From the first time that I entered a Christian Science church I felt that God was there, but immediately to prove the truth of this teaching did not seem altogether simple, there was so much latent error to be stirred and destroyed. One hot summer day on the Hudson, it seemed to me impossible to sit up and read Science and Health, I felt so very ill, and I quietly retired to my room to rest. While scarce asleep I heard some one pace back and forth in my room, repeating over and over again, "I love God. I am strong. I love God. I am strong." I turned about with some effort, and as I observed that it was my nephew, I asked, "N., what are you saying?" He seemed surprised,—he evidently had not observed me,—but after a pause, replied, "Why, if I love God, I must be strong," and quickly left the room.
I felt rebuked. N. was not yet nine years of age, had only heard a few of us read the Quarterly lessons every morning under the trees, and had had little, if any, definite instruction in Science. I did not even know the Scientific Statement of Being, and was only beginning to understand Science and Health, although I had read it faithfully for several months. I arose, took a long ride on my bicycle, repeating the words of the child, and thus continued, trying to realize that God's child must be strong, until in the course of a few days I was in the very best of health. Later it was explained to me that the other children at the hotel, had resolved on a certain day to rob a neighbor's pear orchard, and that if N. would not join them they would "fix him." One of the number had informed N. that he might be on his guard, and the dear child had gone to be alone with God, and in that struggle came to the conclusion, which was duly reported, that do what they would, he could do only what was right. This message had so rebuked the robbers that their meeting was indefinitely postponed. No more pears were stolen that summer. Tears of joy came to my eyes as I learned of the manliness of that little fellow and of the power of Truth, and often as the way has seemed dark and temptations great, I have remembered the self-evident truth so sweetly uttered, that if I love God, Good, I must be strong.
Dorchester, Mass.
