The account of the "new birth" in an individual "not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever," has a perennial interest for us all. In "Miscellaneous Writings" by Mary Baker G. Eddy, p. 15, we read, "The new birth is not the work of a moment. It begins with moments, and goes on with years." So it has been with me. As a child I was taught that man and the universe were the mechanical products of mindless matter. In such a universe there was no room for God; hence the belief in God was a superstition, the Bible a lie, and its central character, Christ Jesus, an impostor; a hereafter was a fiction born of human hope and affection; death and the grave were the end of that soulless but intelligent machine called man.

Along with this teaching I was educated into dyspepsia, sick-headache, and medicine dosing. My father was dyspeptic, and gave much time to the study of the digestible properties of different articles of food. Gradually one food after another was condemned, until only hot water and medicine were thought an entirely safe diet. In time I almost eliminated those two articles, and would go many hours without taking anything into my stomach. The headaches became so bad that I was like one crazy while they lasted, and morphine was my final resort.

During these years, while I was growing up, I was not satisfied with the atheistic-materialistic theory of existence I had been taught. Something within was always pushing on in search of a truth more satisfying. I felt that there was a Supreme Being, even if reason allowed for none. I studied the older churches, and also investigated every new theory and cult that came to my notice,—theosophy, spiritualism, hypnotism, but adopted none.

Then my attention was called to Christian Science. I met a dear old lady who had been wonderfully healed of rheumatism, and it was amazing to see her work and go about like a young girl. She loaned me Science and Health, which I tried to read, but with indifferent success. It denied the existence of matter, in which I thoroughly believed. I returned the book, and in my conceit decided that the old lady was somehow pleasantly deluded.

A few months later I went to study in one of our large universities, taking special work in philosophy. I entered a materialist; as time went on I was forced to confess that there was much argument on the other side, and against materialism; before the year was finished I was convinced that all was not matter but Mind, a pure idealism. I rejoiced to learn that in God "we live, and move, and have our being." I saw that the Bible was a book of rare moral and spiritual wisdom. I was glad to know that I was not a soulless, material machine, but God's child, with the hope of immortality. I recalled that such was the teaching of that book, Science and Health, a copy of which I procured from the University library, and spent many hours poring over it. It seemed more comprehensible now that that stumbling-block, the belief in matter, was destroyed. I perceived that Christian Science was a rational and also a heart-satisfying religion, making plain the miracles and mysteries of faith.

But a new stone obstructed my path. I had found the pearl of great price, but I thought I could not afford to buy it, so I did without Science and Health and Christian Science treatment, though I continued to suffer extremely. I grew worse, and finally was so ill that I did not sit up half the time. An honest doctor told me that he knew of nothing to cure a case like mine; he had been afflicted the same way for years. I decided to write for treatment at any cost, and did so secretly, knowing that I would have no sympathy from friends and relatives. I was well from the hour the healer received my letter and began treatment. It seemed as if a new life were breathed into me; there was a novel buoyancy of mind and body; I went about like one walking on air. I was surprised and delighted, but continued treatment for three weeks, as I feared a return of the trouble. Not only was I healed of the dyspepsia and headaches, but an eye trouble vanished directly it was mentioned. After such practical benefits I was glad to pay the small price charged for healing and teaching and the Christian Science literature, that I might learn of this wonderful Science of God and His creation, and the marvelous healing influence of thought when Truth is understood and realized.

Again I would refer to the article on "The New Birth" in "Miscellaneous Writings," p. 16, which so beautifully and completely describes this spiritual development of an individual, speaking of it as "the awakening from the dream of life in matter, to the great fact that God is the only Life." What a large hope is ours, as expressed in these lines on page 18, "The purification or baptismals that come from Spirit, develop, step by step, the original likeness of perfect man, and efface the mark of the beast." "For," according to the Bible, "whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith."