In December, 1901, I took upon myself the profession of a follower of Christian Science. Our text-book says, "Unimproved opportunities will rebuke us when we suddenly claim the benefits of an experience we have not made our own, try to reap the harvest we have not sown, and wish to enter unlawfully into the labors of others. Truth often remains unsought, until we seek this remedy for human woe, because we suffer severely from error" (p. 238). I will offer no apology for the statements which follow.
Some time in July, 1901, I was taken with a very loathsome disease as a result of sin. Although I was fully aware that my sister had just been healed of consumption by Christian Science after she had been pronounced incurable by her physician, and advised to seek health in a Western climate as a last resort. I still supposed I could ignore this fact and get benefits from materia medica. With that desire I sought material treatment, with the result that on December 1 of the same year I found myself suffering from a well-developed case of stricture. I was considerably emaciated and those conditions were attended with unceasing pain.
As I could get no rest night or day, I was at this time compelled to quit work, and was given opiates to produce sleep and to nullify pain. I was informed by my medical attendant that a surgical operation was a foregone conclusion, and that it would have to be performed within a very few days at the outside. I was advised by a particular friend to have the operation performed by a surgeon in St. Louis, who was personally known to him. At this juncture I began to get on friendly terms with Christian Scientists, and was informed that this treatment had prevented surgical operations in any number of cases that had been planned for, that they did not consider my case any exception, and that it would not be on account of any goodness on my part that it would be done. I therefore consented to take the treatment.
