One of the few things that stand out in my memory of early childhood is trouble with my eyes. It was supposed that I was born with weak eyes. As I grew older, the attacks became more frequent and more severe. I went to a famous oculist in Cincinnati at the age of seventeen; and from that time, for nearly twenty years, I was at intervals in the hands of the oculists at Cincinnati, Ohio, at Louisville, Kentucky, and at St. Louis, Missouri. At the last place I was told by a doctor, upon my insistence on knowing what I had to look forward to, that I could expect trouble with my eyes for the balance of my life.
I heard of Christian Science several years before I became interested in it. It was suggested to me twice as the only solution of many troubles: but I did not think it would or could help any, and, even so, did not want to mend things by that method. I thought my own religion good enough, but did not believe it could help a case like mine as much as whisky could.
I finally went into a struggle, with my troubles and whisky on one side, and so-called will-power on the other, which brought me to helplessness and hospitals, where many kindly physicians and friends did what they could for me. I tried several of the so-called cures for dipsomania, to no avail. This resulted in wearing out the patience of all my friends and kinsmen, and almost literally landing me in the gutter. I then turned to Christian Science in despair, and received temporary relief from the dipsomania. Although I was not treated for eye troubles, at the first glimpse of the light of Truth the defective eyesight disappeared. I had worn glasses for seventeen years. I have not used them for twenty years; nor have I had any recurrence of eye difficulty. I am now fifty-seven years old, but do not use glasses.
The craving for whisky was not easily or quickly healed, and, as a consequence, neither was the claim of gaunt want. I had many practitioners, in many places, all of whom helped me and encouraged me to hold on; but I continued to stumble and fall until about sixteen years ago I met a practitioner in St. Louis, who saw that the mental condition was one of grief. He treated me, and I was healed of grief. The false appetite for stimulants and the false belief of want then disappeared. In due time I was restored to my proper place and to my family and friends.
I am humbly grateful to Christian Science and its practitioners. I have never had one of the latter fail me, even when I had tried their patience almost beyond human endurance. I rejoice that through their example of Christian helpfulness I, too, have learned patience, and have been able to help others on the way.
It is with reverent love that I say. All honor to Mary Baker Eddy and the means founded by her for the uplifting and healing of all mankind.— St. Louis. Mo.
