Testimony of Healing April 26, 1900 Issue

How I was Led into Christian Science

Frank B. Headley

As the testimony I offered in a former issue of the Journal seems to have been somewhat misconstrued, in the "Notes from the Field" in the April number, I shall give my leadings into Truth a little more in detail, in justice to all concerned.

After spending the winter of 1898-99 at Augusta, Ga., the detachment of the Hospital Corps to which I belong was ordered to Havana, Cuba, the latter part of March. On arriving at Savannah, Ga., we were delayed at that place a month, awaiting transportation. The evening of my arrival in Savannah, which was a Wednesday, while taking a walk with no particular aim in view, I noticed a bulletin-board conspicuously displayed which announced that Christian Science meetings were held at that place every Wednesday night as well as a morning and evening service each Sunday. As I had never attended a Christiian Science meeting, having heard but little and knowing nothing about it I resolved to attend one of their meetings to see what sort of people Christian Scientists were. I entered the room as the services were about to begin, and took a seat at the rear of the room. I glanced about me at the nicely furnished apartments, and then took a look at the people gathered there. Instead of the company of poor, ignorant, and unrefined people which I expected to find, there was a goodly crowd of the pleasantest, most refined, and happiest-looking people that I had ever beheld at a church gathering. The first thought that came to me was, These people certainly must enjoy their religion, whatever it is. I was greatly pleased with the services, especially the voluntary testimonies, all of which had the ring of sincerity about them, and were very different from the platitudes to which I had so often listened in the prayer-meetings of my own church. At the close of the meeting I was the recipient of a pleasant greeting from the First Reader and was introduced to a number of the members. The greeting from all was so cordial that I could not but say, These people certainly have the real religion if it can do for them what they say it can, and if it can thus transform their lives and fill them with God's sunshine.

I then inquired of the First Reader as to whether she had any literature which she would let me have to read, so I could find out more about Christian Science and what Scientists believed. Owing to the literature which she was so kind as to lend me, and to the many instructive interviews which she granted me from the time she could ill spare from her busy life, I received an insight into Sciecen which led me on into a closer and deeper study of our dear Mother's book, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," which, after a careful study of four or five months, I accepted as the true "Key to the Scriptures," and was received as a member of the Mother Church of Boston, Mass. I offer this testimony in justice to the Scientists of Savannah, Ga., through whose kindly labors I was led into the Truth.

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