Article September 6, 1900 Issue

Why I am a Christian Scientist

BY MRS. JANE M. PENNEY.

I AM a trained nurse, having graduated from one of the largest hospitals in New York City five years since. Three years ago this summer, while spending some weeks at my home, about two hundred and fifty miles from New York City, I visited a friend who, in my absence, had learned something of Christian Science. During my stay with her she talked to me a great deal of the beauties and helpfulness of this wonderful religion, and of what peace it had brought to her. I was favorably impressed with it, because she was so happy in it, but I did not understand it in the least. As she was about to go to Boston to the annual Communion, I asked her to send me the book, Science and Health, which she did, and I tried to read it, although with very little un– derstanding. On my return to New York, I left the book at home.

Some two months later I contracted a severe cold, but kept on with my duties in an operating–room. One day I was seized with a most violent attack of asthma, the first I had ever had, although I had seen my mother suffer with it for years. Doctors and nurses in numbers were at once at hand, but no one could relieve the paroxysm, and the best the greatest doctor of all could advise was a trip to the White Mountains, "for," said he, "my aunt has been a sufferer from this trouble for thirty years, and her only relief is the White Mountains." This was poor consolation to me just then.

During the evening I was taken to my room, several blocks away. It was in a home for nurses, and there I was obliged to stay for several weeks, suffering tortures with asthma and bronchitis. One night the thought came to me, Why not try Christian Science? With the aid of the address of a Scientist that had been given me by this friend at home, I found First Church of Christ, Scientist. I went to a healer, who told me I could be cured without a trip to the White Mountains, and I was, although not instantaneously, as I expected, but after careful and patient work from my healer, and most of the time study and work on my own part. Although at times I became almost discouraged, the asthma left me in a minute's time, and with it all fear that it would return.

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