When about six years of age I was taken to a funeral. I could not understand why God should take away a person's loved ones, and I lost all faith in Him. For more than twenty-five years after that experience I went to church only when compelled to go. I thought of God as a person of extreme cruelty, and of the Bible as a collection of contradictions.
When Christian Science was presented to me I did not take it up for physical healing, but from curiosity and because of my wife's desire to find a place where the children could attend Sunday school. I had read only a few pages of the textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy, when I was healed of my disbelief in God, and felt it was safe to let the children go to the Christian Science Sunday School. I knew that Mrs. Eddy was right, but it took some weeks of effort before I could think of the Bible as a book to be loved and studied. Since then I have had many proofs of the efficacy of Christian Science.
In a few weeks I was able to lay aside glasses which I had worn for several years. Shortly after being healed of eye trouble, I was awakened during the night with severe pains in my back and chest, and in the morning I was unable to get out of bed. It was suggested that I get a doctor, but I said, "I am going to see if Christian Science is any good." I tried to read the textbook, but at each attempt I would fall into a sleep or stupor. In the evening I made a more determined effort to read from the book. After reading a few pages, I dropped off to sleep; in the morning I was able to get up and dress and go about my business free from pain. Not only was I healed of this acute attack of pleurisy, an ailment to which I had been subject, but I was healed, also, of the tobacco habit and of bronchial and lung trouble at the same time. It was not until later that I realized I had been freed from these troubles. Since then I have been healed of the use of intoxicating drinks.
