In looking back over the experiences of eleven years' study and demonstration of Christian Science, as revealed through our text-book, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," and remembering with inexpressible gratitude the many evidences of the healing power of Truth and Love in myself and others during this time, my thought centres particularly upon three demonstrations of impersonal healing. By impersonal healing is meant, according to my understanding, healing that comes as the result of speaking, reading, or thinking the Truth, with no thought of giving a "treatment," and no arguing against disease or sin for any particular individual.
The first incident of the three I refer to, occurred several years ago. A friend who had suffered from an internal trouble for several years, had finally yielded to the physician's opinion that a surgical operation alone would remove the cause of her trouble. I had frequently talked to her of Christian Science, but had never suggested that she should take treatment instead of the operation, as I felt she should choose for herself. One day while I was visiting her, she said she had a severe headache. I asked her if she would like to have me read something in Christian Science. She assented. I had with me the pamphlet, "Historical Sketch of Christian Science Mind-Healing," by Mrs. Eddy, and read it. As I read I lost all consciousness of reading to anyone. I felt as if I were being read to instead of reading. When the pamphlet was finished my friend's headache was gone. A few days afterwards she visited her physician in preparation for the operation, which was to be performed in a short time, but to the physician's surprise, as well as her own, there was no need of any operation. The healing was already done, and Christian Science was acknowledged as the healer.
My first thought on hearing this was one of gratitude to God for the wonderful revelation of Truth; the next thought was one of discouragement, for I felt that if I had been asked to treat my friend, my own consciousness of the disease, and of the law for the necessity of the operation, might have retarded and possibly prevented the demonstration.
