A little more than four years ago a friend induced me to go and talk with a Christian Science practitioner. I had not known good health for more than ten years, and in that time I do not think three months ever passed without a more or less serious illness. At this time the trouble for which I most needed help was sciatica. It would seem that I was miserable enough to give up some of my opinions and self-assurance to the extent of asking for help, but it was not so. I had been reading so-called mental science literature, and my self-love and self-sufficiency was rebuked by the words of the Christian Scientist, and I went away. I did not believe she knew anything that I didn't know, or that she could help me in any way. After a few weeks more of suffering and discouragement, I decided to go and ask her if she could help me. I went, and she began to talk to me of God, and gave me a treatment. It was all very strange and mysterious to me then. It is not so now. I now know that she was praying the prayer of faith, which St. James said should save the sick. I also know that Jesus' words are being fulfilled to-day, "And these signs shall follow them that believe;" "they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover."
In three days the sciatica was destroyed, and has never returned. I was benefited in man}ways at that time, but I had not enough understanding to show me the necessity of learning to live Christian Science, so I became engrossed in other things and forgot it entirely for a while. A few months later many old enemies came back. Physical ills from which I had suffered for more than ten years, in varying degrees, became acute. I was subject to severe stomach and bowel trouble, and during an acute attack nothing but morphine, prescribed by materia medica, gave even temporary relief. I suffered constantly with weakness, dizziness, and headache. Finally, nervous prostration filled my cup of misery to overflowing. In the mean time I had gone back to material remedies. T had three physicians at different times during this period and never gave a thought to Christian Science. Distressing as was my physical condition at this time, my mental condition was worse. I had always been fond of reading, but I became unable to control my thoughts sufficiently to read at all. T suffered constantly, and the only relief I got was during the hours spent each day in bed in a kind of stupor. I had a horror of losing my mind and the temptation to self-destruction was often in my thoughts.
I finally gave up doctors and medicines, as they no longer benefited me, and time dragged on until I seemed to awaken one day to a remembrance of what Christian Science had once done for me, and the desire came to try faithfully to put its teachings into practice in my daily life. I began to read its text-book, Science and Health, which I had in the house. Though I understood but very little of what I read, that little was an immediate help and remained in my thoughts. It guided me into a better understanding, and many times I sought and obtained help and comfort from the Christian Scientists whom I knew, f also became a regular attendant at the church services and a little later a member of the church. From the very first earnest and consistent study of Science and Health 1 was able to prove the truth of its teaching about disease. I had some very quick and complete demonstrations, but at times would need help from others and always received it.
