Since healing was reported to be a part of Christian Science, I stole away from home one Wednesday night, twenty years ago, to attend a testimony meeting. I was a devout Methodist, and had faith in the guidance of my heavenly Father in this matter. I prayed that if I were on the right course I would be given proof of this. For years I had suffered from bronchitis, severe colds, and loss of voice. At this time my head and ears were badly affected, and I could not hear well. During the meeting I prayed for evidence of truth. In the midst of the testimonies, something seemed to break in my ears, and I heard clearly. With such proof of its healing power, I felt I must study Christian Science, for my eyes had been a grave problem since childhood.
I purchased a copy of Science and Health by Mrs. Eddy and read diligently every spare moment, hoping and praying for spiritual understanding to enable me to overcome an eye difficulty that was supposed to be leading me fast and inevitably to total blindness. One specialist advised me to enter the state school for the blind to save what little sight I had and to learn the methods of the blind before my hands were the only medium left. Numerous and beautiful healings were part of my experience for the next four years, but the eyes did not seem to improve.
While my husband and I were riding with a friend, my husband made the remark that he hoped I would make application for church membership. I answered, as I had before, that I must exemplify the teachings of Christian Science first, and that I would not join the church until I felt my life was above reproach. I asked my friend if she did not think I was right. She replied, "You wonder why you are not healed of wearing glasses, yet you persist in standing in your own light." This startling remark called for reconsideration. Needless to say, I applied for membership. Within two hours of the time I signed the register, I had an occasion to remove my glasses. When I went to replace the glasses I could not see through them. After trying every conceivable means to clean them, they still seemed clouded and out of focus. I looked out over the fields and found that I could see long distances clearly without the aid of the glasses. This I never had been able to do, for I was nearsighted. Here at last was my complete demonstration, and for sixteen years I have enjoyed normal vision and realized the truth of Mrs. Eddy's definition of "eyes" as stated on page 586 of Science and Health, "Spiritual discernment,—not material but mental." — Columbus, Ohio.
