At the time Christian Science found me, over seven years ago, I was as much in prison as if I had been incased within solid steel walls. Not only was I in a mental prison, but I had tuberculosis, a disease I had feared from childhood. The doctors had given me up, as had many of my friends. In the words of the Psalmist, "My feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped."
About fourteen months before this condition set in, a friend presented me with a copy of Science and Health, expressing the thought that I might enjoy looking into Christian Science. During the first few months I read the textbook through twice with the sole purpose of investigating Christian Science as a religion. I loved the statements of Christian Science from the first. They were logical and beautiful. I studied the textbook in the preparation of sermons, being a minister at that time. I got great inspiration from reading the chapter on Prayer. I did my best preaching during those months when I was building into my sermons the spirit of Christian Science. However, laboring under the accumulated effects of twenty-one years of poor health, disappointments, and overwork, I suddenly collapsed with tuberculosis. The doctors gave me no hope.
In this dark hour I said to my wife, "Christian Science is the only thing that can save me." Hope revived when I realized I could turn to God for healing. I studied and applied the teachings of this Science the best I knew for a period of four months, making frequent calls upon a practitioner. At the end of this time I was apparently no better. I am now, however, very grateful for the loving encouragement the practitioner gave me during those trying months.
