Christian Science came into my life when I was a mere child, and although I did not adopt it at that time I remember that it brought a ray of hope into my life. We were laboring under a heavy sense of grief, my father having passed on suddenly when just in the prime of life. My mother was a confirmed invalid, and a near relative who had been healed through Christian Science sent her a copy of the textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mrs. Eddy, urging her to read it. She did so and was healed of lung trouble and violent sick headaches. I thought this religion was all right because my mother liked it and it had helped her, but being young and worldly I gave it little attention and it went out of my life for a season.
I was influenced by friends to unite with a church, and I tried to live up to the rules of this church for several years, but not being satisfied with its creed and failing to find that peace for which I longed, I began to grow indifferent. It seems strange to say that I had no faith in religion, for I had been reared in ecclesiasticism, as my forefathers were very pious, one grandparent having been a Presbyterian divine, and naturally the doctrine of predestination and future punishment was handed down to me. In addition to this, my father was a physician and several uncles also followed this profession; consequently creeds and health laws had me hopelessly bound from my youth.
I was thrown on my own resources when very young, so was forced to select my profession early in life, and my greatest desire was to be a successful teacher. I bent every energy to accomplish this end, entertaining no other thought but that of a brilliant career. When I reached the age where I was able to do my own thinking I soon departed from everything that pertains to religion and closed the door behind me, but I suffered a great deal from this step and was often termed an infidel. Being sensitive to the thoughts of others I spent all my time in study and mingled with the outside world very little. Then there came a time when I ceased to be successful in my work. I was very restless, and was getting farther and farther away from God, drifting toward agnosticism. I had ceased to pray; in fact I had not done so since the days when I repeated the Lord's Prayer at my mother's knee.
