My first introduction to Christian Science came when, as a boy, I was enrolled in a Christian Science Sunday School early in the year 1908. For a number of years later on, owing to environment and association, I did not take a very active interest in Science.
In 1915 I was a victim of malaria. Later I had what doctors claimed was appendicitis, and I was operated on. Following this operation, I had a severe nervous breakdown and was pronounced a neurasthenic by a clinic of doctors who examined me. I was taken to a sanitarium for treatment, where I was given almost every known drug, and was submitted to all forms of baths and hygienic treatment, but to no avail. In fact. I seemed to be getting steadily worse.
It was while I was in this condition that a copy of Science and Health by Mrs. Eddy was placed in my hands. I began to read and assimilate a little at a time the truth revealed in its pages, although it seemed at times as though I held to this truth by but a single thread. Then came a time when I was able to get away from the sanitarium one night and attend a Wednesday evening testimony meeting at a Christian Science church in a near-by town. After the meeting was over, I called on a Christian Science practitioner. My gratitude goes out to that dear woman who so lovingly spoke to me about God, calling my attention to the reference in the Bible, "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." Then I reasoned, if God, who is All-in-all, the only cause and creator, has not given me a spirit of fear, then why am I fearful? and if He has given me a spirit of power and of love and of a sound mind, then why should I believe that I had ever lacked courage and strength, and question that I had ever had anything but a sound mind?
