Testimonies of Healing

It is sometimes asked if Christian Science treatment can be relied on in acute cases. I am glad to give the following proof of its power on such occasions.

About four years ago I was sent to Southern California for my health, several doctors having assured me of a perforation in one lung, which an attack of so-called bronchial pneumonia had aggravated. The information was also given me that if I should return in the spring to my temporary home in Cincinnati, I would not be able to stay there during the enervating summer heat.

In the Sentinel for May 17 an article headed "A Few Suggestions," reminded us, that although we had given some of our experiences and demonstrations at our Wednesday evening meetings, we had never sent any to our publications. We have studied Christian Science less than a year, and our understanding of this blessed Truth sometimes seems very small, yet in spite of slow progress we have had some very beautiful demonstrations.

Christian Science was first brought to my attention in 1894 through the healing of my father of serious diseases, after several years of experimenting by well-known physicians of Oakland and San Francisco. At the time of commencing Science treatment he could walk only by the aid of crutches, but three months later he had discarded even the aid of a cane.

While my case might not seem so wonderful as a great many cases, it means everything to me, for it has given me health, joy, peace, and love for God and man that I had never known before. For several years I was very miserable, taking patent medicine and doing everything I could hear of, growing worse all the time.

I first heard of Christian Science about January 1, 1896, by hearing a person tell of a method of healing which I did not then understand. Having overheard the conversation and hearing him tell of absent treatment, as soon as the conversation was ended, I made further inquiry as to the method employed, etc.

I would like to give, in a few words, my experience and that of my family since coming into Christian Science. We had our first experience with it about seven and a half years ago.

For over four years I have owed a very large debt of gratitude to Christian Science, and aside from having spoken several times at testimonial meetings, I have made no public acknowledgment of my indebtedness. Ruskin says that "every duty omitted obscures some truth we should know.

For seventeen years I was an invalid, caused by the birth of my child. Eleven years of this time I could not walk, and had to be lifted from the bed to the chair.

One cold, rainy day, January 20, 1897, an old gentleman about seventy-two years of age, entered my store to have his spectacles repaired. The first I said to him was, "How dare you venture out in such a bad day?" he replied, "I have no fear of weather," and added, "I am trying to live the life of a Christian Scientist; but am very young in Science yet.