WILLIAM LAWRENCE 



BISHOP OF MASSACHUSETTS 



(Bishop Lawrence was not in the country at the time of the hearings in 

 1901. The following represents what he said at the similar hearings in 1900.) 



WE are all here on behalf of humanity, so that I do not 

 think any one on one side can speak of any one on the 

 other as more or less humane. 



There is in Massachusetts a profession that is devoted 

 to the best interests of humanity, and that has the con- 

 fidence of the people. I speak of the medical profession. 

 If we are ill, we send for a physician. If one of our family 

 is suffering from a mortal disease, we send for a physician. 

 If a child is dangerously ill the mother at once sends for 

 her physician. She trusts him with the life of her child. 

 The first point that I want to emphasize is that this matter 

 can be left, with perfect confidence on the part of the 

 community, to a profession that has shown itself worthy of 

 such confidence, in its attitude toward humanity as well 

 as toward the lower animals. 



Now there are, as I understand it, already two restric- 

 tions : one is the law against cruelty to animals. If there 

 is a case of cruelty to animals on the part of any citizen, 

 be he doctor or layman, it is possible to take the matter to 

 the courts as provided. There is, however, what seems 

 to me a far greater restriction, that is, the high standing 

 and high principle of the men in the medical profession. 

 Granted that familiarity with vivisection may have pro- 

 moted in certain men such a degree of callousness to pain 

 that there may have been instances of wanton cruelty in 

 vivisection, I am sure that the general sentiment of the 

 profession would condemn this, would check it, --would 



