It is now nearly nine years since I first took a serious interest in Christian Science. I had heard of it before, but regarded it as some strange fad and wondered what sort of church service could possibly be held in connection with it. During the years that have passed since that time I have come to know not only how church services can be held, but also how ever present help and strength can be obtained from the study and practice of this new-old religion. It seems to me, therefore, that the time has come when I should give a testimony through The Christian Science Journal, in the hope that it may be of some assistance to others.
As a boy I was brought up by kind and good people in what is known as the High Church school of the Church of England, and for many generations past members of my family have been clergymen in that church. Consequently in early life I was brought in very close contact with ecclesiastical affairs, but I nevertheless chose to go into the army, and joined my regiment in India when just twenty years of age. During the five years I spent in the East my inclinations led me to make a study of the religions of the people, as well as their manners and customs, with the result that I came to the conclusion that Christianity as I had been taught it was unsuited to the people of Oriental countries, while at the same time it made nearly, if not quite, as high demands on credulity as the religions they professed. This led me to the conclusion that all religious systems were largely the result of ignorance and superstition, the forms which they took being varied only by the conditions and characteristics of the people adopting them. At the same time, though I lost belief in religious systems, I could never lose belief in religion itself, in the existence and the infinite and eternal power of God, but the nature of God and the practical value of realizing His ever presence in daily life seemed to me very obscure.
For nearly thirty years I read books on all manner of religious teachings and philosophy, but eventually my interest in them became almost entirely intellectual and I derived little or no help from such study. It was in this condition of thought, about nine years ago, that I met some friends who were greatly interested in astrology. The subtle influence of mysticism at length led me to think that astrology might indeed be a means of which the Supreme Being intended us to make use, and I decided to have my horoscope read. The result was mental depression and disturbance so great that I sought desperately for something to give me relief. Eventually the desire for Truth led me to inquire from a friend about Christian Science. Encouraged by this kind friend I read "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy. I attended one or two Christian Science lectures and then went to the services at a Christian Science church. In a very short time mental chaos was replaced by peace and I became a different being. I then decided to seek physical relief, in addition to the mental, and with the same result.
