NEARLY thirty years ago, Christian Science was brought to what proved to be the death-bed of a loved one, by a lady who had been healed by its ministrations and who was the wife of a minister in an eastern town. Not understanding Christian Science, however, and firmly believing that materia medica would effect a cure, I refused even to permit this teaching to be mentioned in the sick-room.
Some eighteen years passed, bringing many sorrows and other difficulties, and I had come to Colorado to recover from what physicians said was an incipient attack of lung trouble. I was much benefited by the change and resumed my occupation in newspaper work. In a few years, however, some of the old ailments with which I had been afflicted as a boy, namely, inherited liver complaint and chronic bowel disorder, returned with renewed force. I became almost a physical wreck, but managed through mere human will-power to continue my duties, which were very exacting and somewhat responsible in their nature.
For a year I visited a physician every day and had my stomach cleansed, in the hope of benefiting the chronic condition there that was filling my nights and days with anguish. Then for six months more I went every other day, but nevertheless I grew steadily worse. I often felt that death would surely put an end to my suffering. Several doctors whom I consulted offered no hope for relief from the bowel trouble, which filled me with an almost constant fear. One day when things seemed the blackest and I was using violent language in describing my condition to a young man in the newspaper office in Denver where we were employed, he asked me why I had not tried Christian Science. I told him that I was ready for anything, as I had tried almost everything else. He brought me a copy of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mrs. Eddy, and I attempted to read it, but failed to become interested. After a few days my condition grew worse and I was prompted to ask the young man for treatment, but without knowing just what that meant. He looked surprised at first, then said he would try to help me if I would give up my medicines. That, however, was no easy task, although I had begun to question their infallibility.
