Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1908-04-09
X-SCienCe
Challenged
FARL0W'S RESPONSE TO PR0PO.
SAL TO EAT POISON AND
MAKE A TEST


The Christian Science committee on
publication through its secretary, }.
V. Dittemore, has sent the following
letter to the New York American:
I'm your issue of the goth you pub
lished a dispatch from Baltimore con-
tanning the statement that two med
zeal students of that city have an.
nounced the fact that they are per-
fectly willing, in order to demon
strate the fallacy of the doctrines of
Christian Scientists, to allow them
selves to be inoculated with Il pure
tested culture of streptococCus pyro-
genes, provided any two followers Of
the faith do the same.
They say, We are to rely upon
medical treatment and our Christian
Science friends upon their mode of
treatment for relief They add, 1t
seems to us that a, test fair and
square is the only means to prove or
disprove the value and properties of
medicinal treatment, or the foolish
ness and fallacy of the faith cure
In an interview on the subject,
Mr.. Alfred Failow of Boston gave
out the following statement:
Permission to Try Poison
Shall the gentlemen allow me to
say that they are several years late
in their proposal. Christian Scien-
lists have already made this test for
themselyes--that Is, they have had
their experience first with medicine
and then with Christian Science,
are yet in need of test they have
our permission to inject all the poi
son into their systems that is ac-
ceptablc to their taste. When they
have failed to cure themselves by
their material remedies they can then
turn to Christian Science as a last
resort, as we have done.
'Of course they do not expect to
be taken seriously. They are simply
bantering for whatever effect they
may make on the public. This cheap
talk reminds us of militia company
who were splendid fighters In dress
parade, but when they were called
into real service they had to be driv-
en- out Of town by the police.
Quotes Words of Christ
To treat the subject seriously,
we would say Christian Scientists, in
so far as they are able, are practicing
in accord with the precept and ex.
ample of our Lord, and know OF
no Instance where lie accepted a
challenge to prove His power. His
reply was Get thee behind me, Sa-
tan" and | know of no reason why
this same reply should not be made
to those who are today making the
same challenges and who thus evil
dence the fact that they are speak.
Ing for the devil.
If II We're not proper for the
Master to accept a challenge for the
benefit of skeptics, there is no Chris.
tian precedent for such practice on
the part of His followers. There is
vast difference between a loyal de-
pendence upon God in time of I'M
ayoidable trouble and willful VEN
ture into trouble. 1t is direct vio-
lation of divine law to invite calam-
ity and such venture would weak
en- ones faith in the outcome.
Equal to Manslaughtcr
One might ignorantly blunder
or mistake and still have faith in d.
vine deliverance, but with guilty
conscience, supported by the knowl-
edge of being a willful sinner one
might not have sufficient faith in di-
vine salvation to be delivered from
the effects of his sin.
To wlllfully enter into combat
which ieopardizes the life of neigh
Dor would be equal to manslaugh-
ter"