Evening journal., 1907-02-20
BIG DELEGATION
MAKES PROTEST
Christian Scientists Oppose
Proposed Bill Regulating
Practice Of Medicine
speeIal 70 .rhe EvenIns Iournal.

hIHllAl 10 Inc Evening Inurn0l
DOVER, Feb. 2O.-Forty- two WE'LL
dressed women and men who believe
and are active in the propagation of
Christian Science. filed into the Della
ware state House yesterday and regis
tered vigorous protests TO the enact
ment OF the proposed bill regulating
medicine and surgery and elevating
the standard Of medical pra 'itioners.
The proposed bill makes st crime IN
this state for persons TO practice med
icine and heal the sick. making
charges for their attendance and treat
ment. unless they have secured a IT,
cense from the state and a condition
precedent TO the securing OF such q
license is that they must have passed
through a four-year course at college.
and then pass the medical examina-
tlons as administered by the president
and fellows Of the medical societies OF
Delaware.
United States District Attorney
John Percy Nields represented the
Scientists, together with Charles NJ.
Curtis, of Wilmington and their DEM
onstration OF the theory and practice
of Christian Science led the legislators
into the maze Of mysteries and expo
sitions OF the power Of prayer that
was as extraordinary as It was edu-
catlonal
The physicians present included the
representatives OF both schools-Df
Columbus Henry, Of Newark; Drs VI.
w. Briggs, F. w. Tomlinson. George
w. X. Forrest, Alfred Robin, allo-
paths OF Wilmington; Drs. j. Paul Lu-
kens. c. NJ. Almond. Irvine NJ Finn
and Henry a. Cleaver. homeopathic OF
Wilmington: Drs. i. w. Cooper pres
ident. and Alexander Lowber. secre-
tary Of the state Board OF Health: DR..
L. a. II. Bishop, OF Dover; DIT. George
w. Marshall OF Milford. and the two
legislators who are physicians. DR. T.
O. Cooper. Of the House. and Dr. T..
.C. Moore, Of the Senate.
The two houses went into Joint ses-
sion In order to give the delegations
an exhaustive hearing and the hall
of the House OF Representatives was
crowded until men stood and sat in the
windows. The presence of the entire
student body Of Milford Girls High
School and Of many Of the Wilmington
Conference Academy also helped to
swell the big audience.
James II. Hughes and Henry Ridge
". Of Dover. and J. Harvey White
man. OF Wilmington. We're the spokes-
men for the physicians, but the doctors
themselves were piled with questions
Henry Ridgely, replying TO the ar
gument Of the Scientists, said:
'rhe Christian Scientists administer
not only to the mind but 10 the body.
They go not only to the people Of dis
erection hut to persons not OF the age
of discretion.
You place in this bin an exemption
and you open the way for disaster
You wish to place something in this
law to recognize a religious sect when
the law OF this land recognizes no re-
ligion."
Mr. Ridgely also pointed out that
the exemption Of the Christian Scien-
lists would open the door TO a horde
Of unworthy persons to practice in the
guise OF Christian Science
Charles Nj. Curtis said he stood will
Ing at any time 10 join with Mr..
Nields 10 demonstrate before any court
that the medical bill as Il stands is
unconstitutional and is a violation Of
the inalienable rights Of every citizen.
So far as the amendment proposed
by Mr.. Nields is concerned. Mr.. Cur
tis said. it would not furnish an Op-
portunity for impostors 10 prey upon
the community, for the standard OF
who constitutes Christian Scientist
is fully defined, and the Christian Sci