In the summer of 1921 my father became suddenly ill with what his physician said was a stoppage of the gall duct, or gallstones. The only remedy, he said, was an operation, which he could not recommend on account of my father's age and a condition of overweight. After being kept under hypodermics for several days, and suffering excruciating pain between times, my father finally consented to have Christian Science treatment. A practitioner was called, and the pain was very quickly relieved; but this was followed by an extreme soreness in the body and a stupor from which we could scarcely rouse him. This lasted several days, during which he took no food.
I found myself consenting to the belief that because of my father's advanced age he might not recover. That it was error for me to admit the claims of age and death was soon realized, and picking up the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy, I began to read aloud to my father, knowing the healing power of Truth, even though he was seemingly unconscious. After I had read about half an hour, and just as this statement from page 276 was read, "If God is admitted to be the only Mind and Life, there ceases to be any opportunity for sin and death," my father roused a little, and I asked, "Father, do you admit that God is the only Mind and Life?" realizing that if he would admit this truth, he could not die. When he answered in the affirmative, I said, "Then let us get up!" Surely this was a divine impulsion, for I had had no thought of his getting up prior to that moment. While he consented at once, on account of the soreness of the body much encouragement was necessary before he could see that it was possible to do so. He sat up about half an hour, and after that was up at least once a day for several days, until he was quite well. He has had no return of the trouble; and we are most grateful for Christian Science.
I should feel that this testimony would be incomplete were not something added of the wonderful good that has come to me through the study of Christian Science. I had been frail and ill all my life until Christian Science was brought to my attention. After reading Science and Health for a few weeks I was completely healed of chronic ills which were of years' standing. I shall never forget that first glimpse of the infinite healing Principle! It seemed to me that I went on my toes from morning until night. I had never had such mental and physical freedom. In addition to the chronic ills mentioned, I was healed of the need for glasses, which I had worn for seven years.
