It was in a small town in Colorado that early in the summer of 1896 I first heard of Christian Science. Two sisters called on me, one of whom had been thoroughly healed through Christian Science of throat and bronchial trouble, after she had been an invalid for years. Of course we talked about this wonderful new method of healing, and their simple and earnest explanations left a profound impression. My little son had then all the symptoms of a dreaded fever, and I was giving him homeopathic remedies, but that night I dared not give him his medicine. I had heard for the first time that God is the only power; that Jesus, because he did the will of his Father, used no remedies, and he told us to go and do likewise. Next day my child was well — perfectly well! I had been very religiously trained and believed there was only one God, and yet here was I, a Bible student, and my friends Bible students, but our understanding of God was evidently very different from that of the Master. Immediately I began to investigate Christian Science, and Science and Health became my constant companion. The wonderful protective power of Christian Science, even now, with all my experience, awes me! "Who hath a God so nigh unto them, as the Lord our God is in all things that we call upon him for?" How sweet is our Leader's explanation of "'whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth.' He, who knows God's will or the demands of divine Science and obeys them, incurs the hostility of envy; and he who refuses obedience to God. is chastened by Love" (Science and Health, p. 241). This glorious truth is indispensable to all, but oh, how precious to the mother! In my family the preventive power of Christian Science has been simply marvelous. The sad effects of spinal trouble have been overcome; and when this same one met with a serious fall, that, too, was overcome through divine Love. There was also rapid recovery to perfect strength and energy from an accident where the injuries seemed most serious. We should faithfully follow our Leader's admonition, "'Go and take the little book' . . . mortals, obey the heavenly evangel. Take divine Science. Read this book from beginning to end. Study it, ponder it" (Science and Health, p. 559). Thus doing, we shall be safely guided.
San Diego, Cal.
