My father began the study of Christian Science when I was a child. Previous to his investigation of this Science, he resolutely denied the existence of God, and he thought that to have arrived at such a conclusion was indicative of very profound and logical thinking. His purpose in reading "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy was to obtain a correct statement of what he then termed the author's views, so that he might be qualified to denounce Christian Science in an address to be delivered to a medical society, of which he was a member. So absorbed was he in his first night's study of the textbook that he continued to read until a very late hour. As a result of this short period of study, he found on arising the following morning that miraculous physical, mental, and moral changes had taken place. He had experienced such a complete metamorphosis in his thinking that in a very short time his work as a physician and surgeon was discontinued.
With a desire to know by what divine impulsion such radical moral and physical changes had been wrought in my father, my mother also began the study of Science and Health. A short time thereafter I was enrolled in a Christian Science Sunday School.
After I was grown, there was a period during which materially pleasurable interests occupied my time and thought, to the exclusion of any consistent daily study of the Bible, together with Science and Health and Mrs. Eddy's other writings. I was unmindfully turning from God and looking to materiality for happiness and health. This condition of thought became very apparent to me when I began to fail in health. A physical condition of such a seemingly serious nature developed that I knew it could not be overcome by anything but Christian Science. I began to read and study the Bible and Science and Health for hours each day. For several months my strength was steadily being depleted, but as I continued to study, and as I earnestly tried to use the definite rules our beloved Leader has given to us in our textbook, I began to improve. Although from day to day the gain was almost imperceptible, I was finally completely healed. I am most grateful for this and many valuable lessons learned during the experience.
