The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-02-20

of the so-called faith healers. II know
that this bill has been objected to-, said
Senator Wood, because its provisions are
deemed too drastic, but L think every fair
minded member OF this body will admit
that If IL can be positively shown that,
through the failure or refusal of a Chris
tan Scientist 10 allow medical aid to be
administered to a child or other dependent
person, the death of such person results, II
is time for the law to interfere. The pen
atty is not inflicted except In such cases
as this. 1t should be our duty TO protect
the infant especially against the awful SUI
perstif'ons that have already resulted In
the deaths of thousands OF their nump ssr;
There are some who contend that this bill
Will restrict the people in their religious
practices; that they will not DE allowed to
enjoy that liberty that they should ne
granted. / am a firm believer In religious
liberty, but not bound by any creed:
Therefore, / believe that every man should
be allowed to worship as he sees nj, ana
the law proposed does not place any re-
strictions upon those who are capable OF
judging for themselves.
PROTECTIONIFOR CHILDREN.
1T gives the needed protection to the
children and the dependents of whatever
class. want to call your attention TO the
so-called Christian Scientists. The doc
trines of this particular sect are sham on
the Christian religion and their practices
show them to be a secrilegious people. The
literature Of the Christian Scientists con-
tains but two books, the Bible and Mrs.
Eddy's work. They claim that the latter
is equally inspired with the former; that 1T
is divine revelation. If that is not sac
rilege what is it? The Christian Scientists
are not advocates Of prayer any more
than any other religious sect. The prin-
ciple that is uppermoSt in their belief Is
that all disease is evil and that goodness
should predominant. Negative the fact or
existing evil, affirm the goodness and you
dispel the physical disease. They do not
deny the divinity of Christ, but they do
have the same divine attributes that Christ
had They tell you that. like Christ, they
have the power to lay their hands upon the
blind and they shall see again.
Senator Wood in conclusion, said there
was an immediate necessity for law that
will cause Christian Scientists and other
work TO persons who shall of their own
volition receive their treatment
Senator Wolcott took a similar stand,
advocating the adoption of the minority re-
port which favors the passage of the bill.
He made reference to the many and varied
fanatical religious waves that have swept
various parts of the world in ages past,
but contended that the fanatics of those
days sought only the salvation of souls.
Here in the twentieth century," said he,
awd nave nave Inc new fanatical religious wave,
are seeking to heal the sick through the
agency of prayer. Prayer to be effective,
must certainly be understood. The babe
ravaged by disease and without volition of
| its own is placed in the care of Christian
Scientists to be healed by prayer or
through mental process of some sort. What
conception has the babe of all this? Such
methods are not only against the laws of
| nature, but are in conflict with the divine
| law. Senator Wolcott thought the bill a
| good one in every respect, and said that 1t
| would give the desired protection to chill
dren.
SENATOR AGNEW'S VIEW
Senator Agnew took opposite view. He
thought there were two sides to the ques-
tion- According to his judgment. there is
as much contention among the different
| schools of medicine as exists between the
| medical profession as a whole and the
| Christian Scientists. He said it was we'll
| known fact that physicians of different
schools differed radically as to the proper
| remedies and methods of treatment i'm the
most common diseases. He did not believe
| that the people of the State should be
| forced to employ a physician if they did
not wish to do
| Senator Thompson said there was moth
| ing in the doctrine of Christian Scientists
| that would prevent them from administer
| ing to child even though they were being
| treated by materia medica. Under the pro-
visions of the bill, he said, there could be
| no prosecution for felony unless 1t was a
| case of dependent person whose life was
| lost by the withholding of medical aid, in
! to be proven. At the close of Senator
| Thompson's remarks Senator Fortune
| moved the previous question. in order to
| shut of any further debate, and the minor
ity report was then concurred in by vote
| of % to 20.
Tie congressional reapportionment bill,
on motion of Senator Osborn, was ad-
vanced to engrossment without debate.