It was my privilege to be brought up in a Christian home, the son of a minister of an orthodox church, and to attend church services regularly up to and after the time of my marriage. Later I fell away from church attendance because I found many things in the religion which I had been taught which seemed contradictory and which I could no longer accept.
About ten years later my wife and I became simultaneously imbued with a desire to attend a Wednesday evening testimony meeting in a Church of Christ, Scientist. The atmosphere of happiness, sincerity, and buoyant devotion so impressed us that we were immediately led to the study of the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy. The first chapter of this wonderful book, entitled "Prayer," convinced me that here was the religion I was not only seeking but actually hungering for. The logic of it was so convincing, reassuring, and comforting that I immediately became an earnest student.
Within a few months we were successfully applying the rules for healing so lucidly set forth, treating ourselves and each other, as well as our family. Many very beautiful healings resulted, far too many, indeed, to be recounted here. Some of these healings were instantaneous, others were seemingly delayed, and for these we sought the assistance of a faithful practitioner. It is for one healing, practically instantaneous, which was brought about through the help of a practitioner, that I desire to express sincere gratitude here. I had been a very heavy smoker for some thirty years and at various times had endeavored to give up the habit. Occasionally I had been able to abstain from smoking for a few months, but invariably I would go back to it, because the desire had never really been overcome.
