Christian Science came to my notice when a friend who had felt its healing efficacy gave me a copy of the textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy; but with a consciousness steeped in material thinking and consequent material living, I arrogantly and ignorantly spurned its teachings. In bondage to a false sense of love and personality, each ringing truth contained in this wonderful book was a rebuke which the carnal mind resented. The day of reckoning came. My experiences of mental suffering were keen, varied, and many. I was afraid to live and afraid to die. For years I thought myself an agnostic, not being able to accept the teachings of the church I had joined when a child, and religion seemed the last refuge to which I would turn from choice. I have since learned that I was experiencing the mental process which Mrs. Eddy terms "chemicalization," and which she so clearly describes on page 401 of the Christian Science textbook.
On one occasion when the suffering to mortal sense was unbearable, with the simple prayer, "God, show me the way," I opened the Bible at random to the twelfth chapter of I Samuel. As I opened the book my eyes rested on the words "Fear not," and as I read on it was to me as the voice of Truth in answer to my righteous desire, which is true prayer, as we learn in Christian Science. On a similar occasion I opened Science and Health, which I had despised, and read (p. 327): "The way to escape the misery of sin is to cease sinning. There is no other way." I knew instantly that that statement was true. These correlative passages from the Scriptures and Science and Health were my first Christian Science Lesson-Sermon, and they indicated the straight and narrow way. This healing occurred years ago; but I seemed unprepared to rely on Christian Science for physical discord until two years later, when I turned whole-heartedly to God as the great Physician and was completely healed in forty-eight hours of a severe case of tonsillitis.
Since that time I have had healings too numerous to mention here, among which were an ulcerated tooth restored to soundness, the healing of an infected boil, and the overcoming of heart trouble. The healing of the last-mentioned trouble covered a period of three months, much fear having to be destroyed, as I had witnessed the passing on of my mother from a similar condition before I became interested in Christian Science. I am indeed grateful for this experience, as it necessitated consecrated study of the Bible and of our textbook and Mrs. Eddy's other writings, which helped me forward and brought perfect healing. I was also healed of grief when a little child in our home passed on. The sweet sense of peace which accompanied this healing I shall ever remember with true gratitude.
