With an earnest desire to tell the world all that Christian Science has done for me I commence this communication, but pause, hardly knowing (so much is there to tell) where to begin. For many years I had suffered severely with sciatica. Five years ago I fell and injured the sciatic nerve; from this time until six weeks ago my sufferings were at times almost unbearable. Walking, I felt as if I were dragging about an iron weight, sitting, I grew benumbed until my limb grew cold as ice. I was unable to step on the ground for nine months, and my condition was a pitiful one. I received treatment six months from a homœopathic, and two months from an allopathic physician and surgeon, beside having the best massage treatment to be had, all of no avail. The surgeon's diagnosis of the case was that the fall split the trochanter process, and the nerve dragging over this rough surface had caused its contraction, and there was nothing to be done but stretch or kill the nerve. To kill the nerve I was informed that the surest way would be an application of an iron brought to a white heat. At this time, through the dread of the surgeon's knife, the operating table, and more than all else, the anæsthetic, my mental condition was as bad as, or worse than, my physical.
But God was watching over me, and in His good providence I was not only to be healed of my physical ailments, but the glorious light of Truth was to come into my life. My heavenly Father directed me to one whose kindly sympathy, and Christian example led me to believe there was a healing power divine in Christian Science, and to it, through her, I turned in my extremity for help; and thanks be to God and Christian Science, I can walk and am free from pain. The first night after treatment I slept an undisturbed sleep. In less than one week I discovered I was walking without my customary limp, and upon investigation, I found that the limb which, by actual measurement, the surgeon had pronounced an inch shorter than the other, had come to its normal condition, that once more I was standing firmly upon both feet. Four weeks ago I attended the Christian Science service, walking quite a distance and up a high flight of steps, with not one particle of pain.
My friends look upon it as a miracle. Some doubt, some do not understand, and some do not want to; but I know that Christian Science has done for me what nil the physicians could not. They did all in their power to relieve my pain; but they had not the power that belongs only to God, omnipotent Truth. I have told what Christian Science has done for me physically, in relieving pain, in straightening my limb, in helping me to walk once more, but what it has done for me mentally. I can never tell, language fails me. I am thanking God continually for His great goodness. It seems such a sweet thought to feel that my heavenly Father did not desire me to suffer, and that His love is watching over me. I read my Bible now with a different understanding, and feel and know that when this great light of Truth comes into our hearts. it lights the whole pathway of our existence. How many weary hearts have been made light through the Truth that is given us in the writings of Mrs. Eddy! The world is to-day full of good Samaritans because of her teachings. Several demonstrations worthy of note have come to me since I began to read and understand Christian Science, but I will write of them another time. In the mean time my grateful heart sings for joy, and my constant prayer is that I may continue to praise I Him and His wonderful works to the children of men.
