Nearly thirty years ago I became interested...

Nearly thirty years ago I became interested in Christian Science, and since then I have had many proofs of the healing and regenerative power of divine Love, and every day I become more and more grateful for the many blessings I have received through the study of this Science. I expressed gratitude some years ago through the Christian Science Sentinel for healings I had received. Now, when there is so much fear in the world, I feel I should like to tell how I was healed of fear when I first took up the study of this great truth. I hope it may help someone.

From the time I was a child I had always been fearful, fearful of almost everything and everybody, and life seemed to hold little joy for me. In Job we read (3:25), "The thing which I greatly feared is come upon me." I found this true in my case; but one by one these fears began to drop away as I acknowledged the truths expressed by Mrs. Eddy on page 331 of Science and Health and realized that God does fill all space. I felt that there could be no cause for fear where all space is filled with God, from whose care and love I could never be separated. I proved this to be true amongst my first experiences in Christian Science.

One day I started to walk to a country village just outside my town. It was a lovely spring day, and I decided to take a short cut across some fields. I walked along enjoying the sunshine, the songs of the birds, and the stillness of the country, until I came to a thicket which I had to pass through to get to a lane on the other side of the field. As I entered this thicket a great fear came over me, and I felt that someone was lurking about and watching me. I stood still, wondering if I should go back or go on. It was then I remembered that the lane I was to enter had not been considered safe for anyone walking alone, and that, just the week before, a young man had been knocked off his bicycle there and injured and robbed. I stood for a few moments trembling, and then the angels of God's presence came to me, reminding me of the all-presence of God; and I felt that since He fills all space, there can be no place where He is not, and where He is, there is nothing to fear. So I went on across the field, realizing God's presence, until I came to the entrance to the lane. There in front of me I saw a man's bicycle standing by the hedge. I could see no one about, but all fear had been overcome, and I had a wonderful sense of protection and felt I was so securely sheltered from all error that no harm could possibly come to me.

When I had walked a few steps along the lane, a young man sprang out of the hedge and came toward me. His face was partly hidden by a scarf, and all I could see were his eyes, which looked full of evil. I had no fear. I stood still and looked at him, and as he got close to me a great fear came into his eyes, and he stepped back. It seemed to me as if a hand had been stretched out, pulling him back from me; and he was frightened, but I was not. I said, "Good afternoon," and walked on, feeling secure and sheltered by Love's presence. He did not attempt to follow me. I looked back when I had walked a little distance. He was still standing where I had left him. I walked on with a heart filled with gratitude for Love's protecting care.

From that time I was healed of all fear and have never feared anything since. During the war, when raids were round about and over me, I had no fear, for that sense of divine protection was always with me, and no harm came to me or mine. I should like to add that from the day of my experience in the lane, no one has been assaulted there, and what once occurred in the lane has virtually been forgotten.

I am grateful for all the proofs of God's care and for the many healings I have experienced, which have all been stepping-stones along the way from sense to Soul. I am grateful too for class instruction and for the privilege of being able to help others; also for our lovely hymns.

—(Mrs.) Alice Florence Howe, Clactonon-Sea, Essex, England.