The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-01-05
SCIENCE SIDE OF IT
Wills d. McKinstry Explains Healing
Report From Berlin.
40 the Editor Of the Topeka Sat

To the Editor of the Topeka State
Journal:
A recent issue of the State Journal
a report of the prosecution
of two Christian Science practition-
ers in the first division of the provin-
ciaI court at Berlin, Germany.
The defendants in this case are ed
ucated ladies of respectable connec-
tons and position, whose only offense
was that they tried to heal other per-
sons by Christian Science as they
themselves had been healed One of
these practitioners. Fraulein Elizabeth
Ahreis, having suffered several years
illness from growths in her stomach
and not receiving any benefit from
the physicians she consulted. among
whom was her brother, she turned to
the study of Christian Science and
was healed.
The BerIiner Tageblatt in reporting
this case gives the testimony of
thirty-fOur witnesses which was Civ
en- under oath and subject to cross
examination by the advocates for the
prosecution, who were supported by
of organized medicine,
as follows:
They all testified to having
been healed by Christian Science
of serious diseases after all med
ical aid had failed. Two women
claimed to have been healed of
was healed OF what the doctors
called cancer of the mouth The
publisher Gamer testified to his
own healing. and said he healed
his children of diphtheria in a
very short time \ young engi-
neer in a military uniform had
been healed of jaundice. Anoth-
er witness, David Saloman. healed
his son of a double rupture
Many other witnesses. young and
old men and women, business and
working people, government en-
ployees, authors and dressmakers
they all told long stories of
their healing from the most di
verse troubles such as diabetes,
ischias, Qualification of the ar
teries, malignant eruptions, poi
soning of the blood, female trou-
bles, curvature of the spine, liver
and gladstone troubles, catarrh of
the lungs. nervousness and fever.
Some of these healings were done
by the two accused practitioners.
In most of the cases the persons
healed paid a small amount to the
healers of their own accord"
Regardless of the testimony of
these thirty-four persons as to the
healing efficacy of Christian Science
given in rebuttal to the testimony of
the medical witnesses-who were
obliged to admit that these patients,
VINO passed away unuGf OhllSI1an
Science treatment, had not been cured
by medical treatment, and that one of
them could not be cured by any means.
while nothing more could be done for
the other than keep her on strict
diet-the court held that Christian
Scientists who tried TO help these pa
tients were responsible for their
death. and therefore sentenced them
to six months Imprisonment. An APP
peal from this judgment has been
made to the imperial supreme court
of Germany, by which the decision OF
the lower court will be reviewed
Meanwhile the accused ladies are en-
tirely free.
The contrast of individual liberty
between the two countries is clearly
drawn by the decision of the provin-
cia1 court of Berlin in the case above
referred to. and the following verdict
of corener's jury in New York City
December 81:
II a person dies under the
ninistrations OF Christie Science
after having, of his own free will,
chosen a healer instead of a doc
tor to care for him. no one ca n be
held responsible for his death"
Yours sincerely.
| WILLS D. M'KINSTRY.
| January 4 1915