Publication information

Source:
Pennsylvania Medical Journal
Source type: journal
Document type: public address
Document title: “Address of the Governor”
Author(s): Stone, William A.
Date of publication: October 1901
Volume number: 5
Issue number: 1
Pagination: 26-28 (excerpt below includes only pages 27-28)

 
Citation
Stone, William A. “Address of the Governor.” Pennsylvania Medical Journal Oct. 1901 v5n1: pp. 26-28.
 
Transcription
excerpt
 
Keywords
William A. Stone (public addresses); William McKinley (recovery: role of prayer).
 
Named persons
William McKinley.
 
Notes
The address (excerpted below) was given on 26 September 1901 in Philadelphia as part of the 51st annual meeting of the Medical Society of the State of Pennsylvania.

“By Hon. William A. Stone, Governor of Pennsylvania” (p. 26).
 
Document


Address of the Governor
[excerpt]

     I have always admired the medical profession; I do not mean to say that I admire every man in it; but I have always been proud of the profession and admire [27][28] the profession. I think it is the best profession on the earth. I would rather be able to go into the sick room and save the life of a little child than to save the ticket in a state campaign. You have done a great deal of work; you have accomplished results, and the idea is getting to be prevalent that prayers alone will not save a man when he is sick. If praying would have saved a man, William McKinley would be living yet. Do not understand me as arguing against prayer; I am not. I think it is a great comfort to the one who prays and it does not hurt anybody, but there is no use going to the patient and prescribing this faith cure Christian Science. Any man or woman to-day who relies on so-called Christian Science is a crank, worse than a fool. A fool is not responsible but a crank is. Christian Science is all right to practice when you are perfectly well, but not when you are sick. Christian Science in typhoid fever—nonsense! There is no doubt about the fact to-day that respect for the medical profession is growing. Common sense credits the medical profession to-day with saving life and restoring people to health, and it is right that it should be so credited. You ought to have it. Your profession has achieved more brilliant results than mine. I have not anything against politics, but the results are not always satisfactory.