The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1905-03-02

At this day and hour the ger er Al pub
lie is willing to concede that Christian
Science has wrought many cures Of
physical disease. The question, there
fore, as to its relative value as curative
agency compared with ordinary medlca
practice ia both proper and natural. Iht
majority OF the hundreds of thousands OF
converts to Christian Science nave
through lineral experience with bot1
materia medica and Christian Science
found the latter, in their own lndlVlduaI
cases and in their families, at least, SUI
perior to the former and naturally hold
To it in time of physical need CHRISTIAN
Science has been found quite as etfic4
cious for children as for adults, ana STA
tistics will show that Christian sc en-
lists have had greater success III the
treatment OF children than any otnef
class OF practitioners. through the
courtesy OF n member OF Puollcstlon
Committee for the State OF Texas | am
euabled to submit the following stats
ties relative to the practice OF CHRISTIAN
Science in that State. These figures
have been most carefully compiled and
cover the work that has been done dur
ing the past two years in the cities OF
Galveston, Houston, San Antonio, Aus
TN, Dallas and Forth Worth
1) Average number daily asking ser
vices of the Christian Scientists In the
abt ve-named cities is III
(2) or the total number asking fol
hep, 90 per cent have aeknow edged
that they were healed or permanently
benefited.
80 OF the total number, as above
given, 20 per cent had absolutely failed
TO receive benefit from the different
schools of materia medica before apply
ing to Christian Scientists.
a. or the total number who bave
applied for help during the past two
years, 10 have died, ten adults and three
children.
(5) or the l3 who died in the past two
years, nine had already been given up as
hOpe!essly incurable by different schools
OF medicine, aud among this number II
is noted that two were In the last stages
OF consumption, two died of cancer, one
OF typhoid pneumonia a1d one OF choleru
morbus. The cases of the III daily ap
plying TO Christian Scientists as above
noted, included practically every sort Of
disease with which mortals are so fire.
quently atf1 cted.
Inasmuch as uniformly good results
are found in the Christian Science pIac-
tice all over the United States, the above
figures are OF more than ordinary inter
est and significance. By reference to
the mort atty records in many instances,
IL has been found that the death rate
among Christian Scientists is much lower
than among other classes of people, or as
compared with the community as q
whole. This fact Is quite remarkable
when it is considered that the majority
OF followers Of this faith are among the
class called invalds-many OF them
being pronounced incurable by physi.
ciAns-prior to becoming Christian Sci.
entists. Under ordinary circumstances,
therefore, the mortality rate among
rh"m would have been over rather than
uodrr the average. These facts speak
tor themselves and can be verified BY
any person who desires to know about
Dhrse matters.
While Christian Scientists have been
tule TO heal contagious diseases success
fully, at the present time, In difference
to public opinion and the apprehension
OF others, they do not treat contagious
diseases and broken bones are left
under their teachings to the fingers OF
the surgeon. Members of this sect are
most careful to obey all State and mum
cipal la ws relative to sanitary measures
vaccination, the reporting of contagious
diseases to proper health officers. Ii i:
notable fact that there has never beer
an epidemic or ANYTHING like one that
could be laid to case in a Christian
Science family. Christian Scientists art
not fanaLics They believe in DlentV O1
good, wholesome food, sufficiency Of
clothing, cleanliness (of mind as well a:
OF body) and in the practice of the Gold
ell Rule, cheerfully granting to Others
the privilege they ask for themselves, Of
seeking such methods as may be deemed
most desirable 10 the treatment OF pnysi
cal lille.
If Christian Science was menace tt
public health or morals, such fac
would have been well established during
!