About five years ago Christian Science came into my home. My wife, who had been an invalid for many years under a complication of claims, generally termed nervous prostration, was healed after a few treatments. We had tried all schools of medicine, magnetic and dietary treatments, change of climate, and numerous specialists, but without any lasting results, and nothing remained but the inevitable operation (this always is suggested when everything else fails). After recovery from the operation, we received some encouragement, but in a few weeks several of the old claims returned. My wife had known of Christian Science through the healing of a sister, and by her was persuaded to try it. She responded almost immediately to the treatment, and within a few weeks was completely healed. There was no question about her cure, it was self-evident; yet while giving credit to Christian Science I did not accept it at that time.
My wife's gratitude for her recovery expressed itself in a desire to learn more of what she considered a wonderful cause. She took up the study of Science and Health, went through a class, and became a member of the local church, also of the Mother Church. About this time my daughter (fourteen years old) was taken with scarlet fever. My wife allowed me to decide whether we should call a doctor or a healer. I chose the healer, although with some doubts in my mind as to results. My daughter had all the symptoms of this claim well developed. The ulceration of the throat and high fever were very pronounced. The healer called twice each day. The first night I spent at my daughter's bedside, thinking. I made up my mind that if Christian Science could cure scarlet fever. I would accept it as a healing power at least. The next day the ulceration almost entirely disappeared; the second day the fever was broken, and the third day my daughter was up. Although she did not entirely recover for about two weeks, I considered that Christian Science was a wonderful healing power and accepted it.
We have never had a doctor or taken a drop of medicine since my wife was healed, prior to which time my doctor's bill came in monthly with other household bills. The practice of Science in my family and the devotion of my wife to the cause attracted me to the study of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," and in this daily study the truths taught by Mrs. Eddy were one by one revealed to me. I had been a member of a Baptist Church for twenty-five years, and was a believer in God and the Bible, but I never knew the Truth as I know it now. I had been a believer in the use of stimulants (what I called the moderate use); this habit was destroyed several years ago. I never could read Science and Health with a pipe or cigar in my mouth. One or the other had to go. The tobacco habit left me about six months ago. As I read Science and Health, the spiritual truths of the Bible, which I had been familiar with in a way, seemed to become plainer and plainer. A year ago I withdrew from my old church membership, and this month have entered the Science church. I enter the new century as a Christian Scientist. The past few years have taken away all my worldly goods, treasures laid up on earth. Yet to-day I have an abiding faith in God, and the Truth as revealed to me through "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures." That is unperchasable. Having had no special experience of personal physical healing, I can only give that of the blind man who was healed by Jesus: "Whereas I was blind, now I see."
