I am very grateful for the better understanding of God which the study of Christian Science is bringing to me daily. For many years I did not attend any church, as the various religions I had studied seemed very unsatisfactory. A friend was greatly benefited by studying Christian Science, and through seeing the improvement in him I became interested enough to attend some Christian Science lectures and church services, and to read some of the literature. I could not, however, accept Mrs. Eddy's explanations, and decided that it was just another doctrine that might be very helpful to many people, but evidently was not for me.
At this time I was doctoring and doping unsuccessfully, trying to get rid of rheumatism and several other physical difficulties. I had little or no faith that Christian Science could heal me of any of them, but one day I went to see a practitioner, more because I had been asked to than because I thought I should be helped. After I had related my troubles and experiences, the practitioner asked if I were trying to mix Christian Science with the material remedies I was using. I answered, "No, not exactly; but last night I was suffering such physical pain that I could not sleep, so I arose and read Science and Health awhile." As nearly as I remember, the practitioner then said: "I know that Christian Science heals everything, but you are not convinced of this. Whenever you lose faith in material remedies, don't hesitate to call for Christian Science help, but remember that the two can no more be mixed than can oil and water." Soon after this I became so much worse that I could not work, and had to stay in bed. In October, 1924, my doctor arranged for me to be taken to an army hospital. The trouble was diagnosed as neuritis and sciatica, caused or aggravated by exposure incidental to military service in Siberia during 1918-1919. I think almost everything known to medical practice was done for me, and I improved somewhat; in fact, although one of my limbs was badly crippled, I had arranged for a desk job when I left the hospital just before Christmas. However, I suffered a relapse, and the doctor decided to send me back to the hospital. But instead of going I turned unreservedly to Christian Science and asked for help. My healing was not instantaneous, but nearly so; and I have had no return of the trouble. I had formerly heard of absent treatments, but had considered them ridiculous. I found them most effective for relieving pain.
I was criticizing some professing Christian Scientists to a friend one day, and his clear explanation of why my judging and condemning them was not only making it harder for them to do right but was hindering my own healing, gave me my first real glimpse of what Christian Science is. Then I wanted to read the Bible and "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy, and I read almost day and night for some time before realizing that I had not been using glasses which I had worn for about fifteen years. I have had no use for them since, and I read a great deal.
