Article November 2, 1899 Issue

Led into the Truth

BY EMMA B. DUNBAR.

In October, 1895, I was taken with a mental trouble called by my physician "a kind of nervous prostration," caused by physical troubles of many years' standing, for which I had had much medical treatment. I tried electricity for three months, receiving some benefit physically but none mentally. I was trying to keep my mental disability from my family and friends. At last I could do so no longer, and gave myself up to the care of a nurse. From that time until April, 1896, I grew steadily worse mentally. My physician did everything in his power to help me, and my general health seemed better, but the mental trouble did not yield.

At last I went to a specialist, but received no encouragement for the present. "Perhaps in a year or two" I should be better. At the earnest solicitation of friends, who thought a change of air and scenery might benefit me, I went to the home of a dear friend for a while, but received no benefit. I was not permitted to eat anything which was sweetened with sugar or molasses. I could eat light meat, but no dark, no tea or coffee was allowed for drink. I could have milk or water. At times I would feel inclined toward Christian Science, then I would decide to have nothing to do with it; but after a hard struggle I yielded to it as a last resort, and found healing very quickly. I began to improve with the first treatment and commenced to eat anything I wished. I can look back, and see how through the whole of my sickness, I was being led into the Truth, and that there was no other way for me to come but through suffering.

Before I wholly gave up, when I was struggling with all the will power I possessed to keep the fact of my sickness from the world, there was a Sunday School Conference held in the Methodist church near by. I felt anxious to attend, and did so, although I hardly felt able to go, but I only heard the different speakers talking words. I could think only of myself until a lady was called to illustrate with little children, how she taught an infant class. She drew the picture of two mountains on a blackboard, and told them, at the same time asking them questions, the story of David and Goliath. I became so absorbed and interested in the story that I entirely forgot myself and my sickness, until suddenly brought back to a remembrance of it by these words, spoken to me, clearly and distinctly, "You are going to get well."

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