Christian Science stands to-day in all its sweet dignity as an established fact—its adherents do not have to advertise themselves. This was not the case twenty years ago; then, a student returning from class instruction to his field of labor sometimes sought to make himself and his work known in various ways, one of these being to send out a letter or circular saying that the Christ-healing had been given again to the world in Christian Science, after having been seemingly lost for so long a time. A letter of this character reached a New England home and was carefully read, the same interest being shown as had been given for years to every medicine or new cure circular received there, in the forlorn hope that here at last was something which would bring relief from suffering. When the practitioner called he was kindly received, and listened to as well, and after a few weeks' treatment in Christian Science there followed the healing of a case of asthmatic trouble of many years' standing. Three other cases of healing in that family followed, and led, two years later, to my own healing, for I saw—and I believed what I saw.
My health had failed, and when I had been for weeks under the care of the family physician, but still remained weak and miserable, I remembered what Christian Science had done for my aunt's family, and I wrote to a cousin who had been healed at that time and who had since become a student and practitioner. I told her my condition, and asked if she thought that Christian Science could help me. The answer I received was so encouraging that I wanted to begin treatment at once, but was told by my family that if it meant giving up my medicine they would not consent to my having the treatment. Much disappointed, I again wrote to my cousin, and received a reply so full of patience and love that it disarmed prejudice and a reluctant consent was given to try the "new cure," but I was told not to talk about it at all; that if I was "cured," all right; if not,—
I wrote again to the practitioner, promising to stop all medicine and asking her to come to my home. This she was unable to do immediately, as she lived in a distant city; but she wrote me that she would begin absent treatment at once, and the night I received her letter I slept all night—something I had been unable to do for many weeks on account of severe pain. The following day also I was free from pain, but I said nothing about it, although I saw the family were watching me. The next day, however, I was asked, "Is your back better?" My reply was, "My backache has gone;" and it was gone for good, for I never suffered from it again. Although I write this calmly, after nearly twenty years, the wonder and the beauty of my healing, and—thank God—my gratitude, have never left me! After my cousin arrived I improved each day, and at the end of two weeks we climbed to the top of Orange Mountain, where from a high rock a view of seven cities is to be obtained. There were four or five in the party, but when we arrived at the foot of the rock we were the only ones to make the ascent, the others saying they were tired and would wait where they were, and we could tell them about the view.
How like mortals all through life this was! After having climbed almost to the top, they give out just before the final effort, and sit down, willing that others should do the climbing and tell them about it. Not so, however, with the Leader of Christian Science, who, following the footsteps of Christ Jesus, has climbed the rock of Truth, and stands to-day with feet firmly planted, where she looks out upon a perfect view from a perfect view-point. She tells us that "Jesus beheld in Science the perfect man, who appeared to him where sinning mortal man appears to mortals" (Science and Health, p. 476). On our way home my cousin said to me very quietly, "Remember that all reality is spiritual, and Spirit never tires." I reached home without a feeling of fatigue—I was healed!
All this was many years ago, and in my long experience since then I have stumbled often, but only to rise again and gain a firmer foothold on higher ground. The stumblings are less frequent now, for with thanksgiving I am beginning to comprehend an almighty God, where before I only believed in God as mighty to save from sin.
Buzzards Bay, Mass.
This testimony given by Mrs. Jefferson as to her healing through Christian Science is a correct statement of the facts. I have since that time known her to be healed of a hereditary disease, and it is only fair to Christian Science that it should have the credit therefor. Although I am not a student myself, I have more than once been helped through the application of the Principle of Christian Science.— Buzzards Bay, Mass.
