It is with the tenderest sense of gratitude to our Mother in Israel for her recent words of loving counsel and wisdom that I send the following account of experiences with contagious diseases.
To those who have been engaged in the practice of Christian Science for a number of years, it is blessed to perceive what our Leader means when she points us to Christ's command, "Whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also;" and equally blessed to follow our Master in rendering unto Cæsar the things that are Cæsar's, and unto God the things that are God's, as Mrs. Eddy has so wonderfully shown us how to do.
I am also very grateful for the Sentinel's words of loving counsel, "To so live that we prevent disease, instead of waiting for its manifestation." Is it not the clarion call to all Christian Scientists to go higher?
Nevertheless the fact remains as given in our text-book, Science and Health, p. 176, "It [Christian Science] handles the most malignant contagion with perfect assurance."
Let me give a few examples. I was telephoned one day to go to a certain place. The family sending for me had then only known of Christian Science a short time. They had had some old Journals given them, and the two younger children, a girl of fourteen and a boy of twelve years, had perceived the truth in a beautiful way. The little daughter had once said to her mother, "Why, mamma, this power which Mrs. Eddy is showing us now, is the same power that Jesus brought to the world."
On arriving at this home, I was met by the mother, her eyes dilated with fear, as she said, "I have sent for you because I know my boy has scarlet fever. He is so very ill that I do not know what to do." In reply I said, "If you are convinced that this is scarlet fever, and your other children are going to school, you know what the law is in such cases, you will have to report the case to the medical health officer." She said, "But Garfield won't have a doctor, so what shall I do?" Then she asked me to go in and see the child. The little fellow manifested the most serious symptoms of scarlet fever. He had told his mother that he knew God could heal him. When I heard that, I said, "Yes, God will heal you," and such a flood of love came rushing in that I could scarcely speak. I then took the Bible and read to the child Paul's words: "For the Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death." I asked the little sister to teach her brother that text. Then I went into another room with the mother, and after talking together a short time, we heard little voices in the next room. Tears rushed to the mother's eyes as she said. "That is Garfield, he has not been able to speak for twelve hours." Soon the sister came in saying, "Mother, Garfield wants to get up and dress, he says he is all right now;" and the mother, with faith as pure as the children's, and without an instant's hesitation, replied, "Well, let him get up." I could only turn to God and know that we had nothing to do with it, for the only law was the law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus. In a short time we went into the dining-room and there found Garfield. He said he felt so much better that he would like to have his dinner. While he was eating, I read aloud the 91st Psalm.
After about an hour, I went away; the mother promised to see me in the morning. As I left the house, Mrs. Eddy's words came to me, "If the Scientist reaches his patient through divine Love, he will accomplish the healing work at one visit, and the disease will vanish into its native nothingness, like dew before the morning sunshine" (Science and Health, p. 365).
The next morning the mother came to my house, her eyes now shining with love, and taking both my hands in hers she said, "'The Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made us free from the law of sin and death.' Garfield slept all night, was up and dressed early this morning, ate a good breakfast, and I left him singing."
Thus the disease vanished into its native nothingness.
Another wonderful experience was with a case of smallpox. In my early days of Science, the thought often suggested itself, what would I do, should I ever have a case of small-pox presented to me? I finally had a very good opportunity of knowing. The experience was with one who had been exposed to a very malignant form of the disease, and while the time was past to which mortal law limited its development, still the fear of the disease was latent and had not been consciously destroyed.
When the first symptoms appeared, they were promptly overcome. On the third day, when red blotches covered the face and body, the fear became so great that they sent to me for help. It was then Saturday noon; I told them that none of the family were to go out of the house over Sunday or allow any one to come in. They must keep their own quarantine, and, if by Monday morning the evidence of disease was not destroyed, the case must, of course, be reported to the proper authorities. I do not think I ever fasted and prayed more earnestly, or felt so near to God as during those twenty-four hours. On Sunday night word came that all the appearances were fading away, and by Monday morning there was no sign of small-pox anywhere; it was entirely destroyed outwardly, and with it disappeared the mental picture which had been engraven in mortal mind. Thus it was proved that disease is in mind and not in matter.
Since our Leader's latest word concerning obedience to the law in cases of contagion, I have had another proof of this healing power, in destroying in a very short time all the symptoms of scarlet fever, which were manifesting upon a little child on the tenth day after having been exposed to the disease.
After twenty-four hours, the little one was in a profuse perspiration and sleeping quietly. She wakened quite happy and begged to go for a drive with her mother, she came home well and free.
Truly, "Who is so great a God as our God?"
Berlin, Ont.
