"If this be true James, it would be a sin to give him medicine, for we would be trying to undo the work of G.o.d."
To say the pastor was astonished would be putting it mildly. Never in his whole life had he been so shocked as on this day, and each shock was greater than the preceding one.
He now stood perfectly still for a full minute, then said, "It seems high time that we begin the study of the Bible in this house, for from what I have heard to-day it is very apparent to me that my wife and son are quite ignorant of what the Bible contains." Then turning, he strode from the room.
The pastor was a good and kind man. He had always been a good husband and father, always patient and sympathetic with his invalid wife and son; but this day had been a very trying one to him, first in hearing his son say things that he considered little less than blasphemous, then to notice that the mother seemed to indorse what the son had said, and to make matters worse, to actually hear his wife questioning the doings of G.o.d, as he understood them. This was the last-straw. He was really angry and out of patience, and somewhat confused, so he decided to go to his library and think it all over. As soon as he arrived there he impatiently seated himself in an easy chair and began to soliloquize after this fashion: "I wonder where Walter got that idea about sending me to jail, what can that have to do with his sickness; then to think my wife agreed with him. Let me see, what did she say? I was so outraged I can scarcely recall what was said. I believe though she said something about some of the apostles doubting at times. What has that to do with sending me to jail? I don"t seem able to think clearly to-day. Then this other matter, about giving medicine being a sin. Why everybody takes medicine; the most pious and devout Christians that ever lived have taken medicine, and this has been so for thousands of years. The Bible says that the leaves of the trees are for the healing of the nations. Then why may not the roots and the bark be used as well? Of course Jesus Christ did not heal with medicine. He was the Son of G.o.d and was endowed from on high with supernatural power. He didn"t need the medicine. Well, all I can say is that I am glad we are going to have those Bible lessons, for I know that as soon as we get to studying them they will get the truth, and then I will hear no more of this nonsense. I don"t think I will mention the matter again until we get to studying the lessons; then as we get to this medicine question, I will point it out to them."
So the pastor, after having thought himself into a better frame of mind, dismissed the subject from his thoughts, arose, and walked over to the bookcase, selected the book he wanted, and was soon absorbed in reading.
In the meantime Walter had hurried to his room and was soon busily engaged in reading "Science and Health."
About nine o"clock he heard his father and mother coming upstairs to retire for the night. He hastily turned out his light and scrambled into bed, clothes and all.
A few moments later when his mother looked in she found him in bed nicely covered up, and supposing him asleep, quietly left the room.
As soon as Walter was sure they had retired, he arose, relit the gas, and continued reading. It was after midnight when he laid down the book and said, "I feel sure this book is true, and that G.o.d made only the good, and never made me or any one else sick. I believe I will get well when I understand how to pray aright." Then he undressed and got into bed, a happier and more hopeful boy than he had ever been.
After saying his usual prayers, he added, "And now, G.o.d, I wish to thank you for all the good things you have given me. I could not thank you this morning, for then I thought you had made me sick. But now I know that you are all good and could not make evil; truly I now have something to be thankful for and shall always remember this Thanksgiving day."
CHAPTER IV
PREPARING FOR THE LESSONS
The next morning, when Walter awoke it was broad daylight, and the hands on the clock pointed to the hour of ten, as his mother came into his room with an anxious look on her face and said, "I have just come up to wake you as your father was worried because of your sleeping so long; how do you feel this morning?"
"Oh, mother, I feel better this morning, and I had the best night"s rest I have had for years. I never woke up once all night, and I feel strong and hungry."
"Thank G.o.d you are better, I will go down and get your breakfast ready."
"All right, mother, I will be down as soon as I wash and dress." Before going down, he went over to his trunk, took out "Science and Health,"
and said, "I believe that you contain the truth and will free me of this disease." He then placed it in his trunk again, being careful to hide it from the view of any one who should carelessly look into it.
Hastily descending to the dining-room, he ate a hearty breakfast. As he was leaving the table his mother said, "I am sorry you did not take advantage of the beautiful sunshine yesterday, for the wind has changed and is now blowing severely from the north and it is very cold and dreary out."
"I don"t mind it at all to-day, mother, for I feel so much better that I hadn"t noticed the weather."
His mother was somewhat astonished to hear him speak so cheerfully, as it had been customary for Walter to complain of feeling worse on dreary days. Then she thought, "It must be that new medicine, for he certainly is better, and I pray G.o.d he will continue to improve."
As for Walter, he was glad it was a dreary day, as this would give him an excuse for staying in his room and continue his reading. He wished he was there now, but did not want to awaken the suspicion of his mother by too hurried a departure. So he walked about the room, trying to think of some excuse. Finally a happy thought occured to him, and he said, "Mother, I believe I will take the Bible and go to my room and read, so as to be prepared for our lesson this evening."
"Very well, Walter, you will find it on the library table."
Walter walked into the library, secured the book, then went up to his room, took out "Science and Health" and was soon absorbed in its contents.
The afternoon was a repet.i.tion of the morning.
At the supper table the Rev. Williams said, "I am sorry we cannot start our Bible lessons for a few evenings, as I have received a notification to be present at some meetings to be held by the local clergy."
"Any matter of importance, James?" asked his wife.
"Not particularly so. The Rev. Mr. Johnson said that they wished to find a way to successfully combat this new heretical idea called Christian Science, and they want to arrange so that each clergyman will give a sermon denouncing it, each on a different Sunday, and Rev.
Johnson asked me if I was willing to deliver a sermon on it, and I told him yes."
"Why father," said Walter, "I did not know that you had ever read or looked into Christian Science."
"No son, I never did look it up or study it, and what is more I never intend to. The Bible is good enough for me."
"But, father, how can you preach a sermon on it if you do not know what it is?"
"I did not say that I did not know what it is. I have heard enough to know that it _is not_ Christian and that they claim to heal in the same way that Jesus Christ did. This claim alone proves that it is false, for Jesus Christ was the Son of G.o.d, and that is why He could heal the sick, and for any man to consider himself equal to Jesus Christ is blasphemous."
"Father did not Jesus bid His disciples heal the sick?"
"Yes, certainly, He gave His disciples the power to heal the sick, but His disciples have been dead for a long time, and n.o.body else was given the power to heal as Christ did," said the pastor. "Was St. Paul one of Christ"s disciples?"
"No Walter, he was not in reality one of Christ"s disciples, but he was a very good and holy man."
"Did not St. Paul heal the sick?"
"Yes, there are several accounts in the Bible of St. Paul"s healing power."
"Well father, where did St. Paul get his power to heal the sick if he was not one of the disciples that Jesus gave the power of healing to?"
"Why you see it was like this--that is--I mean to say--" the pastor stopped rather confused, then finished with, "It is too long a story to tell to-night, as I must be getting ready for that meeting. I will explain this all when we start our lessons."
The pastor left the room and entered the library, thinking deeply. "I wonder where that boy gets those queer ideas from. I am very much pleased that I suggested those Bible lessons, for if he was not enlightened, he would surely go astray."
Shortly after, the pastor was wending his way to the meeting, still thinking of what Walter had said regarding St. Paul. Walter made an excuse to retire to his room and was soon reading in his precious "Science and Health;" and it was precious to him, for in it he saw the only hope he had ever had of getting well. He read far into the night, and every spare moment of the next few days, so that when Wednesday evening came he had finished the book. But Wednesday evening was prayer meeting, so there would be no Bible lessons until Thursday evening.
He spent almost all day Thursday reading Genesis in the Bible and comparing it with the scientific interpretation as found in "Science and Health," by Mary Baker G. Eddy, under the subject of Genesis, beginning on page 501.
About six o"clock his mother called him for supper, and as he laid down his books he said, "It must be true; I feel that it is the truth.
I will have father start with Genesis to-night and will ask such questions as will be most apt to get father to see the Bible in its true light. How I wish I had found this book long ago, then I would be better prepared to convince father. Still I know that G.o.d is good and will help me, and with Him to help me I cannot fail."
CHAPTER V
THE FIRST LESSON
It was just 7:30 p.m. when the pastor, his wife, and Walter entered the library to have their first Bible lesson.
"Well, Walter," said the father pleasantly, "have you decided where we shall commence our studies?"