After having practised as an apothecary for more than twenty-five years, my first understanding of Christian Science came to me through reading "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by our Leader, Mrs. Eddy. It did not take me long to come to the realization that materia medica and Christian Science would not travel hand in hand, for they were going in opposite directions, and I could see I must give up one or the other. I decided to dispose of my drug business and did so. In order to support myself and family it became necessary for me to follow some other occupation, and as I had spent all of my business life in the one occupation, it meant for me to start anew. This I have done, and am prosperous and well pleased in my new avocation. One of the grand things in the study of the Bible and Science and Health is the spiritual uplifting it gives, so that we come to the understanding of the reality of good and the nothingness and unreality of evil. In the last few months I have had so many rich blessings come to myself and family through the understanding of the truth that I feel very grateful. When I look back and see where I stood before coming into Science and where I now am, it seems a long road with many hills and valleys that I have passed over and through, but I can see that in each and every one of them, much good has come to me by the experience.
A demonstration I had in my early study of Christian Science was of much interest to me, and the good I have received from it can never be told. It was this: For more than twenty years I had been a constant user of tobacco, and by the reading of our text-book, Science and Health, alone, the desire for smoking entirely left me, and has never returned, although I have been continually with people who use it all the time, but I see no good in it. This demonstration has been worth much to me in many ways. I rejoice to know that a woman has been so good and so true, and has gained the high spiritual understanding necessary to impart this great truth to the world, and that she has stood at the front these many years, to direct each advancing step and tell us how to solve each and every problem as it comes. She is indeed our Leader. Seattle, Wash.
