I have been a student of Christian Science for about five years. Previous to the summer of 1931, I had not read a word of Christian Science or talked about it to anyone. I was much interested in the study of diets, foods, and physical health as known in medical science, having a brother who was a physician in a New York hospital, and one sister who had taken nurse's training and another who had studied laboratory technique.
September of 1931 found me with my three boys in a strange city, little food in the house, no money to pay the next month's rent, and my husband away from home ill and unable to work. He had been ill for two years, having had two major operations and been unable to work exactly three fourths of the time during that period. I had taken him to noted specialists and we had tried osteopathy, chiropractic treatments, and different kinds of diets and baths, all to no avail.
A friend recommended Christian Science, and I read Science and Health by Mrs. Eddy almost constantly for a week, trying to absorb what I could understand and leaving until later that which I could not readily grasp.
I was at that time dieting and taking medicine for gall bladder trouble and constipation, of which a previous operation had failed to relieve me. I had worn glasses for years, could not read a page without them, and was then experiencing trouble with my eyes.
One morning, during the second week of reading, I experienced a severe attack of neuritis in the right shoulder and back. My first thought was to apply the medical treatments I had used before; then the thought came to me, Perhaps it is now that you should try out for yourself what you have been reading. So I thought of the new concepts of God I had learned and man's relation to God, and of Love as all-powerful and ever present. In ten minutes the pain was completely gone and I was able to go about my housework. This experience was so unusual, as I had always suffered from ten days to two weeks with every previous attack, that I pondered it during the day and continued to read.
The next morning the following thought presented itself: If this is the truth, which it surely seems to be, is based on Principle, and is scientific, then the results must be absolutely sure and accurate with every case. I do not need glasses in order to see clearly, because sight is spiritual and does not depend upon physical organization. I removed my glasses, laid them away, and have never put them on since, although I have done more reading than ever before. I ceased that same day to take any more medicine and started to depend entirely upon Truth as my remedy in all trials. During the past four years I have been entirely free from the above-mentioned discordant conditions.
I wrote my husband immediately to get someone to bring him home as I had found something for him. When he arrived I told him what had taken place, and after a short time he became convinced, consenting to call a practitioner for help and to let me read to him. He was soon at work again, after the first two months never losing a day, and happier than ever before.
We became members of a branch church at the same time and of The Mother Church. We have enjoyed a harmonious companionship that we had not before thought possible.
I feel such indebtedness to and love for Mrs. Eddy for having made it possible for me to receive this help and happiness when all else had failed. I wish also to express appreciation for the Reading Room where I received so much encouragement and help. During the months of study, when questions in theology or Bible interpretation would arise, always some literature or thought was presented to guide me to a logical and satisfying conclusion.— Austin, Minnesota.
I wish to verify the above testimony of my wife and attest to the fact that we have indeed received much help from our study of the teachings of Mrs. Eddy, and to express my own deep gratitude for that help.—
