The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-03-12
It WAS A VICTORY
FOR THEIR BELIEF
Christian Scientist Contest in
the Legislature.
FRIENDS TO The RESCUE
Miss Mary Hatch Harrison Talks Enterlainingly
Of the Charge From postiIe 10 Friendly
Legislation Tor the Cause She
Champions,
Champions.

one Dill that created much interest
throughout the State during the session
Of the General Assembly was the one
defining the practice of medicine and
surgery.
This was because OF the Christian
Science issue that was brought to the
front in il. 1t was a bill prepared be-
cause of the wishes of the State Board
of Health and it developed in the hear
ing that in 1t was proviso that required
the Christian Scientists to stand exami-
nations as did the medical profession.
IT was a bill that caused an earnest
fight TO be made against 1t by the Chris
tian Scientists. A delegation came to
Raleigh and in 1t We're twenty seven
people, nineteen of whom were ladies.
At the head of this delegation was Miss
Mary Hatch Harrison, OF New Bern, and
she was made happy by seeing the bill
finally passed with a proviso that ex-
empted the Christian Scientists from it's
requirements.
Miss Harrison is a guest at the Var
borough, where she has been for about
three weeks with the delegation which
much interest a reporter of this paper
called on her last night, to talk with
her about the contest in which she sue
eoeded so handsomely
She is 4 woman of attractive person
ality. Her face is a striking one, her
eyes filled with the light of a keen in
tellect, the wayy masses of her hair
tagged here and there with grey, which
a. 81
ness of her face, full and round and
glowing with the hue of health.
Soft and gentle of speech every word
and thought indicating a highly eduea
ted and splendidly informed woman, one
can but be impressed with her. She
is deeply in earnest, and she makes you
feel her earnestness and her zeal. She
expressed a willingness to talk and the
first question that was asked her was
this
How do you feel concerning the leg
islation just passed which affects Chris
titan Science for It's protection, Miss
Harrison?"
Most gratified, and most grateful to
the noble men of the General Assem-
bly, of North CasoIinat" she replied.
''True 10 their patriotism and their hon
ored trust to protect the right, as well
as the rights of all citizens who are led
by their highest sense of right to serve
humanity, they freed us from possible
condemnation which threatened to make
people distrust us. You can say for me
that ]. and ali who with me. believe
in the Principle of Christian Science feel
that our hands have been held up and
o brighter day prepared for us in North
Carolina. 1t was God who moved upon
the hearts of these Lawmakers and
made of them champions for a cause it
was sought to oppress
why aid you come to Raleigh? What
was your porpose?'
strictly % attend -to-our h1.i ness. We
had learned that there was bin before
The Assembly which anecte- cause
most edear To our hearts. Tie call to
10 come seemed imperative since the
biIs aS.a!ng the practice * Medicine and
surgery in North Carolina had passed
the House. and was on the calendar in
The Senate. We learned that among its
provisions was clause which would
preyent the practice of Christian Science
in this State except under oppressive
conditions. Then we came as we had
been assured that we would have
hearing before the Joint Committee on
Health"
you brought quite a goodly sized
marty with you, from New Bern, l be-
lieve?"
yes" said Miss Harrison. There
came with me five ladies and five men
from the New Bern church. In addi
tion came members OF the Asheville,
Kinston and Wilmington churches, as
well as from the society in Greenville
and n representative from Durham. 1t
was not a delegation of women alone,
for we had with Us eight men, out of our
entire delegation of twenty-seven during
our stay.
what of the conditions when you ar
rived here?"
eve came and took quarters at the
VOL known marlborough, not knowing
that we were to find any being in SYM
patty with us. nor did we expect To-
ant even before friends arrived from
other points we found such loving cour-
tesy from first the womanhood and then
the manhood representing North Caro-
lina's best thought, that we took on
snirit of good cheer; which is Justlhed IN
the splendid fruition of our hopes and
aspirations.
Tell me how the legislation which was
hostile to Christian Scientists. finally be-
came it's friend?
oCbristian Science was thought to be
simply a fad. When we came 1t was
our mission to convince those VINO be-
lieved this that they were in error. /
was not here alone. but the committee
with me composed of the leaders OF the
Christian Science churches in the state
and some of their most active co-work-
ers stayed on the ground to watcn the
developments. We were heard oy Ihe
Joint Committee on Public Health. Inc
rsnost was against us, but we did not
lose heart. Daily attending the sessions
we took a lively interest in the dis
patch of business. and all the while we
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