One of the beliefs about Christian Science most commonly held by those who have no practical knowledge of the subject, or who seek to account for its healing work upon the plane of faith cure or suggestion, is accurately stated in the following words, which we quote from a testimony of healing in the August issue of the Journal. The writer of this testimony says, "I wanted relief; I did not want Christian Science; I did not want to be a Christian Scientist. I did not believe I could be helped. I thought nervous, hysterical, imaginative people might be benefited by some mental process, but I had real diseases, diseases having name and dignity. They were real conditions that would make any one unhappy. My sufferings were not imagined, and I could not see how any mental process could change what really existed. I could believe that there was an influence of mind over matter, but I believed there was a greater influence, and that was matter over mind, for I had always been told that my physical condition was responsible for my mental depression."
A most peculiar phase of this belief, that Christian Science treatment is good only for "nervous, hysterical, imaginative people," is that the persons who hold it really think that in making such a statement they have said a great deal in favor of Christian Science, and that they have thus proved themselves to be extremely progressive in their views and quite liberal in their hospitality to new ideas. We once knew a man who, for six years after Christian Science was brought to his attention, held a belief similar to that of the lady above referred to, and during this period he suffered untold agony from the numerous surgical operations which were performed upon him, in the hope of curing him of the disease which he felt sure was so real and tangible that nothing but the most heroic material means could bring relief. After these numerous operations had left him a bedridden invalid, with but a few months to live (according to the verdict of the surgeons), he was persuaded to try Christian Science, which he had rejected in the early stage of his illness, and was healed in a very few weeks.
The lady from whose testimony we have quoted was healed also, and of her experience she writes, "I had never known what it was to be well since I was twelve years old. When a girl I was taken to physicians in Chicago, and received the best treatment known to the medical profession at that time. Later, surgery was resorted to, but all to no avail. . . The suffering increased with years, and I looked to time alone to release me added years only brought added suffering-. I spent many months in a private hospital in Chicago; I underwent three surgical operations. For two years I was never free from pain, waking or sleeping. The only thing left to offer me was another more serious operation, the last resort in such cases. It was this condition of physical and mental suffering that I brought to Christian Science. To-day I am well in body and in mind. I am well on a new basis; well without the fear that I shall not be well to-morrow, next week, or next year To-day I am not only in perfect health, but I am peacefully happy, and there is a new basis of happiness, no fear that it will be snatched from me to-morrow. The discordant conditions which seemed so hopeless have disappeared, and in their stead is harmonious, happy, and peaceful living."
