I attended Christian Science Sunday School in England from the age of three, and was many times healed of diseases commonly attributed to childhood, of sprained ankles and other troubles. When I was eighteen, I joined The Mother Church, shortly before enlisting in the service during World War II. At that time The Mother Church was indeed a sheet anchor, and I experienced instances of protection. When I returned to civilian life, I joined a branch church and served in several capacities, including Sunday School teacher and member of the executive board.
Then came a severe testing time. A near relative passed on, apparently as the result of a disease considered incurable. I later discovered a large lump on my body. Immediately I thought of these words of Job (3:25): "The thing which I greatly feared is come upon me." I knew that I had never really understood the nothingness of this problem by recognizing it as an erroneous mortal belief. I had instead been impressed and frightened by unpleasant mental pictures. I also knew that I had to come to grips with it by seeing myself as a spiritual idea reflecting the one divine Mind, and thus demonstrate the healing power of Truth, which uncovers and destroys all error.
Soon thereafter I went out of town for a few days on business, but I studied and prayed every available moment. This resulted in a lessening of fear and an expectancy of healing. I wrote to a Christian Science practitioner, telling him of the problem and of the intense resentment I had been harboring for some years.
