RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1872, 4 October 1913, Page 9

RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY.

DOCTORS AT CHURCH. "OUR MODERN FATHER CONFESSORS." NOTABLE ADDRESS BY DR. INGE. A' large number of the doctors who took part in tho International Medical Congress recently held in London attended ji special service in St. Paxil's Cathedral at which tho Dean (Dr. Inge) delivered a strikingly interesting address. "The doctors have much to teach us," said Dr. Inge; "I am going to urge very respectfully in tho course of this sermon that tliey do not make their yoices heard quito enough. In their private practico they have to a large extent succeeded to some of the functions of tho mediaeval priests. It is they who now hear tho confessions of anxious and conscience-stricken penitents: it is they who prescribe dietry disciplines and various quaint pennances; it is they who send peoplo on pilgrimages to distant lands. " Moreover, owing to tho stato of neglect into which the art of spiritual thorapeutics has fallen' in Protestant countries, the physician usually knows more than the clergyman about the real springs of action, tho secrot causes of sin and sorrow, the subtle and delicate influences by which soul and body affect each other, tho mysterious and melancholy trammels of morbid heredity, and tho unrecognised heroism of struggles against it. To him, and not always to the clergyman, aro known the storms and stress which often accompany tho beginning and sometimes the end of tho sexual life, the nervous instability which may show itself in mental depression, in foolish and violent partisanship, m loss of natural affection, And in many other obscure ways. In short, when a physician of the soul preaches to: physicians of the body he is presuming to instruct ' t'hoso who probably know more of his own trado than ho does himself.

Religion and Health. " Though the mutual understanding between physicians of souls and bodies is by no means so complete as it should be, common sense ana observation do frequently suggest to the physician an appeal to moral and religious motives, and to the clergyman that the case before him is one for the physician rather than for himself. I am not competent to say whether a physician would find it worth while to study the best Catholic manuals of spiritual direction; but I havo no doubt that the clergy would find themselves amply repaid for time spent in acquiring a knowledge of medical psychology. Possessed of this knowledge, a clergyman might often bo o Valued helper to tho doctor in the sick room, instead of only ooming in at the last as tho herald of the undertaker.

"The true priest does wield a spiritual dynamic which, if he knows the limitations imposed on him by Nature's laws, may bo a potent adjunct to the art of the physician. The religion of Christ is a fact, and not only in the transcendental sphere. ' From the hygienic side,' writes an American professor of medioino, ' there is a tremendous advantage to be gained from tho religious appeal whenever it can be used.' Even a little Knowledge of this kind will sometimes enable us to see what is the matter with a person whose conduct is causing his friends anxiety.

Coming to the Point. " After this preamble I oome to the point which I wish with all possible respect to press upon the leaders of tho medical . profession. They are, as I haivo said, our modern father confessors. Men and women now go to them who formerly' wont to the clergy. '1 hoy havo earned) and they have received, tlio confidence of all who are in trouble about their bodies, and of , many who are in trouble about thoir souls. No one can speak too gratefully of the way in which this, work is done, of tho skill, tho kiudness, the understanding sympathy, tho charitable, but not too easygoing, toleration 01 human infirmity which tho patient can depend on receiving from his medical adviser. Tho public has no cause to grumble if tho physician says that his duties to his patients leave liim no time for anything else.

The Question. " Nevertheless I do wish to put this question. Does tho mcdical profession as a wholo take its proper part in guiding and influencing publio opinion in those matters wherein its _ members alono can speak with authority ? "I remember a short biography of that great man, Sir James Paget, written by a former Canon of this Cathedral, a friend and admirer _ of _ that eminent surgeon. After doing justice to his many great qualities, the bwgrapher (if I remember right) complains that Paget seems to haivo Buttered from ' State-blindness,' by which ho means to indicate that his 'hero was too iudif.ferent to social reform. Would it bo altogether untruo to. say that the majority of physicians and surgeons aro content to do their best for their patients and keep for tho most part out of public affairs even when matters whicli they understand bettor than anyone elso are under discussion? Thoro arc nono who in private conversation talk moro sanely and wisely about such questions. Their freedom from prejudico and sentimentality is most refreshing, and justifies the saying of Nietzcho that tho best thing about science is t'lio pure and wholesome air that blows round it. Are Dootors State-Blind? " Wo hajvo felt this invigorating atmosphere in reading the reports of this great congress. But when a measure is brought in, such as tho Mental Deficiency Bill this year, where is tho medical profession?- Some leading physicians did speak out. But did tho profession throw its w'liolo weight into tho scalo in support of tho Government, when two or three unscrupulous obstructives wero trying to destroy tho Bill? A few did so, but most of tho work, 1 think, was left to a society of laymen. "There aro other matters in which very much might bo done by legislation for tho health of tho nation, matters which no doubt aro as yet not practical politics, but wliioh might bccomo so if scienco would speak out and go on speaking. For scientifio men aro Intended to, eivon in an ago which despises intellect. "A man may forgot that lio has a mind, and deny that ho lias a soul; but he cannot got rid of his'body. All those problems of heredity and schemes for tho improvement of tlio human stock, which are grouped under tho now word ougenics, are attracting increasing attention, oven among the intelligent working classes. Would it not bo possiblo for tho medical profession to recognise that t'lioy aro called to ail oven higher duty than that of keepiing tho breath in their patients' bodies as long as possible, a duty which, as nono knowbetter than they, is often of doubtful publio adivautago? Educating Publio Opinion. "To educate public opinion is a painful duty, but in a dcmocratio State it must bo faced, and each of the great professions has its allotted t-aslt in keeping tho public woll informed in tlio subject on which it can speak with authority. If they do not undertake this work, it will not bo done at all. Professional politicians cannot do it. If the State is an organism as wo aro constantly told, tho groat professions aro its organs, with definite functions to perform in the economy of tho wholo. If they fail in this, there will bo what St. Paul calls ' schism in tlio body '; thoro will bo diseaso in tho body politic. "So far os ono can Drodiot, natural

science, find the science of health in must_ hold an ovor-iucreas-' ing prominenco iu the lifo of nations, lii all dreams of a future Utopia largo drafts are made on tlio future resources of medical science. And the history, of the last 100 years justifies the hope that far more may bo achieved in this way for human welfare and happiness than by any political or economic changes. We may look forward to a tiflie when many of the diseases which hew ravage humanity will have gone tho way of leprosy and typhus; when some morally unobjectionable way of regulating population will have been discovered; when the aiverage health, strength ana beauty of tho people will ba greatly enhanced; and ,when thesa crimes and vices which crop up, as if by fatality, iu tainted stocks will ba comparatively rare.

The Future of the Raoo. ' Tho knowledge which makes this real progress possible is a divine revelation \ intended to be used. As it advances ' it will lighten tho task of tho religious teacher, tho moralist, and the social reformer, and will make tho work of the doctor less tragic than it often ia now. The human race at present is a mere caricature of what, it may bo in ; tho distant future if science is allowedi to pursue her bcneficent course un-j checked by that false kind of humani- : tarianifem which is kind only to ba cruel. Intellectual and moral improvement will be as great as physical; tha race will make a long strido forward to* wards tho perfect man. "All this may be; wo cannot say that it must be. There is no law of progress; all will ha<vo to be done by,' purposive effort. Tho most inspiring' faith of our day is the confident belief. that purposive effort, guided by expert' knowledge, may achieve great things for tho human race. This taith already directs our political lifo; it should also be a beacon light to science. I haiva hinted, perhaps presumptuously, that the medical. profession might use this l weapon of ooncerted and' collective action in the public interest more than it does at present. Tho Criticism is afci any rate prompted by tho sincorest ro- : spect, and by tho wish to see tho new : knowledge which God is every year put-' ting within our reach used to tho ful-' lest extent for tho good of our contemporaries and tho still greater good of those who shall come after."