CHRISTIAN SCIENCE ON TRIAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11620, 6 April 1901, Page 2 (Supplement)

CHRISTIAN SCIENCE ON TRIAL .

Chbistian Science, with its theories ; and beliefs, was the subject of inquiry jn New York lately, before. : Surrogate Fitzgerald, during the examination of Dr. Allan McLane Hamilton, who was called to testify to the mental ' condition :of Miss Helen C. Brush, whose will, giving about- 75,000 dollars (£15,000) to the First Church ;of Christ, Scientist, is contested by her relatives. Miss Brush became a convert to the faith about five years prior to her death, and on that account was estranged from some of the members of her family.-: I

Thus far the evidence has been in effect that she believed she was cured of consumption by Christian Science, that she did not take any drugs during her last illness, that she believed she could live even after, all the blood ;,was. drawn from her body, and that Christian Science healers could bring about cures just as effectively as surgeons, but without the aid of instruments.

A hypothetical question, embodying many of the facts and circumstances given in evidence relative to the faith of Miss Brush in Christian Science and what she had said about it, was put to the physician, and he was asked to say what opinion he formed from those statements as to the mental condition of Miss Brush.: ~ .;'■■ I

■ Dr. Hamilton said he considered she was of unsound mind, and became so when she. I formed the conclusion that cures could be affected by Christian Science healers. ; : "Is it a sign of insanity," asked John M. Bowers, " if a person believes when all the blood is drawn from the body she would still liveshould the person believe that fact and act on it?"' ;■■'. ■ I

• "It"would.amount to an insane delusion,'' replied the witness. ■ . "Is a belief that germ diseases can be cured by Christian Science an insane belief?" asked Mr. Bowers.

" It is," was the answer.

Dr. Hamilton expressed the ; opinion that Miss Brush was not of sound mind, but she could apparently be rational on certain subjects. He said there are persons in this city in business who have insane delusions on certain subjects. He did not think Miss Brush had the capacity to dispose of her estate, and considered her mental condition was such? that she would act under the delusions, which, he said, were largely the result of belief in Christian Science, due. to the 1 teachings of the Christian Science Church.: He said consumption often affected the mental condition of its victims and was frequently accompanied by delusions. The fact that Miss Brush refused to have the services of a physician while she was suffering from consumption strengthened his belief! that she was of unsound mind. He considered Miss Brush, from the evidence described in the case, irrational victim of delusions. ' ■'- '

When William Rand, jun., took tip the i cross-examination of the physician, he asked why he considered Miss Brush insane, to which Dr. Hamilton replied: —" Because of her delusions, one of them being that all her blood could be pumped out and she would still live."

_Dr. Hamilton said he considered Miss' Brush s belief that she had been cured of I consumption by Christian Science a delusion. Q. : Do you say belief that the spirit of bod can cure organic disease is an insane delusion? A. I do. __ Q. Do you believe a person believing the Divine mind can cure disease through human agency without material aid is to that extent insane? A. I do. .-

■ Q. No matter how many persons have that belief? A. Such delusions are contagious. A vast number of persons may share them. ','. Q. Do you believe in punishing the insane? A. Ido not. ; / ,'■-. ~■/■■■:. ~,r . ■

Q. When you say belief in the power of God to cure disease without the aid of the human mind is an insane delusion, do you say so because such power is in.your opinion repugnant to human belief? A. Because it is repugnant to science, and all scientific belief, i teaching, and research. v". * ••:.-.Q. Do you understand me to mean, when I speak of God's power to cure disease without' ' material. means, ' to consist of such a power acting through a human being? A. do. \ '.' .'■.■;• ■ ':,:;/..: * . :',:',

The physician confessed that he was not an expert in theology, but said he believed a person who believed in the power of the Divine mind to cure organic disease' through huiuaii agency was insane*: ; ;'• " ;■•"•'• : """ : 'J