Dear Journal:— I have been helped so much by the contents of your columns, the testimonies of others as to what God has done for them when they found Him in Christian Science, that I decided to wait no longer but tell what Truth is doing for me, hoping that I can help some one who is struggling toward the Light.
I have been under a claim of so-called Locomotor Ataxia for fifteen years; and for more than two years I have been unable to walk. The history of this time is a succession of medical experiments; but one after another, material methods failed to stay the progress of the disease. One by one the symptoms increased; year by year I became more helpless.
In December, 1893, I entered a hospital (walked in alone, three months after was brought out by two men).
Now I can see that each failure to find power in matter was the Appearing of God's hand, showing me the true path of Life; but error had blinded my eyes and I would not accept the invitation of Love, "Come unto me, and I will give you rest."
In September, 1894, a dear friend sent me Science and Health to read. I read it through twice; but did not see the true Light, and returned it saying that I did not think Christian Science was Christianity.
In February, 1895, I was again making arrangements to take hospital treatment, and made an appointment to see a party on the fourteenth to make the final arrangements. In the morning a neighbor asked me to come and visit her that day. I did so and there met a Scientist who threw a different light on the question. I borrowed a book, and immediately began in a way which leads to "a house not made with hands."
I live with my mother and step-father, a step-sister and three step-brothers, who are all opposed to Christian Science, and often I do not see any Scientist for weeks at a time. But I have Science and Health, the Bible, nearly all of Mrs. Eddy's published writings, and the Quarterly; I borrow the Journal each month; and I have the blessed consciousness that God is with me, working in me to destroy the claims of matter.
The symptoms of my chronic belief are yielding to the blissful facts of Being. Many have entirely disappeared; others still utter their demands and say, "I must be obeyed," but after a severe struggle Truth soars in triumph above the prostrate enemy, and a voice from Harmony cries, "Well done; come higher."
I have not demonstrated so far as to be able to walk yet; but the improvement is wonderful, and I continue to press on after Christ, every day bringing its demands and giving renewed occasion to thank and lean more trustingly on our ever-near-by Friend.
May Mrs. Eddy continue to receive of the infinite blessings of Divine Love; and may the day quickly come when I shall be good enough to call her "Mother." —Faithfully in Truth.— Aspen, Col.
In the fall of 1889 my health began to fail, and for more than two years I was very feeble, but I was able to be up most of the time. Early in the spring of 1892 I left home to be treated by a very noted physician, and was under his treatment until he pronounced me all right, and said I would be strong soon, only take proper food, air and exercise, for a few months.
In less than a week after I got home, I was completely prostrated and for four months was very much worse than I had ever been. I was treated by different physicians, without any benefit whatever. I was growing worse all the time. I was in a terrible frame of mind. I had lost all faith in medicine, and it seemed that God had forsaken me, and I could expect no help from Him. I could see nothing but death before me. In this state of darkness a friend who had been healed through faith, sent me a little book entitled "Prayer and Faith," giving testimonials of healing. I read it through without stopping, feeling that God had healed others, and would heal me. I went on my knees in earnest prayer, asking God to heal me. I arose and walked to the other side of the bed. All pain was gone, and I began to improve immediately. For six weeks I improved and could walk over the house. Then fear began to creep in. I felt that I was going back. I struggled along trying to keep up, sitting up all that I possibly could, but got to where I could sit up but very little. Then the fear was somewhat destroyed and I began to improve again. I could then sit up all the time, but could not walk, so used an invalid's chair. During this time I had heard of Christian Science; sent for a copy of Science and Health, read it through to see what it was, and laid it aside. At the end of six months I wrote to a Scientist for treatment. I began to study Science and Health, was treated for a year, and improved some. Then the enemy overpowered me again, and I was down for fifteen months.
I went back to a material remedy which I thought would do me good. I tried this faithfully for a whole year without any benefit. During this time I never gave up the study of Christian Science. Just one year ago a Scientist came to our town to live. I again laid aside material means, placed myself under her treatment, and through her realization, I have been able to be up all the time, attend our services regularly, and no longer use a rolling chair. Although the claim has not entirely disappeared, I still hope for freedom through this blessed Truth, for I know that Christian Science is the only way whereby we may escape the bondage of sin, sickness and death. Should this appear in print, I hope that someone whose progress in Truth seems as slow as mine may be encouraged to still cling to Science, for surely we will be rewarded.— Americus, Ga.
I wish to express my gratitude for the monthly Journal. It seems to me I 'never saw before as I do of late the Love and Unity that exists between brethren. I feel such a sense of peace and Love come to me when I read it, that I know we are all looking to the one Mind, the governing Principle, which protects and guides us in our warfare with the flesh.
To material sense we are scattered all over the world in little flocks, but how near we feel to each other when we read the Journal and see the experiences of our lives are about the same. We are all striving to know and do the will of God, which we gain through a careful study and obedience to Science and Health.
I always gain more courage and strength to go on in this field of labor after reading the monthly Journal.— Burlington, Iowa.
We have organized a society called the Christian Science Workers of Oneonto.
About one year ago, we placed Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures in the Y. M. C. A. rooms at this place, and this spring we have given them one year's subscription to the Journal, for which they were very grateful.
In May last I got the address of a young man who had been sent to Auburn prison for life and wrote him enclosing some tracts and gave him a few words of what Christian Science had been to us. and asking the privilege of sending him Science and Health, which he would find to be the Key to the Scriptures. At his request the chaplain wrote us stating we were at liberty to send him any religious reading we wished.
The way was made easy, or rather the prison doors were opened to Truth. We sent him a copy of Science and Health at once. Enclosed find extracts of letter from him, which gives us all great joy as our labor was not in vain.
"Auburn, June 28, 1896.
"My Dear Friend:— I got the book and letter all right, and cannot express, in words, how thankful I am to you for your kindness to me. I shall never forget the first letter I got from you. I had been praying that some good Christian might write to me and send me some Christian reading, and as I opened your letter the words came to me as plainly as if they had been spoken by some person, 'Your prayer is answered and the way is open'; that moment the tears started. God answered my prayer. I could not wait any longer so I went and told the chaplain. I am so happy to know that God has sent you to be a guiding angel to me, and has sent me such a fine Christian book (Science and Health). I have found it to be the Key to the Scripture for me. I am getting along well and am treated very kindly.
I hope that you will still continue to write to me."—W. S.
— Oneonta, N. Y.
Dear Journal: —Even in Paris the Scientific thought of Truth has come. In the salons of this year many pictures and statues evince the thought of the truth as revealed in this age. One picture, especially understood by Christian Scientists, represents a woman's figure in the dusk (you cannot see the personality) holding in her hand the Bible which sends out rays of light in every direction.
The picture the most talked about, and the one which holds the attention of the crowd of humanity at the exposition of the Societe Nationale des Beaux-arts, is DaynauBouveret's "Last Supper." The face of the Christ is so intense, the eyes are so searching, that one involuntarily asks the question, "Master, what wilt thou have mo to do?"
Brentano, the book dealer, has ordered a hundred copies of Science and Health which will be sent to the members of the Sorbonne, and many of the artists and thinkers in Paris.
One said the other day in conversation on the subject, "France is ready for a new religion." They really seem hungry for the Truth. Several, to my personal knowledge, are studying the Bible with its Key diligently. I have been living here for the last year with my little family of six, and of all the blessings brought to us through the knowledge of God as revealed in Science and Health, I will only mention one— fearing to trespass on the space in the eagerly read Journal.
I have been able to nurse my seventh baby (the others I could not), travel through Italy when he was six weeks old, climb to the top of St. Peter's, descend into the catacombs, visit all the famous galleries, and enjoy every minute; for before I came into the Truth I was a very poor traveler. We read our lesson every Sunday, making one link in the golden chain of Scientific thought, which will soon reach around the world.— Paris, France.
So much has been gained through the study of Christian Science by me, that I feel it has come my time to testify to its truth. What would we do without it! With the help of two of Mrs. Eddy's loyal students, I have been led to see the Truth, so that for the past two years many false beliefs have been conquered.
The Journal is most helpful to me. The Truth reflected through some of its articles has helped to bring me out of darkness into light.
The one in February number, "Is your prayer answered," is excellent. In October. 1894, Journal "The veil of materiality," has helped me in many demonstrations over self, and cleared my mental vision of much of its darkness. "Practical demonstration" and "Love your enemies." in April Journal, are good and apply to the needs of each trying to earn the name of Christian Scientist. Each time we prove Love, our faith in the God who is Love, is strengthened.
Several weeks since, while trying to hold the thought of Love, harmony, for one who had been extremely hateful (to sense), I was told of their sudden release from a stomach trouble, which one of the best physicians of this section had failed to relieve. You may know my gratitude at realizing what my feeble manifestation of Love had brought about, simply by trying to hold the thought of perfection for another, thereby loving my neighbor as myself. What cannot God do? Many practical demonstrations over the so-called inanimate world can be brought about, proving the truth of Jesus' teachings.— Columbus, O.
We feel that we would indeed be ungrateful did we not return thanks through the Journal for the great benefit we have received through Christian Science.
The only daughter of our family had never been really well, and at the age of about fifteen a bad catarrh developed in her head, and by the time she was nineteen she began to wear glasses for the pain in the head. The affection finally was attended with symptoms of consumption beside other complications.
She had been treated by three of our best physicians with no benefit, and one of them advised a change of climate.
Last January the crisis came; life seemed to hang by a thread; in our desperation we tried Christian Science. There was a young lady in our neighborhood who had been healed in that way, and we went to her. She kindly told us about it, loaned us some Journals, and told us of a Scientist who had been very successful in treating.
The first letter was written about February 10th; on the day the healer received the letter, my daughter went to sleep (as she did at the first three treatments), and from that time she has gradually gained in health and weight, and to-day can do as much work as any ordinary woman.
The treatment was absent, and she has never yet seen the lady who, under God, was the means of saving her life.
We are members of the M. E. Church, but how sad to hear people giving power to mortal mind, when we know that God is the only Mind.
I will add that all the family have responded in better health; though our demonstrations are small they are marvelous to us.— Kyger, O.
I was called to help a man who had been very badly burned by furnace flames while at work in a railroad shop, the entire upper part of his body being like browned, baked flesh. I treated him absently after receiving the call, and he was at once relieved from the intense pain he seemed to be suffering. I then went to him, giving him a present treatment at 4.30 P. M., another at 7.30 P. M., and at 7 A. M. the next day he was at work in his place in the shop. Not a mark or discoloration of any kind remained on his flesh, although it had looked as if it would fall off the bones when I first saw him; and with the exception of the loss of his hair, eyebrows, lashes and moustache, there was no evidence whatever of discord or accident when he returned to work in the morning.
I was afterwards told that the case was thought so severe that a delegation was sent from the shop "to consult with the widow.'' the man being thought fatally burned. His return the next morning in such perfect condition was thought by the men to be a miracle, and when he was first seen, it was said "it was like seeing a ghost!"— Albany, N. Y.
Seven years ago the false testimony declared that I was wretched, so conscious of a belief of life in the body (instead of in God) that "many physicians" were sought, an operation resorted to, and yet here was the same wretched self, no better physically or morally. After three years of this condition, a friend said, "Why don't you try Christian Science?" We turned to it immediately, and after about four weeks' treatment every physical claim had disappeared, and not only that, but a new, exhilarating consciousness of Life was gained. In the place of fear was a sense of safety. This is the first ray of Light that came: "God is Love, nothing can harm me"; and since then we have indeed enjoyed the protection of Divine Love.
Christian Science has driven out of our home sickness, sin and fear of death, brought us into the "narrow" path, and shown us that the blessed privilege of each human being is helping to unveil the Christ as Jesus did, through losing sight of the human concept in living Love. My desire is to be more awake to the demands of Love, to demonstrate "the fruit of the Spirit," for this alone can truly express our gratitude. "If ye love me, keep my commandments."— Geneva, Ill.
My mother-in-law, who was very dear to me, was treated by Christian Science and helped, but not healed. At that time it seemed to me the most foolish thing imaginable. I did not believe people could be healed without some material remedies. One day my mother-in-law pressed me to take her books home (Science and Health was then in two volumes), saying she knew I would understand them, but she did not. I said, "After I read them, I will publish what a fraud Christian Science is." I began reading and from the first was so fascinated that I could not find time for any other reading. Before they were read through I put into practice, so far as I understood them, some of the truths taught. The great question of how I was to love my neighbor as Jesus taught was settled. This great Love was revealed. Words fail to express the peace and comfort that have come to me as a result of this understanding. I was healed of a disease that all physicians pronounce incurable. All this came through reading and putting into practice the teachings of Science and Health so far as I understood them.— Sioux Falls, So. Dakota.
1511 Twentieth St.,
Washington, D. C, Mar. 30, 1896.
Editor Christian Science Journal:— Enclosed please find a copy of an acknowledgment recently received in return for a volume of Science and Health presented to the library mentioned. Yours in Truth,
The trustees of the Washington City Free Library have received one volume of Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, by Rev. Mary Baker G. Eddy, a gift to the library, for which they return a grateful acknowledgment. (Signed)
Washington, D. C, Jan. 27, 1896.
The trustees of the Washington City Free Library have received The Christian Science Journal for 1896, January and February received, other numbers promised. A gift to the library, for which they return a grateful acknowledgment.
Washington, D. C February 20, 1896.
Mrs. Ellen B. Linscott, 1511 20th St.
Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute (Incorporated), For the Training of Colored Young Men and Women. Tuskegee, Ala., April 10, 1896. Miss I. C. Hodnet, 197 OakWood Boulevard, Chicago, III.
Dear Madam:— We have received the copy of Science and Health, and we are indeed grateful. We shall place it in our library after handing it to our resident physician and feel certain that thorough circulation will be given it.
Thanking you for the kindness which prompts your giving it, I am
Yours very truly,
I desire to tell what Christian Science has done for me. It is a little over three years since I first heard of this Truth, and I began to practice from the little book. Science and Health. Two years ago I took lessons of Miss E— of Cincinnati, Ohio. Science found me a physical wreck. I feel it is unnecessary to mention all my troubles since I do not desire to think of them. I am now in perfect health, and am a better woman morally and physically. There are seven in my family, and many trials have come up since I became interested in Science, but they have all been met by the demonstration of Truth and Love.— Dayton,Ky.
We desire to be known as workers in Christian Science in the field. Truth has been disclosed to us through the reading of Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures; and we rejoice with unspeakable joy to testify of the great good being done through this wonderful Book. To searchers for Truth it is a living well-spring of Life. It gives light where before was darkness, sin, disease, despair; it has been the means of restoring to health and harmony many among us who would cheerfully testify to its demonstrations if desired. Some fifteen or twenty copies of Science and Health have been sold and distributed by me in this section, and nearly all are studying it and with marked success. Many are quietly looking towards this Light and wonderingly inquiring what it is.
Our class meets every Sunday at three o'clock regularly to study the lesson (Quarterly) and some have been coming in from the country four miles away.— Montevideo, Minn.
A mother writes: One night I was putting the babies to bed, and we were singing from the Hymnal No. 125; at the line "Come, if you would follow me," Bradford stopped me and said, "Mamma, that means Mrs. Eddy. If she did not follow so close she could not hear God speak to her, and she could not be the Captain of all the Christian Scientists." His face was illumined by a light. I never saw his expression so spiritual, and he talked about it some little time.
He seems to understand so perfectly that she is the chosen one "to tell us what God whispers to her."
