Chapter XII - Christian Science Practice
432:1
The next witness testifies: –
The next witness testifies: –
432:2
I am Nerve, the State Commissioner for Mortal Man.
I am Nerve, the State Commissioner for Mortal Man.
I am intimately acquainted with the plaintiff, Personal
Sense, and know him to be truthful and upright, whereas
Mortal Man, the prisoner at the bar, is capable of false-
hood. I was witness to the crime of liver-complaint. I
knew the prisoner would commit it, for I convey messages
from my residence in matter, alias brain, to body.
432:9
Another witness is called for by the Court of Error
Another witness is called for by the Court of Error
and says: –
432:11
I am Mortality, Governor of the Province of Body, in
I am Mortality, Governor of the Province of Body, in
which Mortal Man resides. In this province there is a stat-
ute regarding disease, – namely, that he upon whose per-
son disease is found shall be treated as a criminal and
punished with death.
432:16
The Judge asks if by doing good to his neighbor, it is
The Judge asks if by doing good to his neighbor, it is
possible for man to become diseased, transgress the laws,
and merit punishment, and Governor Mortality replies in
the affirmative.
432:20
Another witness takes the stand and testifies: –
Another witness takes the stand and testifies: –
432:21
I am Death. I was called for, shortly after the report of
I am Death. I was called for, shortly after the report of
the crime, by the officer of the Board of Health, who pro-
tested that the prisoner had abused him, and that my pres-
ence was required to confirm his testimony. One of the
prisoner's friends, Materia Medica, was present when I
arrived, endeavoring to assist the prisoner to escape from
the hands of justice, alias nature's so-called law; but my
appearance with a message from the Board of Health
changed the purpose of Materia Medica, and he decided at
once that the prisoner should die.
Judge Medicine charges the jury
433:1
The testimony for the plaintiff, Personal Sense, being
The testimony for the plaintiff, Personal Sense, being
closed, Judge Medicine arises, and with great solemnity
addresses the jury of Mortal Minds. He an-
alyzes the offence, reviews the testimony, and
explains the law relating to liver-complaint.
His conclusion is, that laws of nature render disease
homicidal. In compliance with a stern duty, his Honor,
Judge Medicine, urges the jury not to allow their judg-
ment to be warped by the irrational, unchristian sugges-
tions of Christian Science. The jury must regard in such
cases only the evidence of Personal Sense against Mortal
Man.
433:13
As the Judge proceeds, the prisoner grows restless. His
As the Judge proceeds, the prisoner grows restless. His
sallow face blanches with fear, and a look of despair and
death settles upon it. The case is given to the jury. A
brief consultation ensues, and the jury returns a verdict
of "Guilty of liver-complaint in the first degree."
Mortal Man sentenced
433:18
Judge Medicine then proceeds to pronounce the solemn
Judge Medicine then proceeds to pronounce the solemn
sentence of death upon the prisoner. Because he has
loved his neighbor as himself, Mortal Man has
been guilty of benevolence in the first degree,
and this has led him into the commission of the second
crime, liver-complaint, which material laws condemn as
homicide. For this crime Mortal Man is sentenced to
be tortured until he is dead. "May God have mercy on
your soul," is the Judge's solemn peroration.
433:27
The prisoner is then remanded to his cell (sick-bed),
The prisoner is then remanded to his cell (sick-bed),
and Scholastic Theology is sent for to prepare the fright-
ened sense of Life, God, – which sense must be immortal,
– for death.
Appeal to a higher tribunal
433:31
Ah! but Christ, Truth, the spirit of Life and the
Ah! but Christ, Truth, the spirit of Life and the
friend of Mortal Man, can open wide those prison doors