When Christian Science came to me in 1908, I had been ill for nearly sixteen years and in bed for the final six. The last specialist consulted, when asked to give his candid opinion as to future prospects, held out no hope of my being anything but a practically bedridden invalid for the rest of my days. The ten earlier years of invalidism had been spent in trying various "cures" which did not cure—in Australia, England, and on the continent. During the sixth year spent in bed I suffered more acutely than in any previous year.
I still strove to be patient and cheerful, however, thinking this illness was God's will for me, though often the wonder arose as to why there should have been this check to a useful and active career in a profession I loved, and why this inaction and uselessness should have been forced upon me. I pondered much over the Bible, and saw clearly that Christians were meant to do the works Jesus did, and that they could do them, if only they were spiritually-minded enough. But how to attain to that spirituality! The quest seemed hopeless. Mrs. Eddy's book, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," has opened that closed door for thousands upon thousands who, like me, had stood yearning and disconsolate outside. The loving and reverent gratitude we feel toward her cannot be adequately expressed in words. It can only be lived, by striving to follow in the path which the Master trod, and which Mrs. Eddy rediscovered and humbly walked in herself.
Through strange ways in my helplessness and solitariness I was led to hear of Christian Science, and eventually was brought into touch with a practitioner. Treatment began, but for many weeks I seemed to be no better physically; and I often grew very despondent. At last came a day when through the faithful, patient, loving work of the practitioner the wonderful revelation dawned on me that it never had been God's will that His children should suffer or be weak and helpless; that His will is wholly good and acceptable and perfect, the ceaseless outflowing of infinite, absolute Love, so that to say "Thy will be done" is a joyful acceptance of good, not a mournful resignation to ill of any description. From that day healing began to be manifested; and though at the time it seemed slow, yet in four months I was sightseeing around London without weariness or relapse. For close on fifteen years now I have not spent even a half day in bed from illness, nor been disabled from carrying on the daily avocations of a busy life. Afterwards I was glad that the healing had been slow, for it gave opportunity for studying the Bible in the ligh't thrown on it by Christian Science, and for poring over our Leader's writings.
