I did not come into Christian Science through physical healing; but soon after becoming a Christian Scientist I had a very conclusive proof of the infinite power of Truth. While engaged in making soap in the home of my father at Winlock, Wash., a can of lye was placed in the solution on the stove without first cutting the top off. The perforated holes were merely punched in to allow for the escape of the lye. When the soap was ready to take from the stove I attempted to lift the can out, but its contents had only been partly dissolved, and the instant it came in contact with the air, it exploded. The lye and soap shot from the can as from a gun, into my face and beyond me. My forehead and one side of my face and neck were dreadfully burned.
At this time I was the only Christian Scientist in Wrinlock, and the only one in my father's family; I therefore had no one to whom to appeal for help. My first thought was to apply cold water, but as this did not seem the thing to do, I went up-stairs to my room without being seen by any member of the family. There I read Science and Health, and immediately the pain stopped. I then went down-stairs, thinking to clean my face with fresh lard. Not finding any, I used vaseline to remove the Iye and soap as well as I could.
My face was not even blistered, but the parts that had been covered with the mixture seemed to be cooked, and I now received some censure because I would not apply material means for relief. No bad results from inflammation followed, however, and after reading the Bible and Science and Health for three days, and at the same time applying my slight knowledge of the truth as well as I knew how, I washed my face. The burned skin then peeled off. Where the flesh had been penetrated by the lye and soap, slight red spots were visible after the peeling of the skin, but these soon faded, and my face and neck became perfectly smooth, without any mark whatever. The lye which shot beyond me burned holes in a woolen jacket hanging upon the wall. When this jacket was handled afterward, the burned spots fell out, just like ashes.— Portland, Ore.
