An old saying is, "Open confession is good for the soul." I certainly ask forgiveness of Christian Science, for my feeling was once bitter against it, owing to religious training and later to my work as a nurse. As a child I vowed that when I became a woman I would leave the church in which I was brought up, and at the age of thirty I joined another church and thought I was a Christian.
When I became sick I went to the best medical doctors and specialists in many of the largest cities of the United States, but to no avail. I was like the woman spoken of in Mark's Gospel who "had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse." At last I went to Nome, Alaska. The first summer I felt a little better, but in the winter of 1908 I was very ill. I had tried all the doctors in Nome, and they said I must undergo an operation, just as the doctors in the States had said. I was so weak I could not lift a broom. Death seemed to be staring me in the face.
The doctor who was treating me at the time came one afternoon and brought with him a copy of The Christian Science Journal. He said he was very sorry to tell me that he could not do anything more for me, as the only thing left was an operation, and it could not be performed there as none of the doctors had the material to work with. He added that I had only one chance in a thousand; and I knew it. But life was sweet. Then the dear doctor asked why I did not try Christian Science. Despite the fear of death my anger was up; I looked him in the face and said that I was not crazy, but that I was a sick woman. He, however, handed me the Journal and said, "These people do not all lie; just read that testimony." Well, it said many beautiful things and spoke about a practitioner; so I asked where I might get one, for like a drowning man I grasped at anything which offered a chance for life. He said there was one in Nome, and he not only told me her name, but said he would take me to her that evening; and so he did. She asked me if I believed in God. All my life I had prayed, and thought I prayed aright; so I told her that I did. At that she said: "Why do you not go to God? He is our only physician; He will heal you." She told me where I could buy a copy of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy; and I got the book. I read just as faithfully as I could, and in ten days was a well woman. I had been treated by doctors for five years; and they had done their best for me, but could not heal me. I have not taken any medicine since 1908, and am well and strong. I have had many other proofs of God's power.
