The healing efficacy of Christian Science was impressively brought to my attention some ten years ago, when my wife was healed in a manner that seemed to me little short of a miracle.
At this time I was personally suffering from a severe form of indigestion and under the treatment of one of this city's best physicians, but seemed to be steadily getting worse. I was at this time smoking twelve to fifteen cigars each day. Even though I had witnessed my wife's healing, I was both skeptical and reluctant to try Christian Science treatment for my own problems. I did, however, decide to call upon a practitioner. She advised me to eat anything I desired, explaining why food could not hurt me. I did as she directed, and instead of suffering any ill effects I began to improve immediately. In a short time I found myself entirely healed. While under treatment I remarked to the practitioner that I could never give up smoking; it had become such a part of my life.
I, however, immediately began an earnest study of the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," and other writings by Mrs. Eddy. My health continued to improve, but I smoked as much as ever. One day about a year later, I lighted a cigar and it tasted bad. After smoking it a few moments, I threw it away. A little later I tried another, with the same result. I kept this up for perhaps two weeks through force of habit, until it became so obnoxious I simply had to stop smoking. During the past nine years I have not used tobacco in any form and have had absolutely no desire for it. False pride, conceit, almost constant use of profanity, and other errors are fast fading into their native nothingness; and while errors seem to be waiting on every corner to be overcome and I still seem far — oh, so far— short of reflecting the perfect man, I rejoice in the little progress I have made and the happiness it has brought into my life. I know that by constantly striving I shall learn more of this God "whom to know aright is Life eternal," as our Leader says on page vii of the Preface to Science and Health.— Portland, Maine.
