Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1903-02-19
CHRISTIAN SCIENCE.
An Attempt to Legislate Against 1t
In New Hampshire
Defeated.

|
Abbot of Manchester, introduced a
bill in the New Hampshire Legisla-
ture, the purpose of which was to
prohibit the healing of physical all
ments by Christian Scientists. The
| bill imposed penalty of $50 for the
first offence; 500 for the second Of
fence, and if the party further perse-
vered in violating the law, he was to
be sent to jail.
"By the action of the House the
bill was referred to the judiciary
committee, and yesterday, by a vote
of II to 1, the committee refused to
report the measure.
''It is needless to say that the be-
levers in Christian Science are very
much pleased with the result. They
are proud to know that the members
Of the Legislature declined % Cfer
this insult and do this great injustice
to the people of this State, who have
an abiding faith in the tenets and
doctrines of Christian Science.
"The Patriot feels free to say, that
in its views, it represents the intelli-
gence and integrity of Concord, when
it commends the Legislature for re-
fusing to even recognize SO unjust and
discriminating bill.
''The founder of Christian Science,
Rev. Mary Baker G. Eddy, makes
her home in Concord; she has done
and is doing much for Concord, in
everything looking to the upbuilding
Of the city aud its interests; she has
been willing to contribute i'll every
way that good citizenship can de-
mand or expect.
"The people Of Concord who be-
ieve with her, are not proselyting;
they are not urging others to accept
the things that they believe and
practice; their mission clearly is to
90 what good they can for their fell
lowmen; they are all good citizens,
peace loving and law-abiding.
''If there is a healer among them,
he is not advertising nor proclaim
ing his powers of combating sickness;
ne is not urging others to accept him
as their physician; he goes when he
is called, and only when he is called,
and surely American men and Amer
lean women are endowed with sufff-
cient appreciation and intelligence
to be permitted to select such physi-
cal healers a. their Judgment or de-
slres may advise Or suggest.
"l.ikee bills with similar intent,
haze been introduced in other iegis-
iative bodies, in other states at other
tir1es, ont with the great majority of
them The purpose was more or less
concealed. THIS ctonot Ae sai1 of
the measure proposed 10y MIR. 4 boot;
in this, there was neither conceal
si34nt for deception. The Oil vas
directed against Christian Science,
aud the practice Of Christian Science
heading, ana the judiciaI.. committee,
in the minds Of an overwhelming
majority OF the good people Of New
Ham pshire, did what was fair and
right, When it rufused to permit even
the consideration Of a bill SO mani
festly unjust.
"This paper is not advocating the
cause nor prociainling the virtues Of
Christian Science, any more than of
any other religion. It bespeaks for
all, at the hands of our lawmakers,
liberal and just treatment; the Cons
titution of every State of the Union,
recognizes the right of the Individual
to worship God after the dictates of
his heart and con science, and any eff
fort on the part of religious bigots to
interfere with their clearly defined
right is palpably wrong; wrong in
theory, wrong in law, and wrong in
fact.
off the believers in the Roman
Catholic Church were being discrimi-
mated against, or a proposition look
ing to discrimination were proposed
in the Legislature, we would say,
Don't do it, If such bill were di-
rected against Congregationalis s,
Methodists, Baptists, Unitarians,
Adventists, Wesleyans, or Episcopal
lians we would say, Don't do it, :"
and when the members of the Legis-
lature should refuse to recognize such
arbitrary measures. we with thous-
ands would say, THANK YOU"