A Grateful Heart

CHARLES J. WOODALL

The following testimony was given in connection with the introduction of Mr. Kimball, upon the occasion of his lecture in Flint, Mich., October I.—Eds.

I appreciate the privilege of introducing to you our speaker this evening, although, when I received the invitation yesterday, I was much disposed to decline, for I felt that I had neither wit, nor word, nor worth, nor power of speech to do the cause justice; but these reassuring words of our Leader, Mrs. Eddy, came to me: "When the heart speaks, however simple the words, its language is always acceptable to those who have hearts" (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 262). I decided to let the grateful heart speak, for I owe my life to Christian Science; yes, life itself and all that is dear thereto,—health, hope, peace, joy, happiness, prosperity, liberty. I think the most appropriate thing I can do is to give my testimony as a proof of the beneficence of Christian Science.

It is just four years since I was introduced to Christian Science, but I find that only a little comparison of these years with those previous is necessary to show my cause for unbounded gratitude. Noonday and midnight are not more opposite than the contrast before me,—the contrast between the material thought of the past and the spiritual understanding of the present. Four years ago I had about concluded that man was created without a purpose and obliterated without regret. That there was a God who cared for man, I did not believe. To-night, I am gratified that I have satisfying proof, through demonstration upon demonstration of man's relationship to, and unity with, God. My physical condition was at as low an ebb as the spiritual; life had become a burden to me, a sorrow and disgrace to my family and friends; conscious of the blight upon my life; conscious of my incapability of self-help, I felt my weakness most keenly, so keenly that I have envied even the meanest beggar on the street who could keep sober, and as a consequence of years of intemperance I had contracted Bright's disease.

Having exhausted all the known material means of relief, there was apparently no hope, the shadow of death was upon me; all was dead but the poor suffering heart, which still reached out in longing for some knowledge of the truth of man's existence, when the Christ-truth appeared to me in the form of Christian Science. Gently it lifted the veil of tears, the false appetite was immediately destroyed, and in two weeks I was thoroughly healed physically. The shadow of death was turned into a bow of promise; again I felt the sunshine of an unclouded soul and even recovered the spontaneous gaiety of youth. This was convincing truth that Christian Science had blown these false beliefs entirely away. I think any one who knows, will admit that this condition is not attained by the reformed toper when the reformation has been brought about by will power, or similar means.

As I have grown more and more into the understanding of divine Truth, as the essential self and true life has appeared, the accidents and vicissitudes of the human personality have gradually diminished, and as I have grown to understand Love, I have been able to help others. I have had men come to me in the same deplorable condition that was mine, come with faces that bespoke unutterable sadness. I have had them come again with countenances that beamed with joy and liberty. So transcendent have these moments been to me, that I might say at these times I have felt that I have seen God face to face.

My friends, I give this testimony because I would like to assure you that Christian Science will do as much for you, for any one that needs it in any way, as it has done for me. The same voice of Truth speaks out to-day that spoke twenty hundred years ago; the voice which said, "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."

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