My first knowledge of Christian Science came about two years ago, through a friend who was healed by the treatment. She explained the truths to me whenever we met, and I gladly listened, as I had for years been a sufferer. I had given up medicine and doctors' treatment, as I never had found any relief. Finally, by demonstrating what little I understood, I found relief for myself and also cured my child of the ailments that befell him.
I am a member of the first Presbyterian Church, and later the query would come to me: "Was it Christian-like to claim power to heal?" Here I began to doubt. Some months later I read Science and Health, and found all that good; but I could not understand the chapter on "Prayer and Atonement." That troubled me seriously; as I had experienced the greatest comfort in earnest prayer, and liked to go to my Heavenly Father as to an earthly parent. My prayer came to be, that, if this was real truth, God would, in some way, give me understanding to grasp it. I returned the book and awaited His time.
Eight months since, I had a fall which fractured the hip bone, rendering me unable to move for several weeks. A friend again brought me Science and Health and other Christian Science literature; all of which gave me unspeakable comfort. As I read, I gained more light as to the true Life and the unreality of evil; still, I could not seem to understand sufficiently to be satisfied of anything beyond the fact that it was the truth, and that my fall was the means of bringing it to me. I hungered and thirsted more and more after righteousness. Again I sent the book home. In my circumstances, I could not afford one until a few weeks since. I had a great deal to contend with; the injured limb being crooked and much shorter than the other. Though the gain was slow, still I never gave up hope and faith in God to right all in time.
