My debt of gratitude to Christian Science and to Mrs. Eddy can never be measured by mere words. Only by striving to live in accordance with her pure precepts and example can one prove that he, too, is a "willing disciple at the heavenly gate, waiting for the Mind of Christ" (Science and Health, Pref. p. ix.). That is indeed our "reasonable service," and meets the only demand which our revered and beloved Leader makes upon us. But because we cannot honestly continue to receive without the wish to give in return, I now send my long-delayed testimony to our periodicals. In one treatment I was healed of an illness which had come upon me with each recurring summer for five years. It came, supposedly, as the result of a partial sunstroke, and had steadily increased in violence in spite of the efforts of kind and earnest physicians. The dreadful suffering it involved clouded my vacations, and its depressing effect pursued me into the schoolroom each autumn, at one time preventing my entering upon my duties until after the heat of early September had passed. During the months that followed I was conscious that an utter hopelessness was settling upon me, which even my love for my work could not counteract. In the spring there came unwonted heat, just as we were preparing for Memorial Day exercises. The extra work thus entailed, together with a hurried call made in the noonday sun, brought the climax. The work of the afternoon was carried on only by a mighty effort and in spite of intense suffering. With the aid of a dear friend I at last reached my home, and literally fell in utter exhaustion at the door. Everything that tenderest human love could suggest was done for me, but all to no avail. The paroxysms of pain were so severe that I could not speak, though perfectly conscious.
Among my sisters so lovingly attending me was one who was a Christian Scientist. For a long time I had stoutly opposed my concept of her religion, yet I knew that she had not only been healed but had also been able to bring healing to many weary sufferers through her understanding of the truth as revealed in the Christian Science text-book. Of course she never had, and did not then, force Science upon me, but after witnessing my agony for several hours, she told me how deeply it grieved her, because she knew it was unnecessary. She reminded me that I had seen too much of Christian Science healing to deny it; and that was true! I had, and her love gave me courage to be honest. I could not utter a word, but could only lift the ice-bag from my head and drop it to the floor as a signal that I knew I could not serve two masters. It was no easy task to meet that stubborn belief of mine, but at last sleep came, and in the morning I woke without a trace of the heaviness and hopelessness which had always followed one of these attacks. The joy and freedom of that morning I shall never forget. It was indeed a happy holiday. Yet I could hardly wait for the next morning, when I could go back to school, so grateful was I for the renewed energy and hope. But best of all was the conviction—which came then, never to leave me — that Christian Science is indeed the revelation of divine healing—of God's true nature and man's relation to Him.
Since that day I have had many hard-fought battles with sorrow and sickness and sin, but there has never been a recurrence of that long-endured affliction, and never any doubt of the truth of Christian Science. I send this with gratitude to God, and to our Leader, and with heartfelt appreciation for the wisdom which has established our periodicals and our weekly Lesson-Sermons.
