I wish to express my gratitude for membership in The Mother Church and a branch church and for the privilege of serving the Cause of Christian Science.
Many years ago, after I had been attending a Christian Science church for some time, I began to have a great sense of gratitude for what the church was doing for me and had a desire to become a member in order that I might help the Cause that I was learning to love. For the first time I realized that smoking and drinking were standing between me and my progress in Christian Science. Mrs. Eddy says in Science and Health (p. 454), "It need not be added that the use of tobacco or intoxicating drinks is not in harmony with Christian Science."
One night in discussing the point with a friend I expressed the desire to be healed of the smoking habit. The reply was that perhaps it was up to me to take the first step, and I saw that the first step was to stop smoking. The following morning after breakfast the desire to smoke a cigarette came back to me with a vengeance. The suggestion was, Think about it a little more; taper off gradually; do not stop all at once. Then I thought, I have tried all those methods, but to no avail. Finally I decided to take my stand with God through my understanding of Christian Science. Immediately I felt the desire leave me as a cloak is removed from the shoulders. That was many years ago, and it has never returned. The drinking habit slipped away without any sense of resistance whatsoever. We read in Matthew (4:11) that after Jesus had successfully resisted evil's temptations in the wilderness "the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him." Angels truly ministered unto me, and I was instantaneously healed.
