It was the hand of divine Love that led me to Christian Science. From my childhood I had felt the presence of a divine power that was leading and protecting me. With trifling exceptions I had always been healthy, but as I grew up I longed for a more spiritual religion and sought it in different directions, only to meet with disappointment. My desire for wisdom and understanding was answered when I made the acquaintance of a lady who had returned from Berlin, where she had found healing from many diseases in Christian Science. She spoke to me of her healing and kindly gave me a copy of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mrs. Eddy. I had no sooner begun to read it than I knew that I had found that for which I had so greatly longed. Words fail me to describe the uplifting which the truth brought me; it seemed as if the gates of heaven had been opened to me. The power of Truth has often been demonstrated to me. Once, not long after I had come into Science, I had to learn a long and difficult song by heart for a certain day. Something continually occurred to prevent my studying, but I seized every possible moment, and on the evening of the day before that on which I had to sing I knew the song quite well. The next day, however, I could not think of the beginning of the third verse nor of part of a following verse, and I was filled with fear and convinced that I should not be able to sing at all. Then suddenly I remembered that I had learned in Christian Science that God is an ever-present help in trouble, and I turned to God and immediately became conscious that of myself I could not do anything, but that all I needed was given me every moment and nothing could hinder the inflowing of the divine light,—the divine supply; that I could sing this song without faltering, without missing one word, because it was God who enabled me to do so. When I arrived at the place where I had to sing, that third verse still seemed a blank in my memory, but I was calm, I knew my need would be supplied, and I began and sang the first two verses. The last note had sounded; all seemed darkness, yet I opened my mouth to begin the third verse, and in that very instant darkness vanished, and I sang the verse without hesitation, also the rest of the song. Our heavenly Father, to whom I looked in my trouble, had not forsaken me, showing that, as of old, Love always hears, and is always ready to help, if we turn to Him in faith and trust.
One day while at dinner I swallowed a piece of bone. I declared the truth, but felt the bone, which was pointed and sharp, sticking in my throat, and for several days it caused me more or less inconvenience. Whenever fear came over me I asked myself: Am I reflecting God's idea? Am I conscious of His presence? Can matter annoy God's child? and I always found relief in answering these questions. About the fourth day a constant feeling of irritation in the abdomen greatly annoyed me, and ashamed that I had not dealt more energetically with error, I declared the truth vehemently,—and from that hour I was free and soon forgot all about it. During those days I keenly felt what a blessing Christian Science is for humanity, its immense worth in subduing fear. Through divine grace I have also been enabled to help others in a number of instances. To make use of this Science for the benefit of others filled me with a new sense of happiness such as I have never before experienced. Through the study of Science and Health the Bible has become a holy book to me in the highest sense. I see in it a source of study and recreation for my whole life, and I pray that the clouds of the letter may disperse and I may perceive the spirit.
My heart goes out in love and heartfelt gratitude to God, and to Mrs. Eddy for this wonderful Science. To practise it daily is my earnest desire, and to bring the message of God's allness to our fellow-creatures seems to be heaven's work itself.
