The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-06-21
CHRISTIAN SCIENCE METHODS,
ITS Treatment Uses "tho Most Reliable
Power Accessible"

To THE EDITOR OF The sUS-Sr: A
physician in reJoinder TO my letter which ~
peared recently In THE U declares: Mod
ern medicine requires no publication COM
mittee to trumpet its praises to suffering
humanity. II Is the product OF ages OF hue
man experience and study"
Again may j emphasize the point that We
have not the sllghtest desire to condemn
the efforts OF the medical fraternltyin behalf
Of suffering humanity? On the cont rarv,
we would speak les praises and wish II god
| speed. Moreover. It - not the business of
! tho Christian Science committee on puhlica-
ton to trumpet the praises" OF Chri 'tian
Science, but modestly and kindly TO insist
| that when Christian Science Ia mentioned In
the public press il shall be correctly repr =.
! serted. We realize that criticismsof Christian
Science are probably instigated by misappre-
tensions, and moving this we are better abba
to continue our patience.
Our critic declares that the healer In
| such a case sits by the bedside and does alb.
solutely nothing. IL Is natural that one who
has been trained to depend exclusively upon
medical remedies and has only a cursory
kno Wedge OF the actual and extensive re-.
suits Of Christian Science should have such
an impression. II ia natural that one shouli
believe exclusively in that upon which he
has learned 20 depend. We are all slow 70
indorse new means and methods. but one
who has had large experience In Christian
Science practice discovers that ne is not
depending upon nothing, but upon tbs
strongest and most reliable power accessible.
Since there are thousands OF persons In the
city OF New York who depend upon Christian
Science in time OF sickness. 1t is evident that
they have either had admirable success 10
the treatment OF cases Of pneumonia or that
they have declined the treatment Of such
cases. In either ca Sc they are exempt from
censure according TO our critic logic.
One thing IL cert8in-tha with the ARA ot
failures 10 their credit, Notwithstanding their
successes. medical critics occupy a very
frail position from which to ~criticise the
failures OF Christian Science, and 80 long
as their own ha citations contain 80 many
weak places consistency would demand
that they observe the old adaRe about glass
houses. Our critics admission that the
resident physicians In our smallpox hospitals
rarely take the disease. although consta ntly
in touch with it," confirms the teaching Of
Christian Science that the absence OF fear
contributes largely toward immunity from
conta gious diseases.
Christian Scientist parents do not depend
upon their chosen method merely TO be IA
natically loyal to a religious belief, but be-
cause experience and observation have con-
vinced them that Christian Science Is the better
remedy for their children; and the robust
health Of Christian Science children bears
evidence to the efficacy Of Christian Science
in the home.
Medical knowledge would be Of no benefit
whatever to Christian Science practitioners
since they do not use such q knowledge 10
their practice. When medical knowledge IL
actually needed in a given Gaze las In surgery
and in the diagnosis of contagious diseased
they appeal TO a skilled physician Just as any
other lRymen would do. ALFRED FARLoW.
BOSTON. June 10.