The thought has come that I should acknowledge the great benefits that have come to me during my study of Christian Science in the past year.
When Science came to me I was a very unhappy, dissatisfied woman, without a ray of hope that the future would be any less dreary than the past had been. It seemed to me that I was here without any consent of my own, obliged to endure the turmoil and strife of a daily struggle for existence. All around me were contention and rivalry. Jealousy and greed, envy and hate, seemed to rule the world.
With an inexpressible longing I yearned for something higher and better, but knew not how to obtain it. I knew a few—very few—people who seemed happy and satisfied, but the great mass of mankind were like sheep without a shepherd. Why are we here? and what is it all for? were questions which daily confronted me, and I sought in vain for an answer. So great was my desire to know what came after death that it was robbed of all fear, and I looked with feelings akin to envy upon those who were fortunate enough to pass on. I sought solace in study and travel. The Bible was a sealed book to me.
Now how changed are all things! God as Life, Truth, and Love, as Divine Mind, reveals a new world wherein old things pass away. Truly, the people that walked in darkness have seen a great light, is clearly demonstrated in my case. I had heard of Christian Science for several years, had known of a number of cases of healing, but as I thought Science was only a new system of healing and I was a healthy woman, I gave it no thought. But when finally, after considerable hesitation, I attended First Church of Christ, Scientist, Chicago, I felt from the joyous, happy faces of those in attendance that they had an insight into life that I did not possess, and after pondering it a while I decided that even if I could not accept all of what I thought was their teachings, I would take what I could.
About this time a dear Scientist sent me an invitation to hear Mrs. Knott lecture. I came away from that lecture feeling much as I think Paul felt on the road to Damascus. So great was the power of Truth that I was a changed woman. Immediately I bought "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" and that, together with my Bible, has been my daily companion.
Every day gives me fresh proofs of God's goodness, and the trials which seemed to make my life a burden, were only purifying fires removing the dross.
I am a teacher, and words fail to express the benefit Science is to me in my schoolroom. The petty annoyances that seem to beset the teacher's pathway are removed by an understanding—even the little understanding I have—that God's law is harmony, and nothing can annul it.
I want to give one demonstration which shows the powerlessness of a lie.
In my Latin classes it was found that the work was not being done legitimately, that pupils were passing off as their own the work of others. This matter was reported to the superintendent, who interviewed the suspected parties, and received a flat denial of the accusation. That seemed to settle the matter, but I was not willing to yield to what I knew was a lie, so, after some time spent in prayer and fasting, the demonstration was made. I saw so clearly that a lie has no power, that when, with the superintendent's consent, I faced error with Truth, every pupil who was guilty of the offence, confessed fully. And so complete was the demonstration of Love, that not any hard feelings were engendered, but some of the pupils, upon whom the most severe punishment fell, confessed that they got no more than they deserved.
In the hotel where I stayed was a child who had the claim held over her of "going frantic" when there was an alarm of fire. One night we were all awakened by that doleful clang. I declared Truth immediately, and after meeting the various claims of error as I heard them voiced. I hunted up the child and found her as mortal mind said she would be. I coaxed her to my room, took her on my lap, and declared she was "God's own little girl and He would take care of her," and in a few moments she looked into my face and said, "Why, I don't feel a bit afraid now." She laid down on my bed and rested quietly until her father came for her. The next morning her mother thanked me for what I had done, saying the child said she was not at all afraid in Miss W.'s room.
I am young in Science and am not a member of the church, but I give this testimony, thinking it may help some one. A dear Scientist gave me the helpful thought that one line of Truth applied is worth more than pages simply read, and following this I have been able to overcome many errors. There are many I have not solved, but a six-year-old-child may not solve a problem in Euclid, yet such problems are solved.
I wish to express my gratefulness to Mrs. Eddy for all she has done for suffering, sinning humanity.
The Journal and Sentinel too are ever welcome visitors, and never fail to bring their lessons of love and reproof.
La Fayette, Ill.
