In an article in the Journal of July, 1946 (p. 338), appeared the following sentence: "As a result of his correctly understanding the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, healing may come to one suffering from inharmony." I had proved the truth of that statement on several occasions, and to read it in an article opened a flow of gratitude from my heart for the Leader of our great movement, Mary Baker Eddy.
One afternoon about four o'clock I became suddenly aware of an extremely sore throat. I was conscious not only of pain but of a sense of shock. I was not indifferent to the condition, but handled disease as we are taught to do in Christian Science. I worked all through the night, endeavoring to keep my thought so filled with Truth that the error would be eliminated. The pain became increasingly severe, my entire neck down into the chest felt as though held in a vise, and the malignancy of the condition was frightening. Toward morning I felt that it was useless to resist, and I seemed to have let go.
In a short while a train of thought came to me of incidents from Mrs. Eddy's biographies, and I began to express gratitude for her great victories over her struggles, which were so much greater than mine could ever be. I talked aloud, expressing gratitude for her wonderful life. I looked at my watch at six o'clock, and in weariness I lay down hoping to rest. I must have fallen asleep at once, and the next thing which I was aware of was a telephone call at seven o'clock. I hastened to answer, and when I hung up the receiver I was conscious that my neck was free and the cruel attack was gone. I felt I was on holy ground. The healing was so wonderful and took place so quickly that I stood still where I was and expressed gratitude to God that Christ's divine ever-presence had proved the unreality of pain; and for Mrs. Eddy, who had consecrated her life to making this healing Christ comprehensible to me and all mankind. My gratitude for Mrs. Eddy's work was the open door through which the healing Christ had entered my consciousness.
While doing some work that exposed me to the seeming attacks of error, one evening I returned home in a condition that precluded proper rest. Since I could not sleep, I took "Miscellaneous Writings" by Mrs. Eddy and read where the book opened (p. 54), "Has Mrs. Eddy lost her power to heal?" and that part of her answer which reads, "Instead of losing her power to heal, she is demonstrating the power of Christian Science over all obstacles that envy and malice would fling in her path." That was most inspiring, and encouraged a student to follow her example. Gratitude for Mrs. Eddy's healing work filled my thought; and in a short time the Christ brought healing to me, and I experienced a hitherto unknown peace and harmony and was able to retire and find sufficient rest in a little sleep.
It is now eighteen years since my testimony of healing in Christian Science appeared in the Christian Science Sentinel. The intervening years have been filled with healings of many, many errors. Today my gratitude for Mrs. Eddy's life of unselfed labor is uppermost in my thought, and I bear witness to healings attained when my consciousness reached sufficient spiritual height to see her unimpeachable place in Christian history. My gratitude is unbounded to God for His obedient servant, Mrs. Eddy.
These experiences have permeated with increasing harmony and freedom my study and work, and I can say in the words of our Leader (ibid., p. 3), "The lessons we learn in divine Science are applicable to all the needs of man."— Chicago, Illinois.
