Christian Science has not only healed me of a malady pronounced incurable by materia medica, but it has also given me a wonderful vision of my true selfhood as spiritual man, made in God's image. The disease from which I was suffering was called arthritis, and there were times when I could hardly walk and my right hand was practically incapacitated. I was earnestly and conscientiously following the doctor's orders, but instead of getting better I was steadily getting worse. Each week would find some joint attacked which the week before had been free.
At this time Christian Science was offered to me by an acquaintance. I did not accept it, for I thought, If materia medica with its skilled doctors cannot do anything for me, how is Christian Science going to help? I went on for a while longer, steadily growing worse, when Christian Science was again brought to my attention, this time by a very young friend. She told me that this Science could heal me; that it had healed her of ivy poisoning which had extended over her whole body and had been very painful; within a few hours after Christian Science treatment was started she was entirely free. This interested me so much that I felt ready to try this Science.
A member of my family urged me to go to a Christian Science Reading Room, which she heard the churches maintained and from which one could obtain information. I accordingly went to one, and told the attendant at the desk that I wanted to find out something about Christian Science, but I did not suppose it could do much for me, as my body was full of acid. She assured me that Christian Science healed, and that when the truth was received into consciousness a change took place, neutralizing discord. I was intensely interested and wanted to hear more. She continued, saying that "man's extremity is God's opportunity," and that the first thing I should do was to go to a Christian Science practitioner for a treatment. She showed me in The Christian Science Journal a list of those in my vicinity, then gave me a book which she said was being lent to me for two weeks. The book was "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy. Having heard that Christian Scientists take no medicine, I asked if I needed to go on with my medicine. She replied, No, and that I could not serve two masters. As I turned to leave she said, "Remember, perfect health is your heritage." I thought, "How wonderful! But perfect health and I are far apart." I left that Reading Room, however, with a feeling of buoyancy—a carefree, hopeful feeling I had not had for months.
