My first knowledge of Christian Science came through a remarkable woman who, with her daughter, made her home with us for several years when I was a child. The mother was then about sixty-four years of age, and had been an invalid for forty years, due to a severe hernia and acute stomach trouble. She was a great Bible student, and through her study became convinced that if she knew how to go about it she could experience such healing as that recorded in the Bible in numerous instances. At this time Christian Science was brought to her attention through neighbors of ours, and she realized in it the healing truth she had sought. Through her own consecrated reading and study of the textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy, she was healed of her many ills. Her healing seemed very wonderful to my mother, who had seen the condition of the hernia and witnessed after the healing no slightest trace of it. During their stay in our home the daughter was healed of a severe case of asthma.
In spite of these wonderful demonstrations of the healing power of Christian Science, none of our family became interested, except to speak of these healings when opportunity offered, and to feel very charitable toward Christian Science and its teachings. Different members of our family experienced minor healings through this dear woman. I remember very gratefully a healing from so-called ivy poisoning which I received; and my mother speaks of times when she was lovingly helped along the way.
Not till I reached young womanhood and had an illness caused from inflammation of the frontal sinus, did I, at the suggestion of a sister, call for treatment from a Christian Science practitioner. The help was wonderful. In ten days I was perfectly restored to health and able to return to my post of duty. Still, after this I submitted to an operation which for some time had been thought necessary. I am grateful for this experience, too, for the suffering from this so-called slight operation served to awaken me to the fact that I was looking in the wrong direction for help. Then I turned fully to Christian Science, purchased a Bible and a copy of the Christian Science textbook, and started along the true path. The loving help of dear friends aided me in learning how to use the Lesson-Sermons, and acquainted me with Mrs. Eddy's other writings. I am grateful to them for their patience in explaining points to me that were not plain.
