With a heart overflowing with gratitude I desire to testify to the efficacy of the spiritual method of healing as taught by Christ Jesus and given to us in this day by our beloved Leader, Mrs. Eddy. I never could bring myself to believe in, or love, a revengeful God, and I had come to consider the subject of religion an unprofitable one, since nothing could be proven. For some years I was occasionally thrown with those who called themselves mental scientists, but I found nothing satisfying among them. Some of my friends had become Christian Scientists and I was told that I ought to look into the subject for the sake of my children, who were always sick with one thing or another, but I did not feel the need, and was not impressed with its importance. One thing, however, I learned, —that those who were Christian Scientists had something which made them different from others; they seemed to be surrounded by a different atmosphere, they were always happy and always well. While I tried to find out the cause of this, I know now that I was not ready for it. I did not feel my need, but that time came later when my husband passed on and I was left to care for my children and attend to business affairs; and the responsibility weighed heavily upon me.
There was valuable property left which was draining our substance, through interest and taxes. If kept up, the expense would soon impoverish us, and if not kept up the property would be lost to us. I had tried in every way to sell, in order to realize something of its value, but could not, and in mental distress and discouragement, eighteen months ago, I met a Christian Science friend and said to her, "Now you say your religion is practical, can it help me in business trouble?" Her reply, without hesitation, was, "Yes, surely it can." I was directed to a practitioner, was shown into his office, and while waiting there, I was tempted to go quietly out, for I thought, "What possible good can come to me in such a case as this? I am not sick I am simply troubled and anxious about my material holdings, and what little I have learned of Christian Science teaches there is no material thing." Before I could decide to go, the Scientist came in, and after explaining my case to him, lie began by assuring me that I could find help. He then requested me to lay aside all thought of my property. This was a difficult task at first, but I became so interested in the Science of Life, that it was not long before all else seemed of little importance. I took a week's treatment, and at the end of that I wanted another. Shortly after this, the time in which the mortgage upon the property was to have been foreclosed, was unexpectedly extended. Then I received several inquiries concerning the lots, and finally was enabled to sell a portion of the property at a price sufficient to clear the remainder of indebtedness. I was told at the time by a prominent business man that it was a chance in a thousand.
As I look back upon those days it seems as though a veil had been lifted from my understanding and I was enabled to perceive what had before seemed impossible. Early in the treatments I caught a glimpse of truth by seeing the birth of error in the birth of Adam. Then I seemed prepared to understand what the spiritual creation is,— man created in God's own image. This clear understanding of Principle has helped me over many a difficult problem since, and it began to dawn upon me that the most important thing in life was to seek "first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness," and that all the other needful things would come.
