From earliest childhood I had understood very little about God and my relation to Him, and really took no interest in the subject. As the years passed I came to believe myself an infidel, and a great admirer of Ingersoll. One day a friend spoke to me of Christian Science and invited me to a Wednesday evening meeting. While I admitted that so far as I knew Christian Science might be helpful to any one who wanted religion, I said I did not feel the need of it, as my religion was to do right, and that could easily be done without a creed. I did not accept the invitation. Many times have I thought of the opportunity I then let pass, for it was several years before there came a day when, struggling with a physical ailment. I was more willing to become acquainted with God. This time my sister wrote me of the help Christian Science had been to her and advised that I give it a trial, as it certainly could not harm me and might be a help. That seemed a reasonable proposition, so I finally asked for help. I was having considerable trouble with my eyes, not being able to read or do any close work without pain, and an oculist whom I had consulted said it would be necessary for me to wear glasses as I had defective sight. After the first treatment all pain disappeared, and healing of the condition speedily followed. This healing awakened a strong desire to find out how it had been accomplished, and I at once began to study the textbook. Through the years that have followed, God has been my only Physician. In fact, I should be very much afraid to trust to a medical practitioner since learning of the one God, who is able to heal all our diseases and sorrows in such a perfect way.
As a mother of one child I am more grateful than words can tell for the protection and comfort that have been mine since learning the truth about God. Many healings have been experienced of such complaints as measles, whooping cough, chicken pox, and many minor ailments to which children seem to be subjected. An oblique fracture of the bone a few inches below the hip joint was, within three weeks, healed so that the child was able to walk. At first we thought it was only a sprain, and did not consult a physician, but after ten days it was considered best to have an X-ray photograph, which revealed the fracture. The bones had practically knit together, although irregularly. The physician and many who saw the child thought he would be a cripple because the limb was shorter than the other one. Although a very young student at the time, I had absolute faith that God could do anything, and constantly knew the truth that His work is perfectly done. The healing was slow, requiring many months, yet, through the faithful work of a practitioner, the limb to-day is perfect.
Recently this boy, while riding his bicycle, was thrown from a bank and a bone of the arm broken. I was not at home at the time, and he telephoned me to come at once, also to obtain help for him. I asked for the help as requested, but it seemed to be my duty to remain where I was until the usual hour for returning home. This I did, knowing all the time that God is by far the best mother any one can have; that He loves his child more than a human could, and that He was present supplying every need. Resting in this thought, when I reached home I found the boy reading Science and Health, and with little or no sense of pain. A physician was consulted, but he considered an X ray necessary before he could set the bone. Past experience enabled me to know that this was unnecessary, as I felt sure every condition could be properly adjusted in God's way. A splint was worn for two weeks in order to prevent the use of the arm. This was the only inconvenience, as there was no inflammation and very little soreness after the first treatment.
