With sincere gratitude I desire to bear witness to the healing efficacy of Christian Science. It is nearly eleven years since I commenced the study of this truth which makes free, mainly with the desire to help one very near and dear to me, who was unable to read. This study enabled me to lay aside my glasses in a few weeks, and I have had no further use for them.
During the spring of 1913, while following my profession as trained nurse and superintendent of the hospital to which I was attached, I became seriously ill, due to heart disease of long standing. The attack was more severe than any previously experienced, and my friends were told by the doctor in charge that it was impossible for me to recover; the diagnosis was angina pectoris. My request for Christian Science treatment was met with kindly amusement by the doctor, but permission was given. The help of a practitioner in London, a lady whom I had known for some years, was obtained. Although I was surrounded by those believing in materia medica and seemingly bound by its so-called laws, absent treatment was commenced at once and continued. Very lovingly and untiringly the work was carried on, for to mortal sense the healing was slow. There were times when I seemed to be passing "through the valley of the shadow," but Love's rod and Love's staff comforted me. I shall always be grateful for a verse from Joshua, which the practitioner mentioned in one of her first letters to me: "Be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whither-soever thou goest." Slowly but surely I began to gain freedom from the distressing attacks; health and strength were restored, to the great surprise of all around; and I was permitted to leave the hospital. Later on, the way was made plain for me to give up nursing altogether, leaving me free to devote my time to work for the Christian Science Cause.
At the time I left the hospital, however, there was still much error to be overcome, physically and mentally. Discouragement, fear, and doubt seemed almost to overwhelm me at times. Every step of the way had to be proved, until the fear which held me in bondage was overcome and the powerlessness of error demonstrated. As a clearer understanding of God was unfolded to my consciousness and I began to realize the omnipresence of Life eternal and all-harmonious, I knew that my life was not dependent on matter, on physical heart action, but on obtaining and retaining a right understanding of God, of Life, Truth, and Love. Knowing God, good, and not knowing that which was unlike Him, I found myself able to obey our dear Leader's injunction, given in the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 393), "Rise in the strength of Spirit to resist all that is unlike good." This broke the mesmerism of fear which had held me so long in bondage to error.
