The decision of the Supreme Court of Rhode Island, published in full in this number, in addition to its general importance, settling as it does, on the negative side, the contention of many that, because Christian Science cures sickness, it bears such a relation to the practice of medicine that it should come within the laws regulating that system of practice, embraces several features of special interest.
1. The decision distinctly recognizes Christian Science as a religion, placing its churches on an equality, as to its legal status, with other churches. This should be a strong hint to those churches that taboo Christian Science churches, and would rule them altogether out of the religious pale. It may be of interest also to certain of the Judiciary of Philadelphia.
2. The decision recognizes Christian Science prayer; in other words, that Christian Scientists do pray for the recovery of the sick, and that such prayers may heal the sick; also that praying for the sick is in no sense practising medicine.
