Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1916-09-26
The Germ is Only an Effect.


teriologists who are conscientiously
striving to rescue the race from de-
struction, it may do no harm for us
to be reminded that the germ at any
rate is not a cause, but is an effect
of something else, and that thus far
all that has been said for the germ
theory of disease has come from those
who do not even pretend to know
what a germ actually is, or where
or how it originated, or whence it
derives the intelligence and power
with which it is supposed to go about
it's work The tendency of the hui
man mind to be most afraid of things
of which it knows the least is es-
pecially noticeable in the history of
the germ theory of the origin Of the
disease.
However, we are not here for the
purpose of criticizing the practice of
medicine. Indeed we cheerfully ac-
knowledge that medicine is afford
ing relief from pain and suffering
in many instances where relief might
not be afforded by any other means
in the present state of development
of thought of those who turn prefer
ably to material methods. This
means that Christian Scientists
would be the last persons in the
world to attempt to deny the use of
material remedies to those who pre-
fer such remedies and who are sat
isfied with the results obtained
therefrom.
AS matter of fact, Christian Sci
ence and material medicine are striv-
ing for the ends entirely different by
means utterly unlike; therefore no
reason exists for antagonism between
them, and there is no such antagon-
ism where the true nature of the
work of each is understood.
AS already stated, the healing of
prime object Of Christian Science
practice. But because this is not
generally recognized outside the
Christian Science ranks, and because
the .healings do constitute important
proof of the correctness of it's teach
ings, it is pertinent to refer briefly
to some of the evidence that Chris
tian Science does heal disease.
A Worldwide Movement.
The extraordinary growth Of the
movement is in itself an impressive
testimonial to the efficiency of it's
healing. Although the first Chris
tian Science church was established
only forty years ago, there are today
more than sixteen hundred such bod
les in i various parts parts Of the world,
While the largest numerical repre-
sentation is in the United States,
where Christian Science had it's be-
ginning. it's churches are to be found
quite 1lumerously in England, Can
ada, and Germany, and they are to
be found also in France, Ireland,
Scotland, Wales, Holland, Italy, Nor
way, Sweden, Switzerland, South
Africa, Australia, New Zealand,
China, the Philippines, Argentina,
Mexico, Panama, the West Indies,
and Bermuda. From virtually every
lquarter come reports of continuing
and substantial growth, corrobora-
tive evidence of which is found in
the fact that the demand for the all
thorized literature is increasing so
rapidly as to tax the constantly en-
larging publication facilities. In
one large American city the Christ
ian Science churches now number
almost a score, and leading news
paper in another large city recently
estimated that the increase among
the adherents of Christian Science
in that city during the preceding
lyear had been approximately one
hundred per cent.
In ten years past the number of
Christian Science organizations in
creased seventy per cent. The ac-
tual net gain in numbers of organi-
cations was 667, or an average Of a
little better than one per week
throughout the ten year period. The
fact that the net increase last year
was sixty-five organizations shows
the rate of increase is being well
maintained. In the ten years refer
red to, the membership of the Mother
Church, the parent organization of
the movement, has increased one
hundred and sixteen per cent, and
at the latest annual meeting of the
Mother Church the report of the
Clerk showed that the number of new
members received at that time was
the largest in the history of the
church.
These data are cited because of
their significance in the light of the
fact that this movement, which in so
hrinf Yorin5 hoe hooDD,o u,0r1d