I am thankful for this opportunity to testify as to why and how I came to take up the study of Christian Science. About ten years ago, according to mortal belief and my attending physician, family, and friends, I had descended into "the valley of the shadow of death." When the verdict was conveyed to me I came like a tired child to divine Love, and was healed. I then enrolled as a student of Christian Science, but although I read and studied faithfully, I seemed unable to grasp its teachings; and thus for two years I continued to read, but with little understanding. One drawback was that I seemed to have recurrences of the old trouble, not so severe nor so frequent, but yet the condition would reappear. I wanted to know just what the Master meant when he said, "If ye continue in my word, . . . ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free," and his meaning was made clear when I read, understandingly, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mrs. Eddy. The old trouble was rheumatism of every variety for which medical men have invented names, but principally rheumatic fever, of which up to ten years ago I had eight severe attacks; I have been entirely free from it, however, since being healed of the belief in its reality through the study of Christian Science.
I am thankful that' I have learned that evil, being no part of God's work or idea, has no existence, no reality; hence, can have no power. After thirty-five years of periodical suffering, having the services of many physicians, swallowing the contents of innumerable bottles of medicine, drinking of and bathing in many mineral springs, I now realize that I had been trying to heal myself of effects instead of first removing the cause—erroneous thinking.
We read in Scripture, "God is no respecter of persons." The blessings that come from divine Love, the giver of all good gifts, come not to one alone; they come to all. We have only to know this. I am thankful for having learned that as God's child I am governed by spiritual law, not by material sense; and I am very grateful to Mrs. Eddy who has so lovingly given us the key whereby we may unlock the door that leads from ignorance of the truth into the sunshine of spiritual understanding. — Seattle, Wash.
