THE feast of good tidings of great joy given to us by I our much loved Journal and Sentinel, only serves as a reminder that, to continue the flow of a fountain its source must be liberally supplied with the waters that have done so much for most of us. Many of us seem to be lacking in the sense of spontaneity which makes the Wednesday evening meetings of our churches such a treat to a receptive listener; and for this reason, there is the greater responsibility for such to tell, through our periodicals, where we stand in this new realm of thought.
It is now nearly seven years since I seemed to have reached the limit of happiness, and to have my cup filled with the darkest forebodings. My wife was an invalid, with little to encourage a hope of permanent recovery; my sense of plenty had disappeared under a cloud of debt, and not a ray of light seemed to be visible. It is an old story in Christian Science history, and thousands have known it, just as I did. I had known of Christian Science, had been helped by it, but could not, seemingly, grasp its meaning; and therefore when my first great trial came, I became fearful and went back to error. All that the most loving care and medical skill could do, was done for my wife, but only a pale shadow of a woman came out of the ordeal. Climate, Ralstonism, and every expedient known, were tried with little result. As a final expedient we decided to take up Christian Science again, and see if healing could not be reached. There, was a reluctance to do even the simple things required of patients. Reading was done as a duty, and results were wanted with no thought of fitness to receive them. This mental condition continued for some time, but the loving patience of the practitioner finally overcame this error, and it was cast out, never to return.
With the changed mental condition, from unwillingness to obedience, came marked improvement. After several months of treatment, there came increased strength, and an ability to walk considerably, thus proving the law of not being able to do so to be of mortal, not immortal Mind's making. The sense of nervous prostration following typhoid fever had been the chief enemy to meet, and this gradually disappeared under faithful reading and individual growth. I wish to say at this point, that only those who seem to be evenly balanced between truth and error, —requiring but little in either direction to determine which side they shall fall upon,—can truly say how much a word fitly spoken, at such a time can do to carry us forward towards the light. To the loving words of Christ and the encouragement of the simple testimonies of our friends in our church meetings, my family owes a debt of gratitude that can only be paid by giving to others in need, as we were supplied. Words fail me to tell how much help these means of grace have been, and how many bitter trials since then they have helped to carry us through.
