Several years ago I attended a Christian Science Wednesday evening meeting and read some pamphlets bought at the reading room, but the teaching remained a mystery to me. In the autumn of 1914 my wife was away for a rest in hope of finding some relief from her suffering caused by obstinate ulcers in the stomach, with which she had been troubled for many years, and which, in spite of great caution, would not heal, the pains increasing instead of decreasing. One day she returned home very unexpectedly with the glad news that she was cured of her illness—through Christian Science. We were very incredulous, but as time went on we could not deny the evidence that she really was restored to health, and that her healing was permanent.
Since my youth I had been interested in religion, but in spite of the study of exegetics, at times conducted with great eagerness, had failed to attain that inward satisfaction for which mankind yearns. After my wife's recovery I decided to give Christian Science a thorough study, and the change this has brought into my life can simply be described in the words, "All things are become new." When I first commenced to read the literature, it was with a cigarette in my mouth, but that was one of my last smokes, although a confirmed smoker. I had from time to time abstained from smoking for a period so as not to become a slave to the habit, but such abstention had been a great sacrifice and there was always a longing to begin again. It was therefore all the more remarkable that without any conscious thought on my part, the habit completely left me, and since then I have not once longed for a smoke.
Before knowing anything of Christian Science, I was absolutely mastered by fear. Ofttimes I had the feeling that I would die young, and money troubles for the future filled my thoughts. Irregular heart action and nightmares disturbed my sleep, stones from the kidney worried me repeatedly, and sometimes the thought of a premature death was not altogether disagreeable; but through putting into practice the teachings of Christian Science the money difficulties have been solved and the ailments have disappeared. There is still much I do not understand, but I am thankful for what has already been received and in the happy knowledge of having found the truth I will work on to the realization of God's kingdom already come.—
