I desire to speak of some of the benefits Christian Science has brought to our home. Our attention was first directed to the subject when a practitioner was called to see my husband's sister. At that time my husband was inclined to ridicule Christian Science and said some unkind things to the practitioner who had come twenty-five miles to help his sister. In return he received such a kind and loving reply that it resulted in leading him to investigate Christian Science. His brother had already begun to investigate the subject, and in reading "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mrs. Eddy, for the sole purpose of helping his wife, he experienced a great moral reform, — the desire for intoxicating drinks, tobacco, and gambling was destroyed. Knowing what Christian Science had done for his brother, my husband remarked to me, "If it can help him it can help me. and I believe that we should get a copy of Science and Health and try to learn something about it." We did so, though I must confess that I had some fear in regard to reading this book. I had been a devout member of an orthodox church for years, an active worker in the Sunday School and the Epworth League, so I prayed that this book would not hurt me. It is needless to say that it did not. The grand truths contained in it unfolded to me a new world, something I had been looking for but did not know it was for me. We began attending the Christian Science services and derived much benefit therefrom. My husband was healed of the tobacco habit and the desire for intoxicating drinks. He is a changed man and it is all due to Christian Science. These few words mean much. We are now members of First Church of Christ, Scientist, Eaton. O., also members of The Mother Church in Boston, Mass. We have been helped many times and in many ways since coming into Christian Science.
I feel that I must show my gratitude to God for what has been done for me the past few months. Two years ago the past summer a condition which was not understood presented itself. During a considerable time I suffered intense pain, and there were occasions when I was confined to my bed, unable to move. I had periods of the most violent vomiting, and for some months I was not able to care for my child, then eighteen months old. As the time passed I grew worse, and my brother-in-law, a minister of the Gospel, wrote my husband, stating that he had learned from different sources that I was in declining health from a tumor, and if such were the case he advised us not to wait any longer, but to give me the only chance that would save my life; namely, treatment at the hands of a skilled surgeon. But I believed Jesus' words would be verified, "Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free," and his promise was fulfilled in my experience. God will never forsake those who put their trust in Him. My healing, viewed from one standpoint, appeared slow, but when I consider the depths out of which I was lifted, it can hardly be classed as such. Be it termed slow or fast, I am healed.
Even when I had improved so that I could be out of bed, I could scarcely endure the ponderous weight of the tumor, it being necessary for me to walk in a stooping posture. The periods of intense suffering and vomiting gradually grew less, and the growth diminished in size. The internal organs all seemed deranged and abnormal in their action, but in due time all the organs became normal. I had also suffered severely from hemorrhoids, and bladder and kidney trouble, but one by one these conditions disappeared. My healing covered a period of eighteen months. When I think of all these benefits my heart is filled With gratitude unspeakable.
