Part 82 (1/2)
Father-Mother G.o.d, Loving me,- [15]
Guard me when I sleep; Guide my little feet Up to Thee.
TO THE BIG CHILDREN
Father-Mother good, lovingly [20]
Thee I seek,- Patient, meek, In the way Thou hast,- Be it slow or fast, Up to Thee. [25]
CHAPTER XII. TESTIMONIALS
Letters From Those Healed By Reading ”Science And Health With Key To The Scriptures”
The Editor of _The Christian Science Journal_ (Falmouth and St. Paul Streets, Boston, Ma.s.s.) holds the original of most of the letters that authenticate these.
It is something more than a year and a half since I was cured of a complication of diseases through reading ”Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures.”
Becoming at an early age disgusted with drugs, I learned hygiene, and practised it faithfully for over twenty years; then I began to lose all faith in its efficacy, became greatly discouraged, and, as I had never been cured of a single ailment, I rapidly grew worse in health. Hearing of this, a dear sister brought me Science and Health. Her admonition was, ”Now read it, E--; I have heard that just the reading of that book has been known to heal the sick.”
I had read to, and through, the chapter on Healing and Teaching,(8) and was so deeply interested that I began reading that blessed chapter over again,-when I found I was cured of my dyspepsia, that I could use my strength in lifting without feeling the old distressing pain in my side, and also that the pain in the kidneys only came on at night, waking me out of sleep. Then I began my first conscious treatments: of course I followed no formula, and I needed none. A cry for help, knowing it would be answered; precious texts from the Bible, which had already become like a new book to me; sweet a.s.surance of faith by the witnessing Spirit; strong logical conclusions, learned from Science and Health: what a wealth of material! Before finis.h.i.+ng the book, all tendency to my old aches and pains had left me, and I have been a strong, healthy woman ever since.
My first demonstration with another than myself was also before I had finished my first reading. My husband was cured of the belief of bilious fever by not over ten minutes' treatment; the fever and pain in head and limbs disappearing in that instantaneous way as soon as I could summon sufficient courage to offer my services in this, to us, new but glorious work. He slept soundly that night (the treatment was given about 10 A.
M.), and ate and worked as usual the next day, with no symptoms of a relapse then or afterward. That was in March, 1888; in the following August I met in one of our Rocky Mountain berry patches a lady who complained so bitterly that I felt compelled to offer her treatment. Her words, when I visited her at her home during Christmas week, will give some idea of the result:-
”Yes, I am doing three women's work,-attending to my own and my son's housework, and caring for his wife and new-born babe; but I am equal to it, when I think of all the Lord has done for me! Why, Mrs. S., I was cured with that first treatment you gave me, I know; because I went out to gather berries that day and was caught in a drenching shower,-and for ten years before I could not bear the least exposure without suffering from those dreadful headaches I told you about, and from dysentery,-but that day I had neither. I had once been laid out for dead,-lying there perfectly conscious, hearing my friends grieving over me,-but I did not want to come to, I suffered so. No, I never have any of those ailments. I am a well, hearty woman,-and that is not all. I had been seeking religion for more than twenty years, but I never knew how Christians felt till I told you I was cured that day on the camp-ground.”
On the first of this year I was so blessed as to receive a course of lessons from one of our teacher's students. Now I am only trusting that the time will come when I may be enabled to teach others the way of Truth, as well as to add to the many demonstrations G.o.d has given me.-E. D. S.
A student of Christian Science was employed in the Ma.s.sachusetts State Prison at Charlestown, to teach the prisoners to make shoes. He carried his copy of ”Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures” and the _Journal_ with him, and as he had the opportunity would tell the men what this wonderful truth could do for them, setting them free in a larger and higher sense than they had dreamed of.
We make extracts from a number of letters that one of the prisoners has written to those who are interesting themselves in this work.
”_Editor of The Christian Science Journal_:-At the prison, once a week, there are Christian papers given to the inmates. But none of those papers point out so clearly the fallibility of the mortal or carnal mind, and the infallibility of the divine Mind, as does the teaching of Christian Science.
”I was strangely blind and stupid. I loved sin, and it seemed as though I never would be able to forsake it. I did everything that would be expected of one entirely ignorant of G.o.d.
”I also had a complication of diseases. I could not begin to describe the medicines I have taken.
”I no longer look for material treatment, but humbly seek for the divine a.s.sistance of Jesus, through the way Christian Science has taught me. I am, indeed, an altered man. I now have no more doubt of the way of salvation than I have of the way to the prison workshop.
”I am very grateful to the students of Christian Science, for the interest they have taken in me and my fellow-prisoners. Their letters and books have been of great profit, and in accordance with their wish I have done what I could for the others.
”I gave the _Journal_ to every man who would accept it, and related my experience to those who would listen. I told them they need go no farther than myself to see what the demonstration was; for not only have my eyes been healed, but many other ailments have disappeared.