When physicians told me that a member of my family could never be well, that in fact this one had better be dead than in the condition which then existed (and this was caused by the use of drugs), for a time I was without hope, "and without God in the world." Fortunately, about this time I heard of Christian Science, and that it was something which healed without drugs, so I borrowed a copy of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mrs. Eddy, and as I read I tried to put into practise the little I could understand. I gave up two kinds of medicine which I was then taking, and experienced no bad effects, though before this I had been sick from so doing. For fourteen years now my health has been good except for a severe experience in 1911, but this, too, was overcome, as stated below, through the understanding of God as the only power, the only cause.
Although Paul's understanding of Truth did not keep the viper from fastening on his hand, it did keep him from being harmed. John's understanding of Truth did not keep him from being exiled to Patmos, but it did keep him from death; and it was on the isle of Patmos that he received the revelation which bears his name. So it was with myself,—my understanding of Truth did not keep me from being overtaken with what physicians would have termed an incurable disease. I know we are advised not to describe symptoms of disease or suffering, but I may be pardoned for saying that my mother, grandmother, and a number of relatives had passed on with what the doctors called tubercular disease of the lungs, and about the first of May, 1911, I began to have a cough. I did not have treatment for it nor did I treat myself, and by the first of August there was some discharge of blood; still I did not pay any attention to it until about the middle of August, when one evening I was seized with severe pain in my side. I went to my room and soon I had a very bad hemorrhage. My sister telephoned to a Christian Science practitioner, and as soon as the message was received, the hemorrhage stopped; but I did not sleep that night, for I was in great pain and unable to lie down. The next day I had another attack, but not so bad, although my cough was severe and I began to have other alarming symptoms.
This continued for four weeks, and I became so weak that it was an effort for me to go from one room to another. When I would try to study the Lesson-Sermon, reading either the Bible or Science and Health, my voice would leave me entirely; but one morning, after spending what seemed a dreadful night, I fell asleep. I slept about two hours, and when I awoke I felt refreshed, for I was free from pain, and I knew I was healed! I called my sister and told her so, and although the cough lasted about two weeks longer, I gained in strength and in flesh, and felt as well as I ever did in my life. My healing has been permanent, and I have not been sick a day since, for which I feel most thankful.— Lampasas, Texas.
