I do not think that any one has greater cause to be grateful for Christian Science than I have. I could not command words to say how much this wonderful truth has done for me in the last eight years. I have been healed of astigmatism, very serious stomach trouble, enlarged heart, liver, and spleen. I have been healed of the belief that this altitude was too high for me. and that close office work was injurious. All of these conditions were fastened upon me by medical opinion, years ago. It is to me an even greater sense of freedom that I am learning to love my neighbor as myself, to rejoice always, and to be thankful. My disposition was one of fault-finding, suspiciousness, irritability, unrest. I find that as sin is being uncovered to me, I am loathing it, and turning more and more toward God, good, for our sins alone keep us from the true and lasting riches.
Six weeks ago I was returning from New York to Denver, after a two-weeks vacation. A small pimple, scarcely larger than a pin-head, appeared upon the back of my neck. I did not give it much thought, as I was attacked at the same time with a malignant sore throat. I spoke to my wife about this, and with her help the latter was quickly met but the pimple kept growing larger, harder, and more inflamed, until by the time I stepped off the train in Denver, I was, to mortal sense, very sick. The next day was Sunday, and I passed most of the time on my back, although scarcely able to lie in any position in comfort. Monday I thought I must report at the office, after my absence. I did so, but was barely able to work. In the mean time my wife called on a practitioner for help, and she came over in the evening. There seemed to be complications of kidney and stomach trouble, and nervous depression. After giving me a treatment the practitioner left. The next day I learned that I was suffering with a carbuncle. It was seven or eight days before it broke, all of which time I suffered great pain. I was told the carbuncle was larger than an egg, and that my neck was one third larger than its normal size.
In spite of my protracted discomfort, I have felt such a sense of uplifting, and such thankfulness, because I know I have come up out of this experience better and stronger than ever before, so much added light has been reflected on my path. I have always loved this Science as revealed to us in Science and Health, but I have not lived up to my great privilege, in practising its rules as steadfastly and persistently as I should. I now see that I must watch and pray unceasingly. My constant prayer is that I may be able to reflect a little of that light which our revered Leader, Mrs. Eddy, has labored so untiringly to make clearer to us. I do not think there is any one thing for which I am more grateful than for the understanding of the Scriptures which Science and Health brings to me. I always loved to read the Bible, but with this wonderful Key to its meaning, which unfolds its healing and redeeming thought, that sacred volume is much dearer to me.
