It is always interesting to hear how and why different people are brought into a knowledge of Christian Science, and it is with this thought, as well as a feeling of gratitude for blessings received, that I avail myself of the privilege to tell the readers of the Journal why I became a student of this inspiring truth. Six years ago I left Plymouth, England, where I had long been an active worker in an orthodox church—from a teacher in the Sunday School to a local preacher, as well as a Christian Endeavor worker, and also in many other phases of the church work. At the time I left Plymouth I was a member of a church in that city, and my friends and relatives had entertained fond hopes of my eventually becoming a minister. On my arrival in South Dakota I at once took up church work in all its branches in connection with an orthodox church, and in about two years I was asked to take charge of one of the then vacant churches, but declined.
From my Sunday School days I was never satisfied with theology as then taught and understood; to me it was so wrapped in mystery and contradictions, and it seemed to be such a limited gospel. That the promises of the Bible could not be taken literally was a source of trouble to me, for I felt that Christ Jesus meant what he said when he told his disciples to preach the gospel to every creature and to heal the sick, and as yet I have found no cause or reason why that statement should ever have been abbreviated; and further, that the healing by Christ of the man sick of the palsy was but an illustration of the fact that sin and disease were in some way linked together, and that his remedy was equally effective for both, but I dared not say so. I at last consented to take a church for a year, and decided that if at the end of that time I felt called to make the ministry my vocation in life, I would be glad to continue and prepare for ordination. I was sent to Evarts, S. Dak., and entered upon my work as "stated supply" for the Aberdeen presbytery in October, 1904, and this is what happened.
On my arrival at Evarts I was not satisfied with the hotel accommodations, and began to look for a room in a private house; but in a small town this was difficult to secure. At the end of two weeks, however, a place was mentioned to me where I might possibly get a room, only that the people were Christian Scientists. I asked what that meant, as I had never heard the term before, and was told that it was some new religion; so I decided to call on the people and judge for myself as to whether I would care to room with such a family or not. I was received very kindly, and the room was at once offered, and I was just as kindly made acquainted with the fact that they were Christian Scientists, to which I replied that I saw no reason why that should make any difference in my taking the room if other conditions were satisfactory. I took the room, and my curiosity was very much aroused as to what Christian Science could be. This family certainly seemed all right in every other respect, and I resolved to attend to my own affairs, but be very observant,
