The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-04-14
THOUSANDS ASK LAW
FOR MENTAL HEALING
Assembly Chamber Filled at
Hearing on Christian
Science Bill.
PHYSICIANS ARE OPPOSED
On a Show Of Hands Nearly
All Present Respond
Favorably.
PHYSICIANS ARE OPPOSED

ALBANY. April 13.-More than 1000
! Christian Scientists from all sections Of
the state and some of the more prominent
from Massachusetts and adjoining states
| damned the Assembly Chamber and gal
leres this afternoon urging Gov. Glynn to
| sign Senator McClellands bill making
legal the work of any person who minis
tiers to or treats the sick or suffering by
mental or spiritual means without the use
| OF any drug or material remedies
It was a gathering such as the State
Capitol has seldom seen. even on those
occasions when the public conscience has
been deeply stirred. These were men and
women giving every evidence OF culture
and intelligence Of "a high order. There
was about them nothing of the emotional
| enthusiast.
| II was enough to look them all over to
set at nought the declaration of counsel
for the Medical Society OF New York
County that they came TO assist those
who profit from the ignorant, the super
stitious and the hysterical. They gave
no manifestation Of ignorance or hysteria
| as the TRADE Of opposition continued.
| Their only answer was that vituperation
and abuse would not solve the problem.
| Nearly 1000 of the men and women
were from New York city. They came
by special train. When Gov Glynn real
ICED how many there were he agreed to
hold the hearing In the Assembly
Chamber. II was packed, and even then
hundreds OF persons were unable to gain
/ admission.
In 1907 the physicians Of the State
had enacted a provision Of law governing
| the practice of medicine which the Chris
tian Scientists claimed would shut them
out. At that time there were added to the
law desired by Z physicians the words
''or the practice of the religious tenets
OF any church,
Want Law Made plain.
The CHRISTIAN Scientists contended that
this would exempt them. but since then
one of their number has been prosecuted
| and convicted at the instance OF the medi-
cal societies. aud his -nass .isNow on the
way to the Court of Appeals. Now the
Christian Scientists declare they want the
! legislative intent OF 1907 made so plain
| that the courts cannot misconstrue II.
Almuth c. Vandiver. counsel for tn,
Medical Society of New York County, de-
clared that the society's chief objection
TO the bill was that IL would admit TO the
practice OF medicine without educational
or professional qualification "a vast horde
of so-called mental healers who may ply
their vocation of chicanery and deceit
among the ignorant. superstitous and
hysterical to the great danger OF their
health and the safety of the people"
J, Richard Kelvin. representing the
Kings County MEDICAL Society: Lewis r.
Nefr Of the State Medical Society. DR.
Abraham Jacob and Dr. Joseph J. OCon-
nell also opposed the bill.
Dr. Downing Opposes.
DIR. August a. Downing. Assistant Sta
Commissioner of Education In charge OF
higher education and professional educa
ton. representing DR.. John ". Finley,
insisted that the law was too broad in
it's provisions. so that not only Christian
Scientists but spiritualists. clairvoyants,
mesmerlsts. hypnotists and neuropaths
could practise under H.
Judge Edward w Hatch made the prin.
was one OF the weak minded men" re-
ferred to by Mr.. Vandiver. Others who
were ready to speak, but who did not get
an opportunity, were Prof. L. o. Phippln,
william ID. McCrackan. Charles T.. lie
Barber DR.. Edward r. Burton and
George TAFT.
Judge Hatch pointed out tina. a law
similar 10 this was in existence In Maine,
New hampshire, Connecticut. South Da-
kota, Tennessee and Massachusetts, and
that the Christian Scientists were s.mos,
as fully recognized In California. Colorado.
Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana. North Carolina
and Utah He pointed out that when the
! medical Organization laws for the Panama
Canal Zone were formulated they appar-
entity shut out the Christian Scientists and
that President Taft caused their amend
mcnt SO as to permit treatment In the
Canal Zone by mental or spiritual
means"
Judge Hatch speaks for nil.
"The doctors here to-day have no arg,I-
ment against the bill. urged Judge Hatch
but only vituperation and assertion. Tn,
Christian Scientists have practiscd In this
state for forty years ana none of tn,
calamities suggested by the physicians
{ has happened through the lack of con.
troll of contagious diseases. either In thi,
, state or any other state where Christian
Science Is strong.
I 1.-THE doctors lose sight of the fact tina,
we do heal and that they give us credi,
, for II but take the stand that we hay,
= no right 10 heal under the law. Then
/ we say lesalize our healing power and
pu' US within the law and give us a
e law under the Interpretation OF which
the Christian Scientists will not be ruled
Y out"
The physicians who opposed the Chris