"Freely ye have received, freely give," is the thought which actuates me to give my grateful acknowledgment of the good which I have so freely received through Christian Science.
Twelve years ago, when living in Chicago, I was very ill and had been in bed over sixteen weeks. My physician had twice called in well-known specialists for consultation over my case, and finally, as I seemed to be growing weaker all the time, they held a third consultation and decided I could never be well without an operation. They told me the result of their conference, and left to make arrangements for my reception at a hospital. As they left the house a lady called whom I knew to be interested in Christian Science—the very sight of her angered me at first, for I felt she wanted to upbraid me for not believing as she did. She, however, came to my bedside with only words of sincere sympathy for my sufferings, and said she had but just heard of my illness. We chatted for a while, and I waited to see if she would not urge the claims of Christian Science, but to my surprise she made no allu sion to it until I spitefully remarked, "I suppose you think if I used your methods of treatment I would not be where I am," to which she smilingly answered, "I don't think you would be any worse surely. I don't see that the doctors have helped you very much. Here you have lain for sixteen weeks, and are you any better than when you went to bed?" I had to acknowledge I was not, and as a matter of fact I was worse, and I then told her their final verdict—the hospital and an operation—what sort of an operation I did not know. Then she became very much in earnest, and begged that I would not submit to the knife till I had at least tried Science. She talked so encouragingly that I decided to give Science a trial for one week at least, as my friend said, "If you don't find yourself improved at the end of the week, do as you please about continuing the treatment." I will admit I had no faith that Science would help me, and decided to try it more to show the Scientists that mine was a case which would baffle their skill, and that was why I made such a point of one week's trial.
My friend knew nothing of my hateful thoughts, and agreed to bring a Scientist to me the next morning, when I should have had time to dismiss my doctor, and put aside all drugs.
