My first impression of Christian Science was as a religion of joy and of love; and I was led into it in the following way. At Christmas time, a few years ago, I arrived in the United States with only a slight knowledge of the English language and without a real friend within a distance of three thousand miles. Although I did not believe in the God of so-called orthodoxy, I had been going to church occasionally; and at this Christmas season I felt so lonesome I thought some Christmas music would console me. Incidentally, I walked into a beautiful Christian Science church; but instead of the expected Christmas music, I heard "Onward, Christian Soldiers," which I then heard for the first time in my life, and was tremendously impressed and inspired by it. At that service I recognized a sentence here and there of the reading from the Bible, but did not understand a single sentence of the reading from our textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy. I had never heard anything about Christian Science, had never heard of anybody who knew of a Christian Scientist, did not even know that Christian Science claimed to heal, and, as aforesaid, did not understand one sentence from the textbook; but I felt such joy and love reflected by that congregation that I wanted to know more about a religion which brought forth so many smiling faces.
A few days later I bought a copy of Science and Health and began the most joyful undertaking I have ever started on. I read that blessed book, word for word, by the help of a dictionary, six pages every evening, and went on in this way evening after evening. While reading Science and Health I was healed of indigestion of six years' standing, for which I had consulted three physicians and had had to resort regularly to drugs in order to get along. From that time I have not had the least temptation to use drugs. In my study of Christian Science the Bible, our Leader's writings, and the authorized Christian Science literature have been my only guides; and through the understanding derived therefrom, the healing power of the Christ-idea has been proved to me over and over again.
I have never ceased to be grateful for the protective way in which divine Love guided me to this eternal truth through a loving congregation; and whenever I have the opportunity —either as an attendant or an usher —to greet strangers in a Christian Science church, it is my desire to reflect as much as possible the same Love which led me to that living truth. Wherever we are, and what ever language we speak, the language of Love will always be understood.
