The Detroit times., 1913-07-28

work in the hands of coordinate
branches OF the government such
work. for instance, is is provided in
the bill already Introduced by Senator
Newlands Most people who have
studied the problem are In favor or
placing the work in the hands of q
central board consisting OF the heads
OF the departments and bureaus IN
terested."
Eugenic sermons are the latest de-
velopment in the movement which
aims at the breed
Eueenlc ing OF better and
Sermons. stronger race. Min
listers over the
country are calling upon the United
States public health service and state
and municipal health officers for infor-
nation which they can use in develop
ing sermons on the relations OF the
church 10 eugenics and 10 the public
health movement I'm general
Already one OF the leading public
health men in the United States has
been asked TO occupy the pulpit TO
preach a eugenics and health sermon,
and other invitations 10 medical
authorities are expected to- follow. A
number of churchmen advocate the
giving over of at least one Sunday a
year 10 the study and thought of eu-
genics in the same manner as at the
present time a day a year is given 70
the preaching of sermons on interna-
tiond peace, antivuberculosis cam
paigns and mothers day. DR.. w. {,
n, t-nl nj
the United States public health ser
vice, who recently occupied the pulpit
of ST. Marks Episcopal church in Min
neapolis, believes that OF all institu-
lions the church has the nearest rela-
ton to the public health problem.
The church has a great duty 10 per
form in the future breeding OF the hui
man race" says Or. Rucker. 1T has
already made a step In the right di'
rection in many cases by demanding
health certificates from persons
wishing to enter into the holy bonds
of matrimony. This is an equivalent
10 passing life insurance examina-
ton. and while | believe that II Is a
good measure in every way, the de-
manding of a health certificate from
marrying parties merely scrapes the
surface OF the public health problem
'Churchmen and churchwomen must be
taught that their sons and daughters
should not enter into the married state
without a full knowledge OF the gen
eology OF the contracting parties and
/ believe that ministers of the church
should also take cognizance OF the
antecedepts OF the persons whom they
are about 10 marry. knowledge OF
heredity before persons are permitted
to marry seems TO me most necessary,
although | realize that the thought
may seem little radical, as until very
recently hardly any effort even TO re
strict the marriage OF unhealthy per
sons was made by any one, and the
unfit mated as they pleased.
The knowledge Is gradually grow
ing upon us that almost all diseases
both OF the body and of the soul, are
wholly and entirely preventable. In
all cases when ministers have request
ed from me advice on how they may
take a part in the movement for the
betterment OF public health, | have
tried 10 impress upon them that there
is this close connection between sick
bodies and sick souls. The great and
lasting cure for the sick soul and the
sick body Is TO be found In the re-
moval of the cause prior TO the occur
renee of the effect. Thus there has
been created a demand for proven
tive OF soul sickness as well as a
prophylactic against body disease
Both ministers and doctors realize
81 nj nf
frequently harbors a very sickly spirit
when broken by the inroads OF disease
ard the domination OF an ailing spirit
frequently wrecks what might other
wise be a strong body.
eve have found that most disease
is environmental no matter whether II
be disease OF the soul or OF the body
and this environment not only In
cludes that in which we now live, but
also that which surrounded our an
centors in remote generations Pre-
natal or ancestral environment must
be controlled If we are TO have strong
race, and II is learned on studying
the public health problem that proven
tive measures should have begun sew
eral generations back. From this
knowledge the science OF eugenics has
been produced. The application OF the
principles OF this science means al
most everything to the future good
ness and wellness OF the race, and the
church is doing more in this direction
than all other agencies combined. This
is the true and tangible relation which
the church bears to the public health
something which lies almost entire
w within her Notwithstanding
which she can control with authority
something which will bring almost
immediate results. which viii increase
in geometric ratio. The refusal 70
administer the sacrament or marriage
TO the diseased, to the mentally and
morally unfit. and 10 those unfortun'