For years I was a traveling salesman and merchant, but all the while I was a constant sufferer and was under medical treatment most of the time, trying new remedies for various ailments, for it seemed as if I was afflicted with almost every ill to which flesh is heir. My business brought me in touch with druggists the greater part of the time, and from their point of view I was provided with every needful remedy; but with all my doctoring I constantly grew worse. The more drugs I used, the deeper in darkness and despair I seemed to be. The physicians were very kind in their care of me, but they failed to give any permanent relief.
At this time Christian Science was brought to my notice, but I knew very little about it; nevertheless I wrote to a practitioner for treatment. I did not respond to this immediately, and my wife, thinking one day that I was not so well, called in a doctor without letting the Christian Scientist know. Thus I fluctuated between materia medica and Christian Science, until a letter was finally sent to the practitioner saying that I was not so well. The practitioner knew that with the faithful work which had been done I should have improved, and that something must be wrong. She therefore wrote us a letter asking to know what we were doing, at the same time indicating that there ought to be some improvement. My wife replied that we had called in medical assistance and that I was not so well.
This explanation made it clear to the practitioner why I had not improved, and she wrote back directly, quoting the Scripture, "Choose you this day whom ye will serve." I thus learned for the first time that these two opposing systems should not be used together. This realization settled all doubts on my part. Having been convinced of the inadequacy of material means, I was ready to put all my trust in God, so I wrote to the practitioner asking for further Christian Science treatment, and everything in the drug line was thrown away.
