Six years ago, when Christian Science was presented to me, I was very unhappy. I had undergone two severe operations in two years, the last one leaving me, after two months on my back, weaker and more discouraged than ever. An X-ray examination had revealed a bad lung. The doctors stated that I was threatened with tuberculosis, and constantly painted upon my thought images of fear and dread of the disease which, they said, was sure to develop unless certain measures were carefully carried out, such as taking milk and eggs, and sleeping out of doors. At this time I returned to Shanghai, although the doctors insisted that a return to China in my condition was not advisable.
During my convalescence I had spent a month at the home of an aunt who was interested in Christian Science, and who, in a very kind, unobtrusive way, implanted little seeds of truth, which were later to be watered and find growth. I sailed for Shanghai in February, taking with me a few copies of the Christian Science Sentinel and a copy of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy.
I found it difficult to follow the doctors' orders, but finally an apartment was secured with a large screened-in veranda, where I could spend my time in the open. And with milk at sixteen dollars a quart, I found the orders still more troublesome to carry out. All day long, as the spring weather advanced, I lay on the veranda reading from Science and Health, although even after the sixth reading I seemed to be just as weak as before. One day as I was looking over one of the testimonies in a Sentinel that I had brought with me, the thought came to me that if a testimony could be written from South Africa, surely there must be, in an immense city like Shanghai, at least one or two Christian Scientists. I had never seen a copy of The Christian Science Journal, and did not realize that there I could have found just the information I desired. But my longing to talk to someone who could tell me more about the truth was so sincere that ignorance could not withhold from me this blessing, for, as Mrs. Eddy says (Science and Health, p. 2), "The desire which goes forth hungering after righteousness is blessed of our Father, and it does not return unto us void." That same day I noticed in the Shanghai newspaper an article written by the Committee on Publication. My immediate telephone inquiry to the editor of the paper elicited the information that although he could not reveal the name of the writer of the article, yet he could give me the name of a friend of his who was interested in Christian Science. When I telephoned her, this lady very lovingly informed me that in a few minutes the Christian Science Society of Shanghai would hold its six o'clock Wednesday evening meeting in the Masonic Hall on the Bund. I hurried out into a ricksha, and offered the willing little man who was pulling me extra "kumshaw" if he would get me to the Bund on time. Truly that ride through the soft twilight of a warm Oriental evening was as inspiring as any that a Bellerophon ever had on a winged Pegasus. All the way I praised God that my prayer had been answered, and I was to meet other people who were interested in the blessed truth. I found the quiet service of that little group of loyal workers all that I had dreamed a church service should be. From then on I was not only a constant reader of the Christian Science Quarterly Bible Lessons, but a regular attendant at the twice-a-week services on the Bund. I still lay on my veranda during most of the day, but I had discontinued the milk and had discarded medicines.
