Chapter XII - Christian Science Practice
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
434:1
and set the captive free. Swift on the wings of divine
and set the captive free. Swift on the wings of divine
Love, there comes a despatch: "Delay the execution;
the prisoner is not guilty." Consternation fills
the prison-yard. Some exclaim, "It is con-
trary to law and justice." Others say,
"The law of Christ supersedes our laws; let us follow
Christ."
Counsel for defence
434:8
After much debate and opposition, permission is ob-
After much debate and opposition, permission is ob-
tained for a trial in the Court of Spirit, where Christian
Science is allowed to appear as counsel for
the unfortunate prisoner. Witnesses, judges
and jurors, who were at the previous Court of Error,
are now summoned to appear before the bar of Justice
and eternal Truth.
434:15
When the case for Mortal Man versus Personal Sense
When the case for Mortal Man versus Personal Sense
is opened, Mortal Man's counsel regards the prisoner
with the utmost tenderness. The counsel's earnest,
solemn eyes, kindling with hope and triumph, look up-
ward. Then Christian Science turns suddenly to the
supreme tribunal, and opens the argument for the
defence: –
434:22
The prisoner at the bar has been unjustly sentenced.
The prisoner at the bar has been unjustly sentenced.
His trial was a tragedy, and is morally illegal. Mortal
Man has had no proper counsel in the case. All the testi-
mony has been on the side of Personal Sense, and we shall
unearth this foul conspiracy against the liberty and life of
Man. The only valid testimony in the case shows the
alleged crime never to have been committed. The pris-
oner is not proved "worthy of death, or of bonds."
434:30
Your Honor, the lower court has sentenced Mortal Man
Your Honor, the lower court has sentenced Mortal Man
to die, but God made Man immortal and amenable to
Spirit only. Denying justice to the body, that court com-