At each succeeding session of the legislatures of some of the states a class of physicians renew their efforts to secure legislation, the ostensible purpose of which is to protect the people against fraud and imposition at the hands of quacks and charlatans. This purpose is entirely laudable. No class of citizens more earnestly than Christian Scientists desire that the public should be thus protected. So far as the medical profession can be protected within the rights of the citizen guaranteed by the constitution of the nation and of the states composing the nation, none are more willing than Christian Scientists that it shall have all the protection it desires. But when legislation is sought which, if enacted and enforced, would become subversive of individual rights, leading on to monopoly, oppression, tyranny, and ostracism, contrary to the spirit and purpose of our free system of government, Christian Scientists feel in duty bound to raise their voices in earnest protest.
Moreover, it is plainly apparent of late years that in nearly every proposed bill of the kind in question there is either an open or a more or less carefully guarded provision intended to prevent Christian Scientists from healing sickness according to their method. It has seldom, if ever, transpired, however, that the medical profession have been united in their efforts to secure this kind of legislation. More frequently than otherwise, the ablest and most successful members of this profession take a decided stand against any legislation of a protective sort. They argue that a profession as ancient and as long-tried as theirs, should be able to stand upon its own merits, and needs not the protecting arm of the state to commend it to the people or to enable it to perpetuate itself. This fact was notably illustrated in Texas last year, when members of the Legislature who were physicians became the most earnest advocates of the right of Christian Scientists to heal disease according to their method.
The spirit of trust and monopoly is so rife in these days that it is not strange some members of the medical profession should be touched by it, and cry out in favor of class legislation on their own behalf, especially the class that thinks it sees in Christian Science a serious menace to its ability to perpetuate its system as an exclusive one. We can easily pardon, and to some extent even sympathize with, this apprehension; but there is a law which is paramount to every consideration of persons and of class. This law has ever asserted itself in human affairs and ever will. It is the law of eternal Right. Many physicians are candid enough to admit that Christian Science is doing a better healing work than is possible to their profession. Others are compelled by force of invincible proof to make such admission, while still others, not yet ready to go so far, admit its superiority in certain classes of diseases. Some leading members of the medical profession in other states have abandoned the practice of medicine to adopt that of Christian Science.
