The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1912-03-23
CHRISTIAN SCIENCE CHAMPION
REPLIES TO BISHOP RESTARICK

18th inst, appears brief report Of
the sermon delivered by the Head of
the Anglican Church in Hawaii, en-
titled, Bishop Restarick Ruthlessly
Denounces Christian Science" A per-
usal of the article and of other re-
ports which l have received, leads me
to believe that the word "Ruthlessly"
was typographical error for
"Truthlessly." l have hesitated to re-
ply to the attack because the Bishops
manuscript was not submitted for
publication and l doubted whether in
fact so much misrepresentation could
have been crowded into so small a
space. AS the Bishop mas, however,
made no correction or denial of the
remarks attributed to him, l must now
assume that he was correctly report
ed.
The speakers assertion that Lit
tie children are the worst sufferers
from Christian Science" is of vital i'm
portance, not only to Christian
Science, but to the children. If true.
it constitutes a terrible arraignment
Of Christian Scientists; If false, it is
about as villainous a piece or defanla-
ton as could well be imagined. As
a matter of fact it is unqualifedly
false, for while Christian Science has
been in a high degree successful in
the treatment of physical ailments in
those of all ages, it has been espe.
cially so with young children. His
statement is purely an argumentum
ad inVidiam, without foundation in
fact, and has counterpart or proto-
type in the charges made at Rome
against the early Christians, that they
INDUCED in diabolical rites in which
children were sacrificed. In connec-
ton with this matter your readers
may be interested to learn that while
statistics show that 1715 young child
rem died of diphtheria during the year
1910, in New York City, alone, most
OF whom had medical attendance, only
ten deaths from this cause have oc-
Cured among children throughout the
United States, during the past thirteen
years, under Christian Science treat
ment; although the New York World
claims to have list of thirty 1.-TWO
deaths during this period, or an aver
age of little over two deaths per
year from this cause under this treat
ment. speak of diphtheria because
for some reason that is the disease
which the ASSISTANTS Of Christian
Science usually designate when they
are describing the atrocities and out
RACES committed by Christian Science
upon the young. l should consider
1T a favor, however, if the Bishop will
inform me, either publicly or private
ly, OF the names and addresses wheth-
or in this Territory or elsewhere, of
the alleged Christian Scient SITS who,
to his own knowledge, as he says,
have allowed their children to die in
agony, without aid or sympathy. Such
conduct has no authority or justifica-
ton in the teachings of Christian
Science, and nowhere would it meet
with greater condemnation or be dealt
with more severely.
l have gone to this extent with this
particular charge because it is of such
a serious nature, and because it pur-
ports to be based upon facts within
the speakers knowledge. The rest of
his discourse is of comparatively little
Importance because it is based upon
certain assumptions as to the teach
ings of Christian Science, which are
entirely incorrect, and which cannot
be found in Science and Health, or any
other Christian Science literature as
the Bishop could have discovered had
he attempted to verify his statements.
The Bishop says furthermore, that
the reading aloud of Science and
Health hypnotizes the hearers, be-
cause no one can understand it. The
above statement was made by him,
although not embodied in the Stars
report The statement, mo one can
understand it," seems to be the con-
clusion of an unexpressed syllogism,
something like this: mo one can un-
derstand anything that do not under
stand; l do not understand Science
and Health; therefore no one can. UNI.
derstand it." While his minor premise
is undoubtedly quite true, l submit
that there s some doubt about the
accuracy of his major premise, and
Sthat his conclusion is therefore pos
sibly erroneous. At any rate it is a
fact that thousands of people, who are
otherwise, at least, of the highest in
telligence, and many of whom have
achieved prominence in the literary,
professional, business and political
world, have also succeeded in under
standing Science and Health, and in
demonstrating their und rstanding.