It is with a sincere desire to share with others the blessings which have come to me from the study and application of Christian Science that I submit this testimony.
Mrs. Eddy has written in her sermon entitled "Christian Healing" (p. 15): "Christian Science repudiates the evidences of the senses and rests upon the supremacy of God. Christian healing, established upon this Principle, vindicates the omnipotence of the Supreme Being by employing no other remedy than Truth, Life, and Love, understood, to heal all ills that flesh is heir to."
At my birth, the attending physicians decreed that certain physical deformities, as well as an extremely weak heart, would end my earthly experience at an early age. With simple faith and trust in God, my mother refused to accept this diagnosis and used every means at her command to effect a cure. With tender care and prayerful faith I was raised to young womanhood.
After I married and later became pregnant, it was discovered that certain organic conditions stemming from physical deformity at birth would make the delivery of the expected child hazardous and perhaps fatal for both of us. After hours of painful labor and many hours of prayer, the child was brought forth. For many weary months I suffered from the experience. The physicians conceded that it was a miracle that the child and I survived the ordeal. Repetition would be fatal, it was said.
A few years later I became a student of Christian Science. Several years of spiritual growth and many physical healings followed, and then came a testing period. I was again pregnant. All of the dire foreboding of the past reappeared. Fear took possession of my consciousness, and I turned to a consecrated Christian Science practitioner for help. I was guided to devote most of my waking moments to the study of the Bible and our textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy, and her other writings. This period was the most harmonious and joyous I had ever experienced. The textbook was read through, the literature was finished and passed on promptly, and "the loveliness of Love" was "all around."
When the time for delivery came, the practitioner, who had stood with me all along, was called. The nurse, a devoted Christian Scientist, had everything in readiness when the physician, required by the laws of the state, arrived. While he was washing his hands, the infant was born. When he returned to my room, the physician was amazed to find that a harmonious birth had occurred. The child was normal in every respect, and as the physician declared, looked as if it had been here many months. The nurse called the practitioner and confirmed her knowledge that all was well. The whole experience occurred in a few moments and with no pain. Thus were set aside forever the false beliefs which originated at the time of my birth.
For the loving support of my family, for the faithful, consecrated work of the practitioner, and for the devoted nurse, I shall always be grateful. For membership in The Mother Church and in a branch church and for class instruction, I give thanks to our Father-Mother God.— New York, New York.
"While no offering can liquidate one's debt of gratitude to God, the fervent heart and willing hand are not unknown to nor unrewarded by Him" (Miscellaneous Writings by Mrs. Eddy, Pref., p, xi).
I want to pay a belated installment note on the debt of gratitude which I feel I owe to God for the eternal Christ and for Jesus, the Way-shower, who exemplified the Christ for all mankind. I am also deeply grateful to God for our Leader, Mrs. Eddy, who was a consecrated seeker after Truth. She was pure enough to receive the Christ, loyal enough to accept the message as a willing disciple of the great Exemplar, and loving enough to give her discovery to a waiting and famished humanity. I am grateful to Mrs. Eddy for organizing the Christian Science movement and founding its official organs, the periodicals.
Twenty years ago I attended my first Christian Science lecture, and there I was healed of my misconception of this Science and learned something about our revered Leader. I decided that I would investigate this teaching. At that time I thought my physical health was good, but I felt some doubt as to my mentality, because there was a condition of character, namely, the desire to gamble, play cards, and so forth, which I was unable to control. I prayed the best I knew how and used what I thought to be a strong will power, but got no results. A short time after I attended the lecture, a loved one gave me a Bible and Science and Health by Mrs. Eddy. At this period I knew very little about the Bible or how to read it, and I had not permitted myself to read anything on Christian Science. I began to read these books, starting at the beginning. The result of the realization and acceptance of the truths as they were revealed completely healed me. I had read only a few pages of Science and Health when I was healed of the cigarette habit. A few days later I was healed of chronic constipation. There have been other healings too numerous to mention at this time.
I am indeed grateful for membership in The Mother Church and in a branch church and for the blessed privilege of serving in a few of the church activities, and I am bankrupt for words to express my gratitude for the loving, tireless Christian Science practitioners who have helped my family and me.
I am grateful for a small understanding of God, and for seeing in some measure that "Love, the divine Principle, is the Father and Mother of the universe, including man," as our Leader says (Science and Health, p. 256).
I now remit this small payment of gratitude for the spiritual good I have received since I began the study of Christian Science. — Chicago, Illinois.
I am happy to verify the testimony written by my husband. I should like to express my gratitude for the healing of a sprained muscle in my arm, which had disturbed me for over a year. This healing came after my first visit to a Christian Science church service. I am indeed grateful to Mrs. Eddy for giving Christian Science to all mankind.
