It is about thirteen years since I first heard of Christian Science through the healing of the mother of a very dear friend of mine, of cancer. And yet, strange to say, though I knew of this wonderful healing, perfect in every way, I did not become interested in Christian Science until three years ago. At that time I was visiting this same family, and attended a Wednesday evening meeting at the Mother Church, the last one in July of that year, 1900. It was a crowded meeting, many people standing, and a very interesting meeting. Many testimonies were given that deeply impressed me, and after my return home I could not get away from the thought that these people had much more in their lives, as Christians, than I had. Something said to me, "Why don't you inquire and see for yourself what this religion is?" I had brought home a Journal and Sentinel that had been given me to send to a relative, and I had delayed sending them. I started to read them, and you do not know how surprised I was to find such very interesting reading in a religious paper. Though I had been a guest with the family I have spoken of many times during ten years, I had never looked inside a Christian Science Journal or Sentinel. I had carelessly picked up Science and Health just once in all that time, but had only glanced at a page or two. Though I always attended the Mother Church with my friends, both on Sunday and Wednesday evenings, and was much interested in some of the testimonies, I asked as few questions as possible and never seemed to have any desire to investigate until the time I mention. I can never forget what a revelation that Journal and Sentinel were to me, and how I just drank in every word from beginning to end as I read them many times over. Then I made up my mind that if what these people said was true, I wanted to prove it for myself. So I started out to get Science and Health from one of the libraries here, and commenced to read from the beginning, resolving that for the first bodily ailment I would apply its remedy, and if I had an absolute cure I would accept Christian Science as the truth; if not, I wanted nothing more to do with it. Knowing so little as I did then of the healing power, it may seem to some a strange resolve, and yet I am sure God was guiding me, as the following will show. When I started to read Science and Health, it was just like so much Greek to me; besides, it seemed to upset a great deal of what I had been taught in a religious way. Still I continued reading and had read perhaps fifty pages or a little more, when one day while sewing I had an attack of blind headache come on, or rather the commencement of one,—the blindness. Just here let me say for the benefit of any outsider who may think a blind headache is a very slight thing, that I had had them since I was a little girl, the blindness coming as waves of light in front of my eyes for about half an hour and then the most racking headache would follow, till sometimes it seemed as if the top of my head must come off. I suffered sometimes such intense pain that often the blood would leave my face perfectly white, and once I was sent home from school with an attendant because I looked so badly that it frightened my teacher. Our physician gave me a remedy which, if taken when the blindness first came on, would alleviate the pain, though it never once took it away entirely or cured me. As I grew older the attacks were less frequent, though always very severe, and I had grown to dread them. I felt almost hopeless for the moment, realizing that this was to be my test of Christian Science. I thought I never could begin with that, for though I hadn't a doubt but that it would lessen the pain a little, I didn't want that kind of help. I wanted so much to prove Christian Science true, and I wanted a perfect cure, not a half-way one. So I hesitated, and the voice within whispered, "You said you were going to try the first thing that came along; and this is the first, so you must keep your word." I dropped my sewing and went up to my own room and took up Science and Health, letting it open just where it would. It opened at "Teaching Christian Science." At first I couldn't see a thing, the letters just danced up and down on the page. But I kept saying over and over to myself, "God has power over all; God has power over all." Gradually the letters became plainer, and though I read with difficulty at first, I read about half an hour, until the blindness ceased entirely. Then I closed the book and went back to my sewing, and I never had one ache or a pain or even the slightest twinge you could call a pain. It was like a miracle to me, and a feeling of awe came over me as I realized I had my absolute proof. Do you think, dear reader, anything could have parted me from Science and Health after that?
We went away within a few days to the mountains for September, and for the first time in my life, I went without one drop of medicine, and for the first time, too, in my life, took my Bible with me. Though I was alone in Science during that month, far away from any Scientist, I was able to meet and destroy, with just my slight knowledge of Truth all claims of physical ills during that month and the months following; for, as Jesus said, "I can of mine own self do nothing," it is "the Father that dwelleth in me, He doeth the works."
And to some one that may have a dear one who has not yet accepted Christian Science, and to whom it may seem as if the time were so long, I would say, "Do not be discouraged." Though it took me ten years to come in, and brought out so much love and patience on the part of my Science friends, no loving thought or deed was lost. Though I was seemingly so indifferent, I treasured all their kindness, and I never went home from one of my visits without a desire to lead a better life and to do more to help all mankind, the thoughts being prompted by their loving Christian life, both at home and in the busy outside world.
