AN experience of a few years ago has often proved helpful in explaining to inquirers why a working knowledge of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" is requisite to the healing of bodily ills, as it is frequently asked why it is that theologians have been unable to demonstrate the truths of the Bible to the practical benefit of mankind, after so many years of study, while a young student of the Bible, with the help of Science and Health is able to demonstrate, at least to some degree, that the Bible is a scientific work.
The experience above referred to was this: The writer, in company with another engineer, was making a reconnoissance for a railroad through a rather inaccessible portion of Arizona, and found the government topographical maps of great aid, as the elevation above the sea level has been determined and indicated by very fine lines. We had with us three men who were familiar with the trails, landmarks, etc., of the territory, and so trustworthy had they proven that we had grown to take little thought regarding trails or water-holes, trusting to the judgment of our guides to bring us to good camping-places, until one night, while traveling through a very broken country, they came to a stop and quite an argument ensued as to the right direction to pursue, the strange part being that each one of the three was positive that the other two were wrong. Our topographical map was gotten out and studied, and from the map of trails each one seemed to find positive proof in substantiation of his theory.
My associate looked at me with a twinkle in his eye and asked, "What is our elevation?" It was the work of but a few moments to take our aneroid barometer and calculate our elevation, which proved to be seven thousand feet above sea level. Then, by referring to the map, the point where the seven thousand-foot contour (which was a very fine brown line, wholly meaningless to our guides, who could see only the heavy black lines which represented the trails) crossed the blue lines indicating the stream which we were following was found, and we were able to tell our friends not only the right trail to take, but the exact distance to the camping-place which we desired to reach. In order, however, to reach this place, it was necessary for us to retrace our steps about three miles, and go up another draw. All three of our friends were wrong.
