I became interested in Christian Science in January...

I became interested in Christian Science in January, 1900. Up to that time I don't suppose I had darkened the door of a church more than a dozen times in thirty-five years. I have lived in San Francisco most of the time since I came to California, which was in 1868, and I never heard of Christian Science until I went to New York in January, 1900, on a visit. I then met a Christian Scientist in an old friend. I chaffed him a good deal about it, but the more I heard, the more I became interested. I met another friend who has been cured of consumption after several doctors had given her up. When I left home, a mere boy, I did not believe in anything in or out of the Bible with regard to religion. The Bible I did not understand and did not want to. I was one hundred and sixty-five days aboard ship with a lot of companions that were about as rough as any one ever met. After reaching San Francisco I did not get into much better society. I did not like the city, as I could find no employment, so I started for the mines, where I again had to associate with all kinds of people, but mostly men that drank, gambled, and used profane language, and were about as bad as could be; shooting and cutting scrapes were quite frequent. I don't think I ever thought of church or God, and I was very profane myself. I was always a great tobacco user, both chewing and smoking, but I never was a heavy drinker. On my return to San Francisco from New York in April, 1900, I hunted up the Christian Science Church, and before the month was out I was taking treatment for rheumatism from one of Mrs. Eddy's students. I had the treatment for ten weeks continuously, and found myself very much interested, attending church Sunday and Wednesday evenings, and I have continued to do so ever since. While the cure of rheumatism has been slow, I have received great benefit in other respects. I have been cured of liver trouble, constipation, sleeplessness, and profanity. I have not touched tobacco or liquor in any way since January I, 1901. I had before on several occasions stopped smoking and chewing, not both at once, however, and have always taken it up again in a month or so. This time I have lost the taste for it entirely, and I give Christian Science the credit. I don't pretend to know much about religion, but Christian Science seemed to me, from the first, to be a practical and sensible religion. I take the Journal, Sentinel, and Quarterly. I have several of Mrs. Eddy's works and would feel lost without them.—E. H. W., San Francisco, Cal.