I owe a deep debt of gratitude to Christian Science for what it has done for me in my uplifting and for the many benefits I have received through the power of Truth. I gladly embrace the privilege of telling others of what it has done for me. It is now over four years since the door of Christian Science was first unexpectedly and providentially opened to me, and it found me in a very complicated and serious condition of health. I feel that my restoration has been a miracle of divine grace and a monument of God's long-suffering and mercy, for I seemed then to be on the verge of the grave. It was said that I looked terribly ill, and I had the drug habit, and was taking medicine every two or three hours of the day for some trouble or other. Some of my ailments dated from the civil war, where I had contracted a chronic bowel trouble which greatly reduced my vitality. Later another illness found in me its victim and settled in my nervous system, and its after-effects resulted in complete exhaustion. In addition to what the doctors called diabetes I had bowel and heart trouble, and there was scarcely a natural function of the body. I seemed to have tried every material remedy, and doctors far and near, also electric appliances, but my condition seemed to grow more serious and complicated instead of better. I had become completely disabled, and was isolated from society.
The outlook upon life at this point was dark and hopeless, but a neighbor came along one day who was conversant with all my conditions for years and whom I had known from his youth; but I did not know that he was interested in Christian Science nor had I heard of it myself. He first told me of what it had done for himself and family, and said if I would just turn toward it I would get well. He spoke with such confidence and assurance that I was struck with surprise. I saw that he had something which I wanted but had not. He said if I was willing to try it he would do all in his power for me. He gave me some literature to read, but I told him I could not read at all on account of my eyes; yet he insisted that I should try.
At this time my family physician was about to leave home for a trip abroad to be gone for three months. He desired to leave me in the care of another doctor, who came to see me before he left. I then asked my doctor if he were willing that I should try Christian Science, of which I had heard recently, and he said for me to try it. He was one of the most liberal of men in medicine and religion, and he added that if there was anything in the world which would help me, God speed it. He left the next day and the other doctor never came again to see me.
