When I first read Christian Science literature, it was with the aid of a pair of reading glasses which I had used for about six years. By their aid I was able to read for an hour at the most, but even that amount of reading or writing used to cause a terrible aching pain at the back of my eyes. I began to apprehend, as I read the Journals that were lent to me, that the best test as to the genuineness of Christian Science was practical application of its rules. I therefore made it a rule to lay aside my glasses when reading Science; this was kept up, with the result that I eventually laid them aside altogether. After eighteen months of perfect freedom in this respect, I realize in writing this testimony that I have not shown sufficient gratitude in my deeds for this blessing alone.
My first impression of Science and Health, after reading a borrowed copy, was, that it was not worth the thirteen shillings asked for it. I thought this was an awful price to pay for a book, especially when one could purchase a complete copy of Milton or Shakespeare for ninepence. However, as my eye trouble began to slow down, I summoned the requisite faith to purchase a copy. Gradually we put it to the test in divers cases of colds, neuralgia, etc., with, at first, a miserable lack of success, but we persevered, and gradually improved.
Then my wife began to wonder if her ailment could be destroyed. Once more, guided by the wisdom of our text-book, we wrote for treatment. In two treatments the varicose veins of three or four years' standing, which were rapidly getting worse, began to improve, and were healed. This demonstration did much to fortify our faith and prevent any retrograde movement. The next demonstration was a healing of lead poisoning, with which I had suffered untold agony for over three years, every attack being worse than the preceding one, with the intervals between getting shorter. The last attack that I had, kept me from work for over a week. Many nights have I rolled about in my bed in agony. At the foot of the bed was hung a text inscribed, "God is Love." I must confess that although a Christian, I used to drop at those times into agonizing skepticism over my unanswered prayers for release. The God of Love seemed to hear me not and know me not. Three doctors had told me that I should never get rid of the complaint, if I remained in the printing trade; but simply by reading Science and Health, I have been enabled to meet all these attacks, and overcome them, in most cases within a quarter of an hour. I have never lost a day's work since I started treating myself in Christian Science, which is now over eighteen months. Previous to that I was constantly losing time on account of illness, so that the thirteen shillings spent for Science and Health has been made up over and over again. It was a great struggle to throw away the children's medicine, as we had not long previous lost a baby girl, after five months' agony, with gastritis.
