As the years go by, I feel an increasing desire to express my heartfelt gratitude for Christian Science. Eight years ago on Thanksgiving Day I attended my first Christian Science service. This was but five weeks after my arrival in America and two weeks after hearing of Christian Science for the first time. The textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy, came into my hands in my brother's home, and I felt a great desire to read it, although I knew nothing about Christian Science. My brother's wife obtained a copy with the German translation for me, and after reading it through three times in succession, I was convinced that I had found what I had been looking for all my life.
Reformation began almost immediately, and now, looking back on the past eight years, I find that I am an entirely different person, full of peace, joy, and happiness in place of discouragement and mental depression. Soon after I accepted this teaching the testing time came. I was taken ill with a severe form of influenza, and being asked whether I wished the help of a physician or of a Christian Science practitioner, I asked for help in Christian Science, without any doubt as to the result. After two absent treatments I was healed, and from that time on I have never used any material remedy. I count it as one of the greatest blessings that, although at times progress seemed slow, I never wavered, but always knew I was on the way to eternal bliss. It seems to me now that I could not live without Christian Science; and the security I feel in the knowledge that I do not need to, but on the contrary am able to improve my understanding of God from day to day, fills my cup of joy to the brim.
Christian Science has helped me in many ways. It has been of great benefit to me in learning the English language, and I have proved its protecting power as well as its power to heal. Colds which had troubled me every winter were overcome by the reading of Science and Health, and the healing has been permanent. With thousands of others, I can say I am sincerely grateful to Mrs. Eddy for all her writings, for the periodical literature, the lectures; indeed, for the entire movement. I am grateful to God for leading me out of the wilderness and for giving me the opportunity to know and to love Christ Jesus. I sincerely hope that some day I may be worthy of helping others to find this "pearl of great price."—San Francisco, California.
