Testimony of Healing July 4, 1903 Issue

Last Saturday I was taken with a severe cold and sore...

S. Patrick with contributions from Elizabeth K. Rastert

Last Saturday I was taken with a severe cold and sore throat. I decided to pray for myself; not as usual, ask my wife to do it for me. I was suffering from another illness at the time, and had been treated three weeks. I decided that it was for me to work out my own salvation. I seemed to make slow progress, but feeling that any gain was proof that God was with me, I kept declaring the truth.

Monday a bundle of Sentinels came. I had subscribed in the middle of the month, to commence May first. Although coughing incessantly, I asked my wife if I should read to her, as she was very busy. She looked up in astonishment, but said yes. At first it seemed impossible, but I kept declaring the truth. After reading several articles, I came to one headed, "Fear and Disease," and before I had finished it, I realized that the trouble had been met, the coughing ceased entirely. I also soon found that my other sickness had been healed.

While at Topeka, Kan., last winter, the fireman of the hotel called me into the wash-room one morning, and said to me, "I overheard you talking last night to that criple about Christian Science. Could it do anything for a man who was down very low in the drinking habit? I am working here for my board and whiskey; at one time, years ago, I had a fine position here in this city. I have spent money enough on drink to buy this hotel, have tried many times to stop, but have failed every time." "Are you ready," I asked, "to try Christian Science?" "Yes," he said, "anything. It seems to me there is a chance for me in it." I immediately went to my room, got some Journals and Sentinels, said to him, "If you are in earnest, I will help you to the best of my ability, so will my wife, who is with me." He said, "I will follow your directions implicitly." I said, "Here is some reading matter, read as much of it as your duties will allow." I went down to the boiler room several times, and found him diligently reading, once at midnight. The second morning, he came into the dining room, all cleaned up. The other guests, as well as we, noticed it, for he was not used to dining there. He was never seen clean and neat, but was withal an intelligent man. I could hardly wait to finish my breakfast, after he left the dining room. We met at the door; he reached out his hand and said, "I want to tell you first of all, I have given notice that I will not work here any longer for board and whiskey, for I am through with whiskey forever." I asked him how he knew. "I know," said he, "that I am cured forever. How am I ever to repay you?" "My dear friend," I replied, "I am more than repaid. The sight of you coming into that dining room was worth worlds to me." "Well," he said, "do not fear that I shall ever return to this habit. I have secured work at the Central National Bank, setting up a safe, at three dollars per day." I asked him to go to a Scientist if he found he needed any help. He promised, but never had need to go.

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