I give the following testimony in loving gratitude to God for the exemplification of the healing Word through His beloved Son, and for the further explanation thereof as set forth in the writings of His messenger to this age,—our beloved Leader, Mrs. Eddy. There was a time in my experience when, because of my lack of understanding, God seemed afar off. Through patient and persistent study of the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy, I have come to understand God as a "refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble" to all of His children. Small wonder that Solomon should declare, "Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that hath it." The understanding of God as Love, and of man as Love's perfect image, not governed by so-called material laws, but by the law of Spirit, has many times healed me of erroneous mental and physical manifestations.
Sixteen years ago one of my sons was healed through Christian Science of autointoxication of the intestines. He had been ill for two years, each attack being more severe and harder to overcome. Finally the case became so desperate that a consultation of specialists was called; but they agreed that nothing more could be done,—that materia medica had exhausted its resources. Then it was that a neighbor proposed Christian Science treatment. A practitioner was called; and the boy was healed perfectly in twenty-four hours. The practitioner was a stranger to the family, was called over the telephone, and only one absent treatment was given. She did not come to the home, and did not see this boy until some months afterward. The boy has been strong and well ever since.
Several years ago, while on a business trip to the Pacific coast, I was a passenger in an automobile that was struck by a rapidly moving, heavy interurban train of two cars. Although the force of the blow was very great, I retained consciousness and looked after the sending of the unconscious and badly hurt driver to the hospital, and also arranged with a garage man to look after the wrecked car. I did not know that I had been hurt, as I felt no pain; but upon my arrival at the hospital I was taken to the operating room just as the surgeons were finishing their work on the driver. There it was found that I had a broken rib and finger,and a cut on my face about four inches long, which the surgeon said would require a number of stitches. I knew that it might not be wrong to have the surgeon do what he considered necessary, but I decided to "cast the net on the right side" and refused to have anything done at the hospital. The surgeon informed me that I would be badly and permanently disfigured if I refused his ministrations; but I went to a telephone and called a practitioner,and then went to my hotel. Three days later I took the train for my eastward journey. The rib and finger healed without bandage or splint,and within three months there was no mark on my face to tell where the cut had been. The practitioner who was called treated me absently at my request, for one week.
