The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-10-30
SAYS CURE JUSTIFIED
MOTHERS CONFIDENCE
w. j, Tucker Issues Statement tf
Correct False Impression OF
Christian Science.

In an effort to correct the mistaken
impression created by his statement
with reference TO Christian Science
treatment OF the case OF the little
Norton girl. who died of diphtheria
last week w. J, Tucker. OF the Chris
tan Science Church, last night Issued
the following statement:
II an erroneous impression was
conveyed by my interview which APP
peared In Saturdays press. to the ef-
feet that hostility TO physicians and
thetr practice animated that state
ntent ! desire 10 correct It
Christian Scientists generally and
myself included have the highest re-
spect for those members OF the meci-
cal profession who are deyottng their
lives 10 the effort TO relieve human
suffering in the way and by the means
which seem % them to be most eff
cacioas.
The cure of case OF dlphtheria
to which / previously referred &C.
Cured IN 81. Louis In that case when
the child's symptoms Indicated diph-
liberia 81 physician was called. Chris
When the doctor arrived end made
an examination, ne stated taal there
was unmistakable evidence tEHI the
disease had been present, but that II
was healing rapidly and the child
quickly recovered. Surely. this was
good reason for the mother to have
confidence in Christian Science treat
ment and no parent or guardian could
be accused of negligence who secures
- - q ~ n
in which she has tho most confidence.
On the contrary. would she not fail
TO do her duty II she did not secure
-sueff treatment wish 10 state most
positively that &c ia the teaching and
practice OF Christian Science TO obey
the law. and SO far from trying TO
evade the requirement of reporting
cases of contagious diseases, We do
report such cases even II only sus-
pected. In the present case. as soon
as 1t was known that It was con-
tagious disease. the doctor was called
and made the report. as was his duty.
Some OF the reports have stated
that the physician was called almost
at the last moment. but the fact Is
that he was called three and a half
days before the end.
There is no desire on our part to
attack the medical profession or TO
criticize it's methods. We recognize
the necessity for their work as long
as il IS desired and believed in and
when the ministry OF Christian Sci
ence Ia better understood Ii will not
be considered that those who turn TO
1t for healing are having nothing done
for them.
All informed people, and this GER
tainly includes the doctors. knew that
Christian Science Is recognized
method of cure and the fact OF its
cures is easily provable, In view OF
these facts, is It not a little unfair
TO attack its practice when an occa-
sional failure occurs. especially in
eiew of the fallibility of other sys-
sms.
Should not all recognized systems
Ne treated with the same considera-
on?
II Christian Science did not heal.
uplift and bless mankind 1t would
soon fall.
Most of the States. including vir-
ginia, have made its practice legal by
statute law. and we believe it to ne
legal by constitutional law in all
States. Some States have made 1t
legal by specifically naming 1t in the
law. This recognition came only at
ter 1t was fully established that it
does heal a large percentage OF its
cases Why should one who died un-
der its treatment be characterized as
martyr" any more than one who
died under other methods of treat
ment?
In conclusion. let me repeat what
/ stated in my previous interview, that
I do not wish to criticize the attend
ing physician. On the contrary. he
was most considerable and kind and
used his best Judgment in his treat
ment: in other words. he did his best
and the practitioner did her best, both
endeavoring to come up to the re-
quirement OF the love that is the full
filing of the law"
The disciples healed many cases Of
all kinds of disease. but they failed
in@ the case of the epileptic boy, on
account Of lack Of sufficient spiritual
advancement to meet that particular
case. Jesus, however. possessing this
advancexhent, healed the boy. proving
the method which both He and the
dtsciples used to be correct ana equal