In early girlhood I united with an orthodox church, but after several years of earnest service I was disappointed with the results obtained from the teachings of this church. I then changed my membership to another denomination, thinking perhaps this would bring me more harmony; but after sixteen years of faithful work I became sick in both body and mind, and the church seemed a failure. However, I struggled on, taking up the study of the New Testament with the thought of Jesus' healing ministry strongly in mind, wondering why the churches were not practicing the same healing to-day "with signs following." In fact, I asked my pastor about it, but his answer was very unsatisfactory.
I felt that something was wrong, and there must be a better way; so I kept on reading the Bible and praying for light. My prayer was answered in a few months, when I heard of Christian Science for the first time, and was given a Journal and a Sentinel to read. The teaching appealed to me mightily, and seemed "too good to be true." When I was able to get the textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy, I began at the Preface to read it through. I did not think of being healed physically, because the doctors, three in number, had said no medicine would touch my case—that I was too far gone. Still, there was a desire in me to live and be well.
Little did I then know of the power of Truth and Love, as taught and demonstrated in Christian Science. When I reached the chapter entitled "Science of Being," I experienced wonderful spiritual uplifting. I realized I had found that for which I had been seeking, the healing and regenerating truth, as taught by Jesus, the Way-shower, and promised by him to those who would follow his teaching. Valvular heart trouble, a very serious nervous condition of the stomach, throat and lung affection, neuralgia of the head, neck, and shoulders—all disappeared, some quickly, others gradually, as the light of Truth dawned in my consciousness; also a complete nervous breakdown, with all of its attending ills, vanished into its native nothingness from simply reading the textbook.
