In relating my experience, I know I am telling you nothing new, doubtless you have all heard it before from other sources, yet it will bear repeating, because it is the sweetest story ever told, the story of the prodigal's return, —a son reclaimed, a new tenant in the House of God.
My embrace of the teachings of Christian Science was not brought about by the healing of anv of the so-called physical infirmities to which flesh is supposed to be heir. I think I can truthfully say that since I was a very young child, I have never had a day's illness of any sort brought on by conditions beyond my mortal control. My disease was, however, what I would call moral-laxity or moral-consumption, far more insidious, contagious, and serious in its import than any of the fleshly ailments of which you hear. Mine has been an undermining of the moral constitution, and for years I suffered the tortures of hell, until at last I found myself like a wrecked ship tossing rudderless on the wild ocean of sin.
When a very young child, I was guided on the beautiful road to God, and was given such education in spiritual matters as emanates from the teachings of a loving, Christian mother; but when as a youth I was sent forth to battle with the world, I soon caught sight of what I thought wasa very beautiful forest off the road. By older heads I was warned to remain on the straight path and give no time to exploring these alluring woods, was advised time after time that the forest was a jungle abounding in beautiful but poisonous flowers, with vines which would entangle my footsteps, with hidden reptiles lurking for a chance to inoculate me with their deadly poison. The advice received, only served to fascinate me and make my desire the stronger. Though I was told that others had met with disaster in their eager hunt for this false knowledge, I was sure that I could go into the woods, and when I had explored to my content, could readily come back to the road and then continue on in life in the straight, narrow path forever. Heedless of all the examples and wrecks which had gone before, caring nothing for the advice of those who knew, I, like thousands, millions of others, went gaily to my doom. presume you all know that in tropical countries it is customary for persons going into a dense forest to carry compass, so that if they lose their way, they can by a few calculations, find the road out. When I went in, I even scorned the compass, so sure was I of my ability to do that which millions of others had failed to accomplish.
