The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1902-11-22
ABOUT
INFECTIOUS
DISEASES
Position of Christian Scient-
lists Stated
BY Their Official State Cor
respondent at Portland, Or.

ATN' "Nuihoi Ah0 RNAAy JOuIudl VI
Nov. 18th contains several news items
relative to Christian Science, upon
which | trust you will allow me space
for remark
Regarding the recent advice OF Mrs
Eddy that until public thought be.
comes better acquainted with Chris.
tian Science, the Christian Scientists
shall decline to doctor infectious or
contagious Diseases" Mr.. Alfred Far
low, publication committee for The
First Church of Christ, Scientist. at
Boston, has the following to say in
the Transcript" of Nov. 18th:
without doubt Mrs. Eddy has not.
ed the opposition to the treatment or
handling of contagious diseases on the
part of Christian Scientists. and has
concluded that at the present time it
is not best for Christian Scientists to
contend for their rights"
Asked if the public could under.
stand this to be a retrogression on the
part of Christian Scientists. Mr.. Far
low said:
Christian Scientists have proved
conclusively to themselves and TO all
who are thoroughly conversant with
their practices that they can success.
, fully heal contagious diseases. The
general public, however, do not so un.
derstand, and there is considerable
objection to the handling of such
cases on the part of Christian Scien.
lists. In view of this objection. Il is
ally the efficacy of Christian Science
to concede to pubic opinion. Eventu-
ally the efficacy of Christian Sciecne
as applied to infectious diseases will
become better known, and the public
will not only tolerate the application
of this science TO the diseases in
question but will welcome it's use.
| look upon this new move as a sort Of
Wasl ingtonian warfare. Under Ger.
tain circumstances 1t is more manly
to retreat than to fight Without
doubt some believers in medicine de-
mand of Christian Scientists what
they themselves do not practice. For
example. in one vicinity a Christian
Scientist was censured for going To
and from a patient afflicted with
diphtheria, while II was conceded by
The president of the board of health
that such is the common practice of
Much ado was made be.
cause a Christian Scientist was late
In reporting case of contagious dis.
ease, when in fact every day wit |
nesses cases OF mistaken diagnosis on |
the rart Of NJ. D,'s, and tardy reports /
In consequence.
Christian Scientists have been
aensured for losing one patient while
The NJ. D.s in the same neighbor.
hood lost 1l45 cases OF the same
'haracter. II is natural. however.
hat perfection should be expected of
new method of curing the sick.
While the old method has won n n.
'ense TO fail II is said that the
ounder OF homeopathy was Obliged
o nee from an infuriated mob when
lie lost his first patient. Now the
Iomoeobathist may fail as often as
he allopathist, by universal consent"
Then you do not consider the pres.
mt move a Ietreat?"
only in one sense. Il should he
oted that retreat under such cir.
does not mean retrogres.
ion but IL is virtually more aggress.
We than to fight and more readily
rings the desired end. Christian
chemists have profound respect for
he opinions and beliefs of others. and
lso for their fears and anxieties: and \
refer TO deport themselve4 accord ,
lgly' though such action on their c
art demands a present sacrifice" v
In this day and age Of newspaper
nterprise II IS perfectly natural that u
wideawake paper. such as the Ev. :,
ming Journal, should give space and
70 press dispatches on
le subject OF such interest 10 the
.ading public as Christian Science. hi
he conclusion, however, IN the press AZ
EN- which chronicles the unfortun y
e death Of Miss Louise Hoge at "
ashington under Christian Science a,
eatment giving the assurance that m
er life could have been saved had hl
e consented 10 proper care" is
rong assumption, considering the do
oItuary records throughout the VI
untry
Why the occasional failure 10 sue, 80
ssfully cope with an extreme case ~
rough Christian Science treatment ha
ould be heralded TO every corner Of to
globe, the unfortunate individual
led victim and the practitioner sol
with indictment for man. ""
lighter, while on the other hand
ly fatalities under the best efforts nj.
materia medica are resignedly an,
med deaths" and quietly accepted AZ