In gratitude to God, and to our Leader, Mrs. Eddy for the demonstrable understanding of the control which divine Love holds over all, I submit a recent experience in dentistry, involving a metaphysical point, in the hope that it may prove interesting and beneficial to any who are meeting this particular phase of fear. The dentist whom I consulted said that the only remedy for the trouble with my tooth was to remove the nerve; this, he added, would require "heroic treatment," and I was warned to prepare for it. It would perhaps be proper to state here that I had been having other work of a painful nature done by this dentist, and as it had not been accompanied in my case by the usual suffering he had become much impressed. Knowing me to be a student of Christian Science, this experience was to be to him a supreme test of the power of Truth to alleviate pain. On the night previous to my appointment a sense of fear tried to assert itself. This was met, however, and early the next morning I took my seat in the chair firm in my reliance upon Love's power to cast out fear. I held thought persistently to this statement, "Christian Science declares that Mind is substance, also that matter neither feels, suffers, nor enjoys" (Science and Health, p. 414). The dentist began to press vigorously on the tooth to test the sensitiveness of the nerve, but there was no pain. After several minutes' work he came to a standstill, not knowing how to proceed, as he was basing his method of procedure on the degree of sensibility of the nerve. I recognized his dilemma, and for a moment must have yielded to the thought that he was deprived of the only evidence on which he could depend for further action, and instantly—but for an instant only—an intense sense of suffering manifested itself. He reached the nerve, removed it, and said, "It is very much alive, and this is the most astonishing experience I have ever had." Thus Christian Science proved that "Mind is the master of the corporeal senses"(Science and Health, p. 393).
Louisville, Ky.
