A little over two years ago, while living in Pittsburgh, my wife and I had Christian Science brought to our attention. We were at once interested, and bought a copy of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures."
At the time, Mrs. A-- was suffering with severe belief of astigmatism of the eyes. She had been treated by a number of specialists, during seven years, the last being the late Dr. Agnew of New York, who prescribed two sets of gla.s.ses. He said that he could do nothing more for her, as the trouble was organic; that she must wear gla.s.ses constantly; that if she attempted to go without, she would become either blind or insane. The gla.s.ses were in operation, and still life had become a burden from constant pain, when Christian Science came to our relief. Mrs. A-- had not in years read for two consecutive minutes, and could not use her eyes in sewing at all. The lady that told us of the Science, insisted that she _could_ read Science and Health, which she actually did,-reading it through twice, and studying it carefully each time. After the second reading, there came the thought that she did not need the gla.s.ses, and she at once abandoned them, and went about her usual duties. In about two weeks from that day the eyes were perfectly healed, and are well and strong to-day.
E. G. A., New York City
_My Dear Teacher:_-Yours without date is at hand. Could you know out of what depths of material _debris_ the first reading of the first volume of Science and Health, six years ago last December, lifted me, you would believe it had always been "all I could ask." It was _only_ words from the pen of _uninspired_ writers that gave me pain. As the revelation of the All-good appeared to me, all other books, all forms of religion, all methods of healing, to my sense became void. Chronic beliefs of disease of twenty years" standing, dimness of sight from the belief of age, all disappeared _instantly_; indeed, material life seemed a blank. The _why?_ I could not explain, but this I did know, in this realm of the real I found joy, peace, rest, love to all, unbounded, unspeakable. Human language had lost its power of expression, for no words came to me; and in all this six years of bliss I still have found no words to tell my new-found life in G.o.d. The most chronic forms of disease have sometimes been healed instantly and without argument. With great love and grat.i.tude.-M. H. P.
I take great comfort in reading "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," and will cling firmly to the light I have, knowing that more will be given me. While in Salt Lake City, I met at the hotel a lady who had been an invalid all her life. I talked with her about Christian Science, and loaned her Science and Health, together with the _Journals_ I had with me. She had become very much discouraged, having lost all faith in doctors and medicine, and did not know where to turn next. She became very much absorbed in the book, feeling she had found salvation. She at once laid aside the gla.s.ses she was wearing, and now reads readily without them. She and her husband have accepted this truth beautifully.-Mrs. G. A.
G., Ogden, Utah
On a trip through Mexico I met a woman who told me that, although she did not believe in Christian Science, on her way from Wisconsin, her home, she had bought a copy of Science and Health. When she reached M--, she met a minister from the North, whom the M. D."s had sent there because of consumption,-they had given him two months to live. She gave him Science and Health, and while doing so, felt it was all absurd. The minister read it, and was healed _immediately_. Was not this a beautiful demonstration of the power of Truth, and good evidence that Science and Health is the word of G.o.d?
I had while in Mexico a glorious conquest over the fear of smallpox. There were hundreds of cases in some small towns where we were. After the fear was cast out, never a thought of it as real came to me or my husband, or troubled us in any way. On the street I met three men who were being taken to the pest-house with that loathsome disease.-F. W. C.
A lady to whom I sold "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures,"
writes me: "My longing to know G.o.d has been answered in this book; and with the answer has come the healing." She is an intimate friend of Will Carleton, the poet. This is doing much good in the social circles. He has for a long time been interested, but his wife has declared it could not heal, and was not Christian. She will now be obliged to acknowledge this healing, for the lady above referred to has been, to sense, a great sufferer.-P. J. L.
Some of the experiences given in the _Journal_ have been so helpful to me, I have been moved to give to its readers a little experience of my own, which occurred when I first began the study of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures."
I had already been healed of sick headache, almost instantly, by declaring that I was G.o.d"s child, and, as G.o.d is perfect, His child must be perfect also. This had given me great happiness, and a quiet, peaceful state of mind I never had known before. My family did not seem to see anything good in Christian Science, but to me it was sacred.
One Monday morning, I awoke feeling very ill indeed. The morning was warm and sultry. I thought I certainly could not wash that day; but when I went downstairs, I found my daughter had made preparations for such work. I thought, "Well, if she feels like washing, I will not say anything; perhaps I shall get over this." After breakfast I went about my work, thinking I could lean against the tub and wash with more ease than I could do up the morning work. I tried to treat myself as I had done before,-tried to realize that "all is Mind, there is no matter;" that "G.o.d is All, there is nothing beside Him," but all to no purpose. I seemed to grow worse all the time. I did not want my family to know how badly I was feeling, and it was very humiliating to think that I must give up and go to bed.
All at once these questions came to me, as though spoken by some one, taking me away from my line of thought entirely: How is G.o.d an ever-present help? How does He know our earnest desires? Then, without waiting for me to think how, the answer came in the same way, G.o.d is conscious Mind. Instantly the thoughts came: Is G.o.d conscious of me? Can I be conscious of Him? I was healed instantly: every bad feeling was destroyed. I could see that the morning had not changed a particle, but I was oblivious of the weather. It did not seem that I had anything more to do with that washing. It was finished in good season, while I was "absent from the body, and present with the Lord."
That was the beginning of the battle with sin and self, but at the same time it was the dawning of the resurrection. Since then (over four years) I have had many experiences, some of which seem too sacred to give to the world. False literature has caused me much suffering; sorrow has visited my home; but, through all this, the light that came to me on that Monday morning-that new and precious sense of omnipresent Life, Truth, and Love-has never left me one moment. It was the light that cannot be hid.
MRS. H. B. J., Cambridge, Ill.
Healing
Four years ago I learned for the first time that there was a way to be healed through Christ. I had always been sick, but found no relief in drugs; still, I thought that if the Bible was true, G.o.d could heal me. So, when my attention was called to Christian Science, I at once bought "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," studied it, and began to improve in health. I seemed to see G.o.d so near and so dear,-so different from the G.o.d I had been taught to fear. I studied alone night and day, until I found I was healed, both physically and mentally.
Then came a desire to tell every one of this wonderful truth. I expected all to feel just as pleased as I did; but to my sorrow none would believe.
Some, it is true, took treatment and were helped, but went on in the old way, without a word of thanks. But still I could not give up. I seemed to know that this was the way, and I had rather live it alone than to follow the crowd the other way. But as time pa.s.sed, I had some good demonstrations of this Love that is our Life.
I am the only Scientist in Le Roy, as yet, but the good seed has been sown, and where the people once scoffed at this "silly new idea," they are becoming interested, and many have been healed, and some are asking about it. One dear old lady and I study the Bible Lessons every Tuesday afternoon. She came to call, and as we talked, she told me of her sickness of years" standing; and was healed during our talk, so that she has never felt a touch of the old trouble since.
One lady, whom I had never seen, was healed of consumption in six weeks"
treatment. She had not left her bed in four months, and had been given up by many physicians.
MRS. FLORENCE WILLIAMS, Le Roy, Mich.
I like the _Journal_ and _Quarterly_, and have many of Rev. Mary B. G.
Eddy"s works, which make my little world. I have a great desire to learn more of this Love that casts out all fear, and to work in this Science. It is the greatest pleasure I have, to talk this truth, as far as I understand it, to any who will listen; and am waiting for others to learn of this blessed Science.
I give my experience in reading "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" aloud to a little child. A letter published in the _Journal_, written by a lady who had relieved a two-year-old child by reading to her, first suggested this course to me. At the time, my little one was a trifle over a year old. I was trying to overcome for him a claim which, though not one of serious illness, was no small trial to me, because of its frequent occurrence and its seeming ability to baffle my efforts. One day as I sat near and treated him, it occurred to me to read aloud. I took up one of the older editions of Science and Health lying near, began at the words, "Brains can give no idea of G.o.d"s man," and read on for two or three paragraphs, endeavoring-as the writer suggested-to understand it myself; yet thinking, perchance, the purer thought of the babe might grasp the underlying meaning sooner than I. So it proved. Before the disturbance felt by me had been calmed, the weary expression on the face of the child was replaced by one of evident relief.
When putting him to sleep, I had often repeated the spiritual interpretation of the Lord"s Prayer. One night he was very restless, fretful, and cried a great deal, while I seemed unable to soothe him. At last I perceived that he was asking for something, and it dawned upon me that the Prayer might be his desire. I began repeating it aloud, endeavoring to _mean_ it also. He turned over quietly, and in a few minutes was sweetly sleeping.
The last time my attention was specially called to this subject, was about a year after the first experience. Various hindrances had been allowed to keep me from Science and Health all day; and it was toward evening when I recognized that material sense had been given predominance, and must be put down. I soon felt drawn to read the book. The little boy had seemed restless and somewhat disturbed all day; but without thinking specially of him, rather to a.s.sist in holding my own thought, I began to read aloud, "Consciousness constructs a better body, when it has conquered our fear of matter." In a minute or two a little hand had touched mine, and I looked down into a sweet face fairly radiant with smiles. I read it over. The child was evidently delighted, and was restful and happy all the rest of the day.-A. H. W., Deland, Florida
A week ago a friend wrote to me on business, and in the letter stated that his wife had been very ill for six weeks. At once the thought came, "Tell her to read the chapter on Healing, in Science and Health." In my answer to his letter I obeyed the thought. A few days after, I had occasion to call; found her much better, and _reading_ Science and Health. They had done as directed, and had received the promise.-R., New York
The first allusion to Christian Science reached me in an article I read on that subject. Later, a friend came to visit me, bringing a copy of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," For two weeks I read it eagerly; then I sent for a copy for myself. When it came, I began to study it. The Bible, of which I had had but a dim understanding, began to grow clearer. The light grew brighter each day. Finally, I began to treat myself against ills that had bound me for twenty-eight years. At the end of six weeks I was _healed_, much to the amazement of all who knew me.
From that time, my desire was to help others out of their suffering, and to talk this wonderful truth. After a while I took the cla.s.s lectures, and am doing what I can to spread this healing gospel.-A. M. G.
Rev. Mary B. G. Eddy
_My Dear Leader:_-I will try to tell you how I was led to Christian Science. Heretofore I have not tried to lead a Christian life, but have always firmly believed that if one truly desired and needed help, he would get it from G.o.d by asking for it. I suffered, as I think but very few have, for fourteen years; yet I did not think it sufficient to warrant me in asking G.o.d to help me, until I gave up all hope elsewhere,-and this occurred in the spring of 1891. I then thought that the time had come to commit myself to G.o.d. Being at home alone, after going to bed I prayed G.o.d to deliver me from my torments, this sentence being the substance of my prayer, "What shall I do to be saved?"
I repeated that sentence, I suppose, until I fell asleep. About twelve o"clock at night, I saw a vision in the form of a man with wings, standing at the foot of my bed,-wings partly spread,-one arm hanging loosely at his side, and one extended above his head. At the same time there was a bright light shining in my room, which made all objects shine like fire. I knew where I was, and was not afraid. The vision (for such it was), after looking directly at me for some time, spoke this one sentence, and then disappeared: "Do right, and thou shalt be saved."
I immediately tried to live according to that precept, and found relief in proportion to my understanding. I soon after learned of Christian Science.
One of my brothers in Kansas, having been healed by it, persuaded me to buy "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," wherein I learned that the above precept was the key to Christian Science; that it is Christian Science to do right, and that nothing short of right living has any claim to the name.
I have been learning my way in Christian Science about one year, and have been successful in healing. I have all of your books, and am a subscriber for the _Journal_ and _Quarterly Bible Lessons_. Some of the cases I have treated have yielded almost instantly. I am a stranger to you, but I have told you the truth, just as it occurred. Yours in truth,
SAM SCHROYER, Oklahoma City, Okla.
I desire to make known the great good I have received by reading the blessed book "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures." Four years have now pa.s.sed since I began to read it. It has been my only healer and teacher, as I never have had an opportunity to go through a cla.s.s; but I find that the "Spirit of truth" will teach us all things if we will but practise well what we know. After two years and a half of study, I thought, as many beginners think, that I had travelled over the worst part of this narrow path.
Soon after, it came about that I was separated from every one who had ever heard of Christian Science; and, as I lived in the country, no one came to visit me for about eight months. At first, I thought the Lord had wrought a great evil. I had no one to talk to, but would take my Science and Health every morning, before going about my work, and read; yet mortal mind would say, "You can do no good, with no one to talk with." At last, one morning after listening to the serpent"s voice, I looked out at the little wild flowers as they waved to and fro; they seemed to be a living voice, and this is what they said: "On earth peace, good will toward men."
There was also a mocking-bird that would sit on the house and sing. For the first time, I realized that divine Love was the only friend I needed.
Soon after, I sent the _Journal_ to my nearest neighbor, by her little son who came to play with my children. Afterward she told me that when she began to read it she said to the family, "G.o.d has sent this book to me."
Calling to see her one evening, I found her suffering from heart disease.
I began talking to her about Christian Science, and in less than an hour she declared herself healed. She is to-day a happy woman. I would say to all suffering ones, that if you will buy a copy of this wonderful book, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," by the Rev. Mary Baker G.