Christian Science found me a slave to the tobacco habit, and when I think of the years of servitude to that taskmaster I indeed rejoice for my redemption. When I was quite a young man my father gave me a gold watch if I would not smoke cigarettes for one year. I won the watch and kept the promise to the letter by smoking ever so many more cigars and chewing great quantities of tobacco; and when the year was up I was waiting to follow out my sense desires. I smoked incessantly for years after that, even having to get up in the night sometimes to indulge. I had a great desire to stop, but found I could not. I tried it once, and I vowed that never again would I go through such an ordeal.
A copy of Science and Health was loaned to me, and when I had gotten about half through reading it I found that I had forgotten to smoke. I rejoiced in my newfound freedom, though I feared the appetite might return; but it had received its death-blow, and I have not touched tobacco in any form since that time. I am also very grateful for the healing of a number of ailments that occurred about the same time,—chronic bowel trouble and complications arising therefrom. So gently and gradually did the truth work that I did not know at what period the healing took place. Once only has this trouble reappeared, and then it was met and destroyed in one treatment. I used to have a violent temper, and at such outbursts of the animal I have said and done things for which I am now extremely sorry. I do not know who is most grateful for this healing, myself or my friends. I am also thankful to be rid of a catarrhal trouble, which was supposed to be hereditary, and of cramps that caused me great pain at intervals. This trouble has entirely left me. Every winter I had sores on my lips which caused me much annoyance, but they are now a thing of the past. Headaches were very frequent visitors, and now it gives me a great deal of satisfaction to speak the truth to that condition of thought whenever it appears and see it vanish at once. I have routed several attacks of toothache, and this last winter I have mastered so-called influenza, which had come regularly every year. This mastery gives me great assurance, and I am most grateful for it. Eye trouble has been overcome, also a weak back, from which I had suffered ever since I could remember, said to come from kidneys and bladder. Not only was this condition entirely relieved by the truth, but also the bladder and kidney trouble.
With all this overcoming of different ailments, it is only natural that I should have imbibed enough understanding of infinite good to permeate and change my disposition from wrong thoughts and desires to lofty ideals and aspirations. I am not out of the wilderness yet, but I know enough of Truth to know that the power which has been such a factor for good in my life will finish the work without interference on my part. I am ashamed to think of my ungratefulness in again and again refusing to receive the good that God so willingly bestows. I am deeply moved at the realization that I have been privileged to be a partaker in this feast of good at this particular time, when I see individuals all about me apparently in utter oblivion to the truth, knowing as I do that they must all walk the same road at some time. I am thankful to know even a little of man's unity with our Father-Mother God,—that I am a legal heir and not an alien; that I can have dominion in that spiritual sense which results in peace, whereas the service of the world does not bring peace, but only satisfaction for the moment, in having wrested a crown from some one else's brow, or in the delusion that this brings any satisfaction.
After reading what has preceded, one would naturally think I have had enough blessings for one individual, but I have many more to be grateful for. I was very much addicted to profanity, and when I flew into a temper indulged in it freely. It did not take a great deal of reasoning on my part to convince me that Christian Science and swearing would not mix. I made a few mistakes at first, but now profanity has become obsolete in my conversation. And there is still another blessing to be recorded. My memory would fail me at critical times, causing me great annoyance in my present vocation before the public; but since I have been in Science I have had no trouble in that direction. Any more? Yes; fear. I do not mean I have entirely overcome all fear, but to such a great extent that I am strengthened to grapple with its more subtle forms.
I came very near forgetting one more bad habit,—the drinking of intoxicants. I was never a drunkard, but there were the associations that had to be given up, and I dreaded the cutting remarks which I thought would naturally follow my resolve to do so. The environments in which I then was, seemingly required that I should be convivial, and though I tried to follow out the rules of Science as best I knew in not doing wrong, I did not at the time consider drinking as exactly in that line; so I kept it up for some time, until after one particularly strenuous night, it dawned on me how very poorly I was following the saying of Jesus: "Blessed are the pure in heart." I can also remember how superior and manly I felt when I had firmly resolved never, under any consideration, to touch drink again; and I also knew that I could keep my resolution. The peace of that moment beggars description! I had another surprising demonstration in finding that I had no difficulty in breaking away from my old associates; in fact, when they found I did not drink with them, they wisely left me alone.
All this I owe to the uplifting power of Truth, as revealed to us through that godly woman, Mrs. Eddy, whom I firmly believe to be the inspired messenger to this age. For her untiring labors and unswerving purpose in making this Science clear to the world, I, as one of the most unworthy of the flock, owe endless gratitude both to her and to the Father who has sent her; and I hope I may not forget to live my life so purely that it will prove my sincerity. In the face of such proofs of the omnipotence of good, I should have no fear as to the final results when error has spent its supposed fury on the rocks of experience, and the calm of divine Love appears on the sea of consciousness to rebuke the winds and the waves of erroneous sense with the truth of Christian Science.
New York, N. Y.
