Christian Science is the greatest blessing that ever came to me. When I first became interested in this religion of Love, I had reached the conclusion that materia medica could do nothing for me. I knew nothing of Christian Science except that its followers did not take medicine and did read the Bible and also "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy. I loved the Bible, particularly the New Testament, but the Old Testament remained somewhat of a mystery to me.
When we decided to call a Christian Science practitioner, at the recommendation of a friend, I was suffering from a glandular infection which had terminated in blood poisoning. I had spent sixteen weeks of continual suffering under the care of a doctor and a nurse, had submitted twice to the use of a knife, and was in such a weakened state that I was unable to move about the house without clinging to the furniture for support. Attacks of fainting were daily occurrences, until I used to wonder just how much longer I could exist in such misery. A third swelling had appeared under the right arm, and I was unable to use the arm for over eight weeks. The family physician advised the same treatment, telling us it would be impossible to obtain any relief without the use of the knife; and yet he was not sure it would be a success.
We were very much discouraged, and it was at this time that the Christian Science practitioner was called in. Her first words filled me with interest, and I have never forgotten the inspiration of that visit. She said, "I have come to bring you some good tidings, if you would like to hear them." I was very willing to listen, and it was lovingly and clearly pointed out to me that all the agony of the past weeks was not true; that God made all good, that He made all that was made, that I could have nothing that God did not give me, and that all the suffering was a dream from which I could be freed. This was indeed good tidings to me, and I waited eagerly for more words of comfort. The practitioner explained to me that all human experience is the result of material thinking, and is healed through spiritual thinking; also, that I was not compelled, because of a false belief, to submit to a false condition. Good is a fact, and facts never vary, was the next thing pointed out to me; and so clearly was it proved to me that the material senses deceive, their evidence continually changing, that I could not fail to see the truth of these statements. I began to realize that a loving Father could have nothing to do with suffering and inharmony, and that as God, good, filled all space, there was no place for evil to be.
