The desire to express gratitude for the many blessings received through Christian Science, together with the hope that my experience may encourage others, impels me to send this testimony to the power of Truth to heal. These words of Jesus, "Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free," are quoted on one of the front flyleaves of the textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science. I can state that this promise of the Master has been proved in my own experience.
Several years ago, after I had been constantly under the care of physicians for nearly a year without beneficial results, but rather very much to the contrary, my husband was advised to take me hurriedly to a sanitarium for treatment, which he did, the physician in charge at that time having told him that there was no time to lose. After some two weeks of very strenuous examinations, including an X ray my case was diagnosed as chronic ulceration of the stomach, probably of cancerous nature, together with three or four other serious internal troubles. It was advised that I submit to a major surgical operation, which we knew I could not withstand the shock of. We were desperate, yet I still remained in the sanitarium, thinking that their methods of treatment might benefit me. It was while there that our attention was called to Christian Science, a pamphlet having been sent to us by a member of my husband's family, who was interested in Christian Science. My husband and I had been very antagonistic to its teachings and very satisfied with our religion, and had not up to that time ever let ourselves read even a line. Yet it seemed I had not suffered quite enough, so we stayed at the sanitarium a while longer and after returning home kept up the treatments and diet, as best I could, only to find that I lost the very little I had gained while there.
In the late spring of the same year, not realizing that I needed anything more than physical healing, I turned to Christian Science for help, and through study and the loving help of a practitioner I soon learned that spiritual healing was what I most needed and that physical freedom would follow. We are told in Science and Health (p. 201): "We cannot fill vessels already full. They must first be emptied," so I began to try the process of elimination and found it somewhat slow, consequently I was a little slow in realizing my healing, yet I can truly say that I am grateful for this, for I am sure that I studied more earnestly and gained more with a slow healing than I would have had it come more quickly. Christian Science has been our only physician during the years following my healing, and many, many discordant conditions have been destroyed through its application. I know that Christian Science, correctly applied, will meet our every need. Through its teachings we learn that man is not in bondage to any false law, but that he is under the government of the law of God, and that every avenue or channel for good is open to him and that good is always available. I am grateful for having had the privilege of class instruction and for the many means provided by our Leader through which Truth comes to us and realize that the best way in which to show my thankfulness to God and gratitude to Christ Jesus the Way-shower and to our Leader. Mrs. Eddy, is to put into practice what I have learned of this blessed truth.— Middletown, Ohio.
