Six years ago, through the influence of a friend who had been greatly benefited by Christian Science, I was led to seek its help, after being eight years a physical wreck. During these years of physical torture, I had the services of the very best medical skill in this city, in addition to the use of innumerable patent medicines, electricity, exercises of various kinds, and a sojourn at a famous health resort. But, with all these heroic measures, I grew none the better, but rather became worse. As a finale to my search for health through the means just described, my doctor, who is considered one of the best in this city, concluded that nothing could be done for me, so far as he knew. I had reached a like conclusion, for I honestly confess that after eight years' trial of "medical science," the end was much worse than the beginning. My doctor, a noble, conscientious man, for whom I yet entertain the highest regard, encouraged me somewhat in these darkest hours by giving as his opinion that I would not succumb to the inevitable within six months or a year, or possibly slightly longer; only that he would be frank with me, he could not see that anything could be done to relieve me. Man's extremity is, however, God's opportunity, and in less than one month after the ultimatum of materia medica, I saw in my friend, mentioned above, "signs following," of the healing by this new-old method, — Christian Science. He brought to me the good tidings of how he himself had been healed after many years of suffering. Such a change as was to be seen in this friend, — one whose veracity I could not doubt, ought to have been a sufficient confirmation then and there of the great blessing I was to receive from Christian Science, but, withal, I was skeptical, preferring rather to believe that there was no such good fortune for me, even in Christian Science. After perhaps one week's time, in which the friend talked with me considerably of the great blessings Christian Science had brought him, I consented to place myself under treatment. Meanwhile my faith was small, and at that time there were no practitioners in this city. Simultaneously the friend and I wrote to a practitioner in a distant city, the one through whom my friend had been helped. But for the skepticism which I had as to favorable results, I should have known almost the moment the letter reached the one to whom it was addressed, for, after a sufficient length of time had elapsed for the letter to reach the practitioner, I began to feel a great relief, an uplifting, as though I were literally lifted from the earth. The treatment was continued for ten days or two weeks, and meanwhile the feeling of freedom continued. This few days' experience created within me a feeling of security that I had at last found that which I had longed for, — a way whereby I was to find relief from suffering. The great benefits received from the few days' treatment stimulated within me a desire to know something about Christian Science; accordingly, I purchased a copy of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," and began a systematic study of the Bible and this wonderful book. These have been my only physicians for the past six years, and though I have encountered many trials, physically and otherwise, I have applied the teachings of Christian Science to all of them and, truly, "Out of them all the Lord delivered me."
It is now in order, I believe, to go back to the beginning and relate some of the troubles which possessed me at the time Christian Science first found me. Four years of chronic indigestion, excessive use of tobacco, in its various forms, together with insomnia had so wrecked the nerves that I seemed on the verge of nervous prostration for perhaps two of the four years. Nothing seemed to afford me the slightest relief, not even rest and relaxation. Those only who have had a like experience can justly realize my condition. Chronic constipation, spinal trouble, severe headaches, a strong tendency to influenza and tonsilitis, these all yielded to Christian Science treatment. The latter had never failed to appear with each recurring winter, and I was keenly susceptible to cold. Though there have been symptoms of the return of the influenza, on two or three occasions, I have been able to prevent its actual development. For fifteen years I was addicted to the tobacco habit in all its forms, but now the thought of a cigar is distasteful.
One of the severest tests to which I have been subjected since knowing of Christian Science was that of a case of small-pox, which I contracted during the rage of that disease in this city about twelve months ago. By realizing the omnipotence of God, and man's relation to Him as Christian Science teaches, I was, after a short time, freed from every symptom of the disease, though not without experiencing some suffering, attendant upon this disease. It might be of interest to state that there was never at any time during the progress of the disease any indication of it to be seen on the face, though the body was completely covered with the marks. Many minor ills have yielded to the truth as taught in Christian Science, and last, but not least, melancholia of the decided type has been banished, and where before I could not see that life was worth the living, so empty did it seem, I now have a widely different view of existence, and can see that there is health and happiness. peace and plenty for all, and that we shall learn how to appropriate these things in proportion as we understand Christian Science.
