In the hope of helping some one who may be interested, I should like to relate several experiences I have had while learning some of this great truth which makes free. I have had many healings, two of which were of chronic constipation and tuberculosis. After being convinced that materia medica could do nothing for me, I turned to Christian Science. The first-mentioned disease was instantaneously healed. With the second there was a decided improvement from the first, and it was but a few weeks before I was able to do all my own work, and was stronger than I had been in years. In about a year's time to the casual observer I seemed in perfect health; nevertheless, for several years there still remained traces of the dreaded disease, one being a few minutes of coughing when rising.
One afternoon, after spending several hours reading some of our Leader's writings, I sat wondering why my demonstration was not complete. In diagnosing my thoughts I felt sure I had studied faithfully and had tried to be more loving and kind. I began to read again, and gradually it dawned upon my consciousness that nearly every sentence I read pointed to the unreality of matter. I picked up several of Mrs. Eddy's books and opened them at different places, and each time the dominating thought seemed to be that the material body was unreal. Then I realized that this was a point the practitioner had dwelt upon many times. I also saw that from the time I had taken up Christian Science there had been in my consciousness a constant longing for a whole body. Desire being prayer, as Mrs. Eddy tells us on page 1 of the textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," I could see where I had prayed amiss; for was I not looking to matter instead of Spirit? Was not Paul's statement to the Corinthians that we should be willing "to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord"? Words are unable to express the deep gratitude that arose in me. I rejoiced because I knew then that chills, fever, and cough could only seem to destroy matter; they could not destroy me because I was spiritual. I had heard the truth and read the truth; but now I knew the truth about my problem, and I was free. In a very short time all trace of the disease disappeared.
Recently a lecturer, in closing, gave out the following thought. He said in substance: If there are any in this audience who have tried to work very faithfully in Christian Science and have not seemed to make their demonstration, I should like to give them one thought to take home. Be less "selfish." Forget your material self, the self which is no part of God and is not real. I felt at the time that I must face the audience and say that I knew this is true, for I had proved it.
