Evening journal., 1907-02-20
BIG DELEGATION
MAKES PROTEST
Christian Scientists Oppose
Proposed Bill Regulating
Practice Of Medicine
Special to 'rhc Evening Journsi

opcclal 70 Inc ENeninE journ1L
DOVER. Feb 2O.-Forty-t we'll
dressed women and men who believe
and are active IN the propagation Of
Christian Science. fled 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 elevatlng
the standard OF medical practitioners.
The proposed bill makes it a crime ia
this State for persons to practice med
iclne and heal the sick. making
charges for their attendance and treat
inent. unless they have secured a IL
.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-
tions 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-
cational
The physicians present included the
representatives OF both schools-Dr.
Columbus Henry Of Newark; Drs. II.
w. Briggs, p. W. Tomlinson. George
w. X. Forrest Alfred Robin. allo-
paths OF Wilmington; Drs. ]. Paul Luz
kens c. NJ. Almond. Irvine NJ Finn
and Henry A. Cleaver. homeopathic OF
wilmington; Drs. =. w Cooper. pres
ident. and Alexander Lowber secre-
tary Of the State Board of Health: DR.
L. A. H. Bishop. Of Dover; DR.. George
W. Marshall. OF Milford, and the two
legislators who are physicians. DR.. T.
o. Cooper. Of the House. and DR. r.
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 I'm the
windows. The presence Of the entire
student body OF Milford Girls High
School and OF many OF the Wilmington
swell the big audience.
James II. Hughes and Henry Ridge
ly, Of Dover. and ]. Harvey White
man, OF Wilmington. were the spokes-
men for the physicians. but the doctors
themselves were piled with questions.
Henry Ridgely replying 10 the ar
gument OF the Scientists. said
The Christian. Scientists administer
not only to the mind but to the body.
They go not only to the people OF dis
erection but 10 persons not OF the age
OF discretion.
You place IN this bill 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 10 a horde
Of unworthy persons 10 practice in the
guise Of Christian Science.
Charles NJ. Curtis said he stood will
ing at any time to join with Mr..
Nields to 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
It's said. It would not furnish an op-
portunity for impostors to prey upon
the community. for the standard OF
who constitutes a Christian Scientist
is fully defined, and the Christian Sci