The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-01-28
Christian Scientists and the Law.

10 the Editor OF Inc journal. 90
There seems to be a general impress
sion that Christian Scientists are not
w-abiding people. That such an inn
preston Is without foundation has been
proven in the courts time and again, and
will be clearly seen by2reading the fol-
lowing extracts taken from an article By
Alfred Farlew of Boston, in which he ex-
poses the facts of a case that occurred in
Stamford, Conn. It was claimed that
Christian Science failed to cure child
and the health board had sent in a regu-
lar physician. The fact was the family.
knowing that Christian Scientists do not
take charge Of contagious cases, called in
the physician themselves, as soon as the
nature of the disease was recognized.
After comparing the case attended by the
Christian Scientists with five other cases
of diphtheria in this same city that were
under the care of medical practitioners.
Mr. Farlew writes in conclusions:
1T is fact well known to those who
have taken the pains to investigate, that
some Of our best physicians sometimes de-
lay the report Of serious cases as mat
ter of good Judgment and to avoid the
probable panic of those who may be near
the sick one, and no harm results there
from, Or such cases are usually faithfully
isolated. The deplorable thing is that
physicians who know these discrepancies,
and practice them, should condemn their
neighbors who do not believe in the use.
Of medicine, for sometimes delaying re-
port until convinced Of its necessity.
Christian Scientists are Us careful to
quarantine or isolate their patients as any
other class Of practitioners, for they are
aware that any added anxiety increases
their burden Of responsibility and labor;
| 1t is their desire always to obey the law
and to do that which insures the safety OF
their neighbors.
ut is well to mention here that this
sensationalism is calculated, If not in
tended, to prejudice the public, to create
! antagonism and to blotch the fair name
of Christian Scientists by making it APP,
pear that they have neither regard for the
safety of their own families, nors for 9th
ers, while in fact they are even more
careful to observe the laws Of quarantine
than any other class Of individuals. They
do so on the basis of Christian Science.
since they recognize fear as one of the
prime factors in the spreading Of conta-
! gion. Moreover, they do not care to incur
the unnecessary risk and extra labor .oc-
casioned by permitting their sick TO min
gle with others. They recognize the ma
terial law Of contagion and that it must be
needed until it is broken by the applica.
ton Of Christian truth. Christian Sci
| entists have no desire whatever to advo-
| cate or encourage carelesSness, but they
have a right to insist upon fair represen.
tation, not only in Stamford, but every
where.
"In most cases where the attempt has
been made to expose carelessness on the
1 part of Christian Scientists, careful inves-
LEGATION has revealed an equal amount
and sometimes a double degree Of the
same kind Of carelessness, on the part of
those who are not Christian Scientists.
! Carelessness is not due to Christian Sci
ence in any event. but to a want of It, II
it exists, it is Individual and not charge
able to a class"
Frank G.. Russell.
/ State Publication Committee