Christian Science has been and is the most vital factor that has come into my life. I gratefully acknowledge that I owe to Christian Science nearly all the good things that are mine, including such priceless blessings as good health, loyal friends, a happy home, inspiring business associations, opportunities to serve others, power to resist and overcome harmful influences, and a religion that has taught me to love the Bible, once a closed book, and has explained to me the truth about God and man.
My attention was first directed to Christian Science when I was in high school. Much sickness during childhood had left me with such difficulties as being greatly underweight, nervous, very shy and ill at ease in the presence of others; and it was with difficulty that I could recite in class or meet and associate with new friends. I received the loving message of Christian Science at this time with much joy, and when I began to participate in high school activities I found my understanding of its teachings of great help to me. In spite of physical handicaps I won a place on the track team and performed creditably at opportune times; I became more at ease when associating with others, and conducted myself more normally in many ways. However, I was overzealous in my senior year, and after graduation I suffered what might be termed a nervous and physical breakdown. One evening at a critical period of this illness a Christian Science practitioner was asked to take my case. Treatment was begun at once and I was completely healed within twenty-four hours. I shall never forget the extraordinary sense of divine peace that accompanied the healing. The spiritual uplift was so great that I exclaimed to my mother that I knew I was fully restored to good health and that I felt as if I had experienced a foretaste of divine consciousness.
This healing convinced me more than ever that Christian Science is a wonderful religion. Accordingly, while at college I attended Christian Science services regularly, studied the Lesson-Sermons daily, Christian Science literature, the textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," and the other writings by Mary Baker Eddy; and I was admitted to membership in The Mother Church.
