I, too, wish to express my thankfulness for Christian Science, for the practice of its teachings has done for me in a very short time what materia medica in all its branches, including change of climate, could not accomplish in over thirty years. Up to my fourteenth year I was considered very strong and healthy, when all at once nervous troubles, accompanied by disorders of the stomach, etc., set in. About the same time I lost my voice, and could not for the next three years speak above a whisper. This loss and the rest of my troubles made existence very miserable for me, especially as I had no home and could not enjoy a mother's love and care. I often had to be in bed for days at a time, and although I received all available medical help, and was treated by very prominent physicians in Europe and also in this country, they could not give me even temporary relief. However, I feel more than thankful to all who tried to help me in times of suffering. I was then living in Germany, my native country, and ten years later came to the United States and settled in Ohio. Unfortunately all my physical troubles journeyed with me, and in the course of time they seemed to increase in severity. I often went to God with long prayers for relief, for I had been instructed from childhood to look to God in times of trouble.
Although my prayers were seemingly unanswered, I now realize that divine Love had led me and protected me all the time, else I could not have endured and at last come out the victor. I seemed to have gone through almost all the miseries with which human beings can be afflicted,—bronchial troubles and hernia among the rest. What caused me the most distress, however, was a nervous trouble which never gave me rest. Many a night did I walk the floor all night, and then when day came I would drag myself to a nearby saloon and drink enough to silence the physical senses. Later, when the drink failed to produce the desired results, I began the use of a strong narcotic, which I kept up for about six years previous to my healing in Christian Science. A physician had recommended the drug to me, but not until after he had in vain exhausted his skill to cure me. Although it was considered very powerful in its effects, I increased the doses to three and four times the amount prescribed, and often I was told that I would not be able to quit using it.
It was about 1900 that I consulted the physicians as to change of climate, and they agreed that this was possibly for the best. So we came to California and settled in Pasadena, but I soon found out that this change had no beneficial effect upon my physical condition. Then I tried, by the advice of a friend, so-called mental science; but, disappointed at the lack of results after a month's trial, I gave it up. I had tried almost everything the material world had to offer for suffering humanity, and had now reached the point where man's extremity becomes God's opportunity. It was at this time that through the kindness of a neighbor Christian Science was recommended to me. I accepted it at once, attended the Christian Science church, and felt happy because I knew my healing should come from God,—through divine Love, that had led and guided me up to this time. My next step was to apply for Christian Science treatment. I went to a practitioner, and can never forget the hour when I beheld for the first time the manifestation of Truth and Love. I became in a remarkably short time a well man; a better man physically, mentally, and morally. I have not taken any more medicine from the first treatment up to this time, now over four years. I have had temptations, but Christian Science has proved itself always able to meet wrong conditions. God and none else has since been our physician, divine Truth and Love our reliance.
