It was in 1898 that I first began the study of Christian Science, and from that time to the present I have daily endeavored to put in practice the understanding gained from the Bible and from our Leader's writings. To-day, I can say that with me the conviction that this Science is the truth has become increasingly stronger with the passage of the years. There have been many severe tests along the way during these twenty-four years, but there have been also many experiences of healing and of help, covering all sorts of phases of error. Some of these demonstrations of the truth have been practically instantaneous; with others the "highway for our God" has had to be prepared. The activity of Truth is, of course, immediate, for it is an unbroken activity; but mortals sometimes seem to require more or less of what they call time before they appear able to open wide the gates and let the "King of glory" come in.
I am going to give here one instance of slow healing. Before coming into Christian Science I had had, for several years, a very painful trouble with the nerves of the feet. A distinguished surgeon had prescribed a course of treatment which had been rigidly carried out. He said, however, that the ailment was an unusual one, that it was practically incurable, and that his colleague—a physician who had offices with him—had the same trouble; also that he did not expect much benefit to result from the treatment. When the treatment was over, I had the trouble in both feet, whereas it had been in only one before.
After this, I became interested in Christian Science, but still the trouble persisted for seven years with no apparent relief. Then, finally, I wrote to my sister, a practitioner, and asked her to help me. Within a month from that time I was free. I received a letter from her in which she said that she was sure the healing was done, and that she had been on the "mount of vision" of which Mrs. Eddy speaks on page 561 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" while working for me. After I had read the letter I sat thinking of the "mount of vision," and of what one could see and could not see there,—all perfection, no error (no painful feet). It was about two weeks later that I suddenly realized that I had had no pain since the hour when I read the letter. I had gone about as usual, changed my shoes (always before a painful procedure), as occasion required, and had never once even thought of there ever having been anything the matter with the feet, so completely had the disease been eradicated. That was seventeen years ago; and the healing has been permanent.
