I had heard of Christian Science for many years, and had been gradually getting ready for it before I began definitely to study it. Two members of my family became Christian Scientists, and this made me think a great deal; and although I was very much opposed to what I thought Christian Science was, I began to pray again, a thing I had not done for some time, and to read my Bible. At that time a nervous complaint from which I had suffered as a child, and which still attacked me occasionally, left me; and I feel sure that although I did not realize it at the time, Christian Science had begun to influence my thought and had healed me.
I gradually began to feel that my own religion did not satisfy me; and one evening, as I listened to my sister reading aloud the chapter on Prayer in "Science and Health with Key. to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy, I thought how beautiful it was. Not long afterwards I tested for myself the new idea of prayer it gave me. At that time I was working in a military hospital and often found the work very trying. One morning I was told that the doctor would make an inspection of the hospital that afternoon, and I began to dread it very much, as I knew I should have to wait upon him, and I was afraid of getting flurried and not having things ready quickly enough for him. I stood still for a moment in the surgery, where I was working that morning, and realized that God could help me; and that afternoon I felt perfect confidence and got through my work quite satisfactorily. Soon after that I began to wonder if Christian Science was what I needed, and I prayed for guidance.
After the war ended I seemed to have used up all my strength and was on the verge of a nervous breakdown. Fortunately for me, a sister-in-law who was staying with me at the time was a Christian Scientist, and at my request she took me to a Christian Science practitioner. I had treatment, and began to read Science and Health and to study the Lesson-Sermon. One morning, after I had had treatment two or three times, I awoke feeling very ill and confused; and I said to my sister-in-law, "I don't know whether I want to go on with Christian Science or not, but I do want to do what is right." After that I began to get well rapidly, and headaches, sleeplessness, and fatigue soon left me.
