In England, rightly or wrongly (except in isolated instances, the latter), there is a popular impression that anything emanating from America in the way of journalistic statements must be taken cum grano salis, and a very large one at that sometimes. Noticing that in the Journal the testimonies of healing and other demonstrations are, for the most part, American or Canadian, for the benefit of my fellow-countrymen who may be doubting Thomases, I write to give them a few personal experiences of Christian Science as a healing agent.
I am an Englishman, and a solicitor of the Supreme Court of JudicatureA correction was made in the September 1899 Journal: "The article, 'To Englishmen' in the August Journal was by Thomas C. Dawson, not Thomas E. Dawson. On page 343, line 38, Jurisdiction should read Judicature." in England, entered on the roll the 24th day of July, A. D. 1889, on which roll my name still appears, although I am now practising law in Canada. I suppose, therefore, I may lay claim to being probably the first English lawyer who has had the privilege of bearing testimony in these pages to the healing and uplifting power of Christian Science as set forth and expounded in the text-book "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mrs. Mary Baker G. Eddy, the grandest and noblest manifestation of womanhood of the nineteenth century, the revered and loved authoress of a book which, if perused in its entirety, carefully, thoughtfully, and honestly, from beginning to end, putting aside, as far as possible, all bigotry, preconceptions, and prejudices, will do more for the reader thereof physically and spiritually, than all the books he has ever read or can read, not excepting the Bible, for he will there find the interpretation of the Holy Scriptures, and his understanding will be enlarged and enlightened as to the truths therein contained. Let me say that all my life I have been a staunch member of the Church of England, and up to nearly two years ago a firm believer in materia medica. In my humble opinion, there is no dissent in Christian Science from the said Church of England, but an ascent, an expansion, a going onward and upward from the point where dogmatic teaching and theology leave off.
My experiences of Christian Science as a healing agent are as follows:—
