It is recorded in the Bible that after each miracle Jesus performed the people glorified God; and so this testimony is given to the glory of God and with my grateful thanks to our revered Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, who has explained the teachings of Jesus the Christ so plainly and satisfactorily in the textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," that I was able to accept Christian Science and become a Christian.
I was born a Jewess. There was no Jewish temple in the town in which we lived, and my mother allowed us as small children to go to a Christian Sunday school. It was there that I first heard about this wonderful man Jesus and learned to love him for the good deeds he performed for others. I have always been grateful to that church, because it was there that the desire to become a Christian was born in my thought—my first step toward Christian Science.
While I was attending a Salvation Army song service a few years later a dear woman asked me if I would like to love Jesus and become a Christian. My heart leaped, but I said, "I cannot; I am a Jewess." She replied wisely, "If the desire ever does come, don't crush it; think about it." It was the first bit of encouragement I had received. That night as I prayed I found myself saying, "Dear God, I do love Jesus;" and with all my being I wished that I might become a Christian and acknowledge it before the whole world. I cherished it in my heart; and it is interesting to note that the fulfillment of my prayer began in that very year.
My sister had been seriously ill. She had gone to many physicians, and the last one, a man of repute who held the chair of medicine in one of our western colleges, and who had been attending her for several months, told my mother to take her to a Christian Science church. "There is nothing in medicine that will reach it," he said, although it was a physical condition. My sister went to church and also had Christian Science treatment. She improved from the start and was healed. We were all very happy about it. As the younger daughter, I was sent along to church to keep her company, as she refused to go alone. It was thought that I would not understand Christian Science; but I did. I began to read the Bible and Science and Health, and rejoiced that at last I could become a Christian, not by loving the personal Jesus but by emulating his character. When my family found how devoted I was to Christian Science, the antagonism began. My books were taken away; and going to church was forbidden. I went to the Christian Science Reading Room for three years and studied one section of the Lesson-Sermon in the Christian Science Quarterly every day, and I was grateful that at least my thinking could not be stopped. This bitterness lasted twelve years.
On a Wednesday night when it seemed that I could endure the torment no longer, I had a strong desire to go to a Christian Science church. I felt that if I could go my courage to remain steadfast would be renewed. I knew the service would be over before I could reach there, but felt that if I could but see the lights in the church windows I should be strengthened to press on. As I reached the church steps I heard the congregation singing that glorious hymn, "Onward, Christian Soldiers." I ran up the stairs just in time to sing the last verse with them. Then I knew there was only a going forward for me. Christian Science had made it possible for me to accept Christianity and to acknowledge Jesus as the Way-shower.
I have always wanted to express my gratitude to Christian Scientists all over the world because, even in the darkest hours, I felt it was the work being done by them that helped me to stay in Christian Science.
During these years one sentence in Science and Health (p. 22) stood out in bold relief: "When the smoke of battle clears away, you will discern the good you have done, and receive according to your deserving." And so it has been through more than twenty-four years; antagonism melted into wholesome respect, and my tears were wiped away by the Christ, Truth.
I have also had many physical healings during this time. One of the most outstanding was that of an enlarged joint on my toe, commonly called a bunion. The suffering was beyond words. My shoe had to be removed the moment I was seated, even in the street cars, as well as several other times during the day. I was under treatment for a year without the slightest relief. One morning as I arose to study and work for myself, I opened the Bible to these words from the Psalms: "I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help." Then came the words from Science and Health (p. 468), "There is no life, truth, intelligence, nor substance in matter." At the same time came the suggestion to change my shoes for relief from the pain, when I suddenly realized that that was what I had been doing all these months—changing my shoes instead of my thought, and if it was to be Christian Science treatment, my thought needed to be changed, not my shoes. In that instant I was healed! The pain, as well as the discoloration and swelling, disappeared. Once during the following year it tried to reappear, but the error was challenged by Truth and disappeared, never to return. That was several years ago. A growth on my finger of many years' standing also disappeared, I know not when, but the healing came about through the study of our textbook.
I am grateful for the physical healings, but the experience of becoming a Christian Scientist is the greatest joy and satisfaction that has ever come into my life. My gratitude is inexpressible.— Cleveland, Ohio.
