It may be of interest that previous to my taking up Christian Science, religion played no part in my daily life. Owing to my education I felt rather ashamed to have a special interest in religion. Christian Science has changed all this. It was the use of the word "Principle" as a synonym for God which appealed to me particularly, and led me to the study of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy.
I soon had the opportunity to learn and prove that Christian Science is not a philosophy, but a practical religion which is applicable to the daily needs, and which heals all manner of disease. I was quickly and thoroughly healed of a severe case of appendicitis seven years ago, and of typhoid fever in the following year. There have been no after effects and no symptoms of relapse since.
What Christian Science teaches may be demonstrated by those who study and practice it. Mrs. Eddy says in "Rudimental Divine Science" (p. 2): "Healing physical sickness is the smallest part of Christian Science. . . . The emphatic purpose of Christian Science is the healing of sin." This thought is expressed in many of the testimonies given, either in the churches or through our periodicals. It is the renewing of the mind, a change of character, which Christian Scientists are essentially emphasizing. I am very grateful for the lessons I have learned and am still learning in this direction through Christian Science. It has healed me of intellectualism and its pride. This seemed to me for some time the giving up of my very self, and the resistance was accordingly an obstinate one. The understanding of Jesus' words, "I can of mine own self do nothing," got the better of the situation, and I am striving daily to gain more of that understanding. The daily study of Christian Science has enabled me to give up smoking and all use of intoxicating liquor.
