" but only trained physicians
Is he living yet? For answer look a
those who now render our morning
contemporary 'dllustrious."
Such stuff as the Journal gives US :
not worth the name OF argument: ma,
Osgood called trained physician. n
might be still alive" ten lines before
does not this sapient reasoner say 'tha
for many years osgood had suffered
and had never then consulted heal
err" but only trained physicians? Tha
is just what Il said. In very truth IN
case was moribund. when in utter des
pair Osgood applied 10 the ''hesler.
Having sreated the case for "man
years" with no benefit. at all events Z
the rich man, how does Il follow tina
by calling In again these same fail
ures Osgood might still be allve7 Sue
reasoning IL beneath contempt Thi
writer leads Us 90 believe that tha
which we call Brights disease is
theory" and NOT an sctuality.
Where is Henry J. Steere? lie too ha'
Brlghts disease and died under tn
hands OF the trained physicians. Di'
any Christian Scientist ever "haster
- end. as the Journal puts it--or wa