Early in January, 1900, I first read "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mrs. Eddy. This book so impressed me that, after some months of study by myself, I decided to seek a practitioner for help to overcome a trouble called nerve exhaustion, which seemingly held me fast, besides other physical ailments which constantly rendered me unfit for work or enjoyment. I can never feel sufficiently grateful for the help received. I seemed to live in a new world, and feel indeed "a new creature;" but although I had to come down from the mountain-top, I have never since then felt compelled to remain long in the valley of depression or of suffering of any kind, for the "winds of God arise and blow the mists of earth away."
During the summer of 1901 I went for the first time into First Church of Christ, Scientist, then meeting in Bryanston street, London. It was an effort to get there, owing to a physical ailment from which I had been suffering for some days; and had the hope of relief been dependent upon material conditions, I should not have taken the journey that day. We arrived somewhat late, taking seats near the door, too far from the readers for me to hear the Lesson-Sermon read, yet the experience will never be forgotten. As I closed my eyes and opened the spiritual sense, it seemed as if I were carried by the Spirit "into a high mountain, " where I heard truths unspeakable concerning God and man. The Sermon. concluded, the hymn was announced. It began with the line, "In heavenly love abiding, " and I rose with the rest of the congregation to sing. I did not know very much of the power of Truth then, and it came as a glad surprise to find myself free from pain. It had vanished into the "nowhere" whence it came, and I walked in comfort and ease to the railway station, seemingly lost to everything except the thought that I had found a God "who health all thy diseases." This special ailment was of frequent recurrence; I had been subject to it for many years, but I have not been troubled with any return since that day. Although a professed Christian for many years, I had been greatly troubled over many things I could not understand; such as, Why am I ill? Why does every remedy seem to fail after a short trial or perhaps a long one? Why can I never be sure of fulfilling an engagement, through the fear of having to spend the day in bed, etc.? Now the specter of fear had vanished, and I said rejoicingly, "I know that my redeemer liveth ... in my flesh shall I see God."
I feel sure that no one who has once seen the healing accomplished by an understanding of Christ, Truth, can ever again deny its power, although through lack of understanding we sometimes seem unable to demonstrate it as we would like. Growth does go on and we are gradually able to realize that better conditions are the result of a changed thought, a perception which may be somewhat dim yet sufficiently clear to show that God is always Love, and divine Love always all-powerful, the divine Principle that never sleeps, governing and controlling all His creation, which dwells in Mind. For this changed consciousness we are grateful to our dear Leader, Mrs. Eddy, who has pointed the way back to Christ, and taught us for our healing to give thanks and glory to God. Christian Science is the Comforter leading us daily into all truth, for, as our Lord promised. He takes of the things of Christ and reveals them unto us in Christian Science.
