Article July 27, 1918 Issue

"The Lord looseth the prisoners"

A Christian Science lecture was given in a large prison before an audience of approximately eight hundred men, who were spoken of as "exceedingly attentive and appreciative." The introduction to this lecture, and some excerpts from letters sent to the lecturer, are presented as being of general interest. The chairman of the Christian Science committee in charge of the services and the distribution of Christian Science literature at the prison, who has, in connection with this work, been making personal visits to the men for the past two years for the purpose of imparting some of the truths of Christian Science and ministering to the wants and welfare of all interested in Christian Science, in introducing the lecturer, spoke as follows:—

"Friends: When Christian Science was first called to my attention about fifteen years ago, I read the textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy, in a very critical way, and then proceeded to mark a good many articles that did not appeal to me. After rereading a number of these articles carefully, I concluded that I had no foundation whatever for criticism against Christian Science.

"About one year later I suffered from intense pains in my side. I decided to call on a friend of the family, who was a resident physician of one of the largest hospitals in San Francisco, to be examined for the purpose of ascertaining the name given by materia medica to the disease from which I was suffering. After a very thorough examination my friend, the doctor, told me I had a very severe case of rupture. He stated that I should undergo an operation immediately; and, knowing my habits, said this condition had been brought about by horseback riding. I told him that I would not be able to undergo this operation just then, as I had been reading and studying Christian Science for some time and desired to either prove or disprove the efficacy of Christian Science for myself. He then pleaded with me, both as a friend and a physician, and stated positively that I could not be healed of my affliction by Christian Science. I said that I firmly considered this my opportunity to make a test of Christian Science; that I had heard of the many healings which had been effected by Christian Science, and now I wanted to be convinced myself; that after giving Christian Science an honest, fair trial, if I were not healed I would then submit to an operation and not waste any further time on the study.

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