WE had never heard of there being such a compassionate power as Christian Science in the world, until nearly six years ago, when one of our family lay at the point of death. Then it was introduced to us through a kind friend, and resulted in the complete restoration of the dying one.
For over twenty-five years prior to this time, father had been engaged in the liquor business. As his sons reached mature years, he, with fatherly thoughtfulness, transferred this business into their hands; thus perpetuating the old reliable (?) stand, and fulfiling the Scripture by "visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children." It is, however, but justice to our parents to say, in connection with the above facts, that from my earliest childhood recollections we had been taught to walk morally erect, and in business relations, to be strictly honest.
From the time of my healing through this blessed Truth, the door of the saloon was never again opened. To the great delight of many of the villagers, Christian Science had effected what the church had long striven in vain to accomplish; namely, the removal of that old landmark, the sign, which was known the country round. It was generally acknowledged, moreover, that it had wrought a great transformation in our house. No drunkards had been reformed; it was a higher and more subtle claim of evil. Such as the world, to-day even, considers respectable drinkers had been awakened. We saw as evil that which heretofore had seemed right and good. Evil's enormity stood disclosed. We saw that though we were strong enough to resist the particular evils with which we had been dealing, we had not been doing to our fellows as we would be done by; for, we had been continually placing before many weaker ones, temptations which they were not able to withstand. Neither my brothers nor myself used tobacco in any form; yet, until Christian Science touched our hearts, we scrupled not to sell it to others! So was it also with liquors, wines, and beer. The true light not only quickened us to immediately discard all these apparent evils to mankind, but animated us with an earnest desire, from then on, to do good.
