I had just married and come to this country from Australia in 1916 when I first heard about Christian Science. While living in a Southern California city I was attracted by my neighbor's cheerful face, and being in great need of help was directed to a practitioner. We moved around a great deal and I did not take up the study at that time. Nevertheless the seed had been sown, and on returning to California three years later, when suddenly confronted by a sorrow that seemed more than I could bear, I turned to Christian Science, and found great comfort.
In 1921, while visiting in Australia, I experienced my first physical healing, which was one of a badly sprained and swollen ankle. The healing occurred instantly, through my reading a printed lecture on Christian Science. This proved to me that healing must be mental, because I had applied no material remedy to the foot.
My next healing was of a serious kidney trouble for which I had worn a surgical belt for years. I mentioned to a practitioner to whom I was going for help on another problem that I had ordered a new belt. She asked me which I thought had the most power, the belt or God. I replied that I knew God was the only power. "Then go home and destroy the belt." she said. This I did. The next morning I started off to play in a golf match, not expecting to go very far. On the way out I distinctly felt something slip back into place where the support used to press, and I thought, "I'm healed." So it proved. I played the game through without difficulty and have never had any trouble since.
