Part 88 (1/2)
Chicago, March 19, 1894
_Rev. Mary B. G. Eddy, Boston, Ma.s.s.:_-I wish to thank you for the true light that was revealed to me by reading your book, ”Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures,” and at once adopting its teaching. It was one year ago to-day that I put on the armor, determined never to surrender to the enemy; and you may know I have looked forward to this day with a great deal of pleasure, to show my friends that the Lord is constantly with me to help overcome all evil.
Some said, when I first started in this new path, ”Wait until you get one of your stomach attacks, and you will change your mind.” For months they have waited, and are beginning to see the truth in my actions, that speak for themselves, and show that all is _Mind_.
For nearly thirty years I had been a sufferer from throat and stomach troubles; bronchitis, dyspepsia, gastralgia, and gastritis, etc., were the terms applied by my physicians. About eighteen years of that time I was engaged in the drug business, had constant opportunities for consulting the best physicians, and took such medicine as I felt a.s.sured would cure me; but only to be disappointed each time.
The last few years I had been living on oatmeal crackers and hot water; suffering more or less all the time, and could not eat anything else without suffering intense pain. I felt as though I could not live many months more, and was getting ready to give up the fight when a dear friend and neighbor, Mrs. Corning, left a copy of Science and Health at our home.
At first I did not care to read it; having been educated, for many years, in the belief that medicine can cure all diseases, I could not conceive of anything else to cure the sick.
One Sunday I had the curiosity to know something about this Christian Science, and read Science and Health. The more I read, the more interested I became, and finally said to myself, ”I will try it.” I took a large porous plaster and four thicknesses of flannel off my stomach, and threw them in the corner, saying, ”Now it shall be Mind over matter; no more matter over Mind.” I filled a large basket full of bottles containing medicine, and put it in the shed (where all medicine should be). From that day I have eaten of everything on the table, and all I wished. Coffee was my worst enemy, and I had not tasted it for years without suffering untold agony. Several days pa.s.sed before I cared to drink it; then, one morning, I told my family I would commence to use it; I did, and have used it every day since, and don't know that I have a stomach, as it never has caused me any trouble since that morning.
I am happy to say I have not used a drop of any kind of medicine, internally or externally, from that day, and _I know that all is Mind_. I read the Bible and Science and Health nearly every day, thanking the Lord for the years of suffering which have led me to the truth as taught by our Saviour; for I feel it was only through its victory over the suffering that the truth could have been revealed in my case.
I have had some demonstrations to make over error, but each time it becomes easier. G.o.d is ever present and ready to help me, and I trust in Him; my faith is planted on a rock that is immovable.
Yours truly, FRANK S. EBERHART
P. S. If you think this letter, or any part of it, will help some one out of darkness into the light of Truth, you are at liberty to have it published.
Having so many occupations and interruptions, I have not found time to read ”Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures” sufficiently, but will not on that account delay thanking you for its excellence.
HENRY W. LONGFELLOW, Cambridge, Ma.s.s.
I am an old-school pract.i.tioner; have served as surgeon in two European wars; practised medicine for about ten years in New York city and Brooklyn, until my health compelled me to relinquish my profession. I became a victim of the morphia habit, taking daily thirty grains of that drug. My physicians declared me consumptive, and abandoned all hopes of recovery. Shortly after this I made the acquaintance of a student of the author of ”Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures,” who presented me with her works; and as drugs did me no good, I stopped taking any whatever, save morphia, without which I thought it impossible to get along, and to my astonishment began to gain in flesh, and my ambition returning in proportion. I finally felt that I would stop my loathsome habit of morphia-eating, and did so in one week, without any discomfort worth mentioning. For a test I administered one fourth of a grain of morphia to the aforesaid Scientist, hypodermically, without the slightest physiological effect, clearly proving the existence of metaphysical laws.
I have read Science and Health carefully, and consider my present improved health solely due to mental influence.
OTTO ANDERSON, M.D., Cincinnati, Ohio
The profound truths which you announce, sustained by facts of the immortal life, give to your work the seal of inspiration-reaffirm in modern phrase the Christian revelations. In times like these, so sunk in sensualism, I hail with joy your voice, speaking an a.s.sured word for G.o.d and immortality, and my joy is heightened that these words are of woman's divinings.
A. BRONSON ALCOTT, Concord, Ma.s.s.
I was sick six years; tried many physicians and remedies, but received no lasting benefit from any of them, and concluded I must remain sick the rest of my life. In this condition, I purchased the book ”Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures,” read it, was deeply interested, and noticed that my health began to improve; and the more I read the book, the better I became in health. This I can say truly: it did more for my health than all the physicians and remedies that I had ever tried.-DR. S. G.
TODD, 11 School St., Newburyport