In the beginning of the year 1916 I had reached, so it seemed to me, the limit of discontent. An acquaintance, knowing of this, recommended that I read "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy. This recommendation occupied my thought to such an extent that I finally borrowed a copy of the book from the public library. Imagine my surprise when in this book I found the solution to all my troubles in that it told me the truth about God and man. It told me that God is not circumscribed and corporeal, but "incorporeal, divine, supreme, infinite Mind, Spirit, Soul, Principle, Life, Truth, Love" (p. 465), and that this God is an ever present help in trouble. At last I had found that which would give me an understanding of God and bring peace and happiness into my life.
As a result of my uplifted thought, during the first reading of Science and Health I had many instantaneous healings. One outstanding healing I have had is that of eczema on my hands. This condition became so unsightly that I finally refused to go where my hands might be seen. However, I soon saw that by holding aloof from my friends on that account I was giving the error reality and power, so when asked to visit with friends I would go with the thought that since we were all God's children we could see only good in one another, and only once was the condition mentioned. After struggling with this problem for nearly three years I saw that I had been wasting too much time wondering why I did not get my healing, wondering to what wrong thought I was holding; I was full of self-condemnation and self-pity. From then on I decided I was going to know myself as God's spiritual child. I refused to look any more at the condition; I would emphatically declare that only that which God knew about me could I know about myself. After I had continued along this line of thought for one week my hands became smooth and white. However, that was not the end of the error. The next day being Sunday I attended church as usual. Upon returning home I removed my gloves and found that the whole condition seemed to have returned and was as bad as it had ever been. When I saw it I rebuked the error with these words: "I still do not acknowledge you. You did not come from God, so get out;" and in ten minutes my hands were without spot or blemish. This healing has meant a great deal to me, for I realize that during this period many faults in disposition were destroyed.
At one time I was confined to my bed with sciatica. At the end of five days I was still helpless, but decided I must accept the work that had been done for me. Still suffering intensely, I rose from my bed and after a struggle I got downstairs and telephoned the practitioner who was working for me, stating that I was going to accept the work that she had done. Clinging fast to the thought that God's work is done and it is perfect, I was able to clean five rooms and do a washing. The pain gradually left, and by seven-thirty that evening I was entirely free and able to attend a business meeting in the church.
