I deem it a privilege to testify to the fact that the promise which Christian Science held out to me, some twenty-five years ago, has been abundantly fulfilled. It came as the complete answer to my longing to know God and so to understand what life really is, healing me, almost at once, of nervous indigestion of long standing, and of the need of wearing glasses for astigmatism, which had been necessary during the previous ten years. Testimony as to these healings appeared in the Sentinel over twenty years ago.
Happy as I am for that experience of release from physical ills, and for the large measure of freedom from them since, more precious by far have been the glimpses of reality which the study of Christian Science has forded me throughout the years. The words (Revelation 3:8), "Behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it," are full of profound meaning for me, now.
Outstanding among the instances of protection which I have known as a result of understanding relying upon spiritual law is that which I experienced at the time of the great earthquake in Japan in 1923. The house in which I was staying, and which belonged to students of Christian Science, was almost completely untouched, nor did the conflagration which immediately followed reach our section of the city, while supplies of food and so forth were available when all the usual channels were cut off. My gratitude for the experience lies chiefly in the recognition that, no matter how harsh and abrupt the occasion seemed, it brought a very definite spiritual awakening. It was as though one had been jolted out of a pleasant dream of existence and the petty indifferences of conventionality into a warmer humanity, a concern for all those who shared that devastating experience. A great rent was made in the usual order of things, into which soon poured a wealth of helpfulness from the United States, Canada, and all parts of the world. Supplies of food, clothing, funds, and knock-down houses for shelter soon took care of the needs of those of us who were visitors to Japan; and for weeks afterwards depots were handing out all sorts of useful articles to whoever might apply for them, leaving in the minds of numberless Japanese proof of the compassionate kindness of Western nations which the Japanese people may never forget.
