Testimony of Healing October 8, 1904 Issue

When Christian Science was first called to my attention,...

F. R. Kinsley

When Christian Science was first called to my attention, I cannot remember, but I now sincerely wish it had found me many years before. In the spring of 1890, one very dear to me was cured of what at least four excellent physicians had told me was lung trouble, commonly known as consumption. The symptoms became alarming, and it was decided to try Christian Science, which was, to my thought, quite in line with trying some patent medicine. In three weeks this dear one was in better health than for years previous, in fact cured, and has remained so all these fourteen years.

This remarkable case of healing (although not the first in my family), brought a clearer sense of the truth as presented by Christian Science than anything else had done, and I began to study with more earnestness. I had received a careful training from Christian parents and grandparents, and the statements in Science and Health aroused antagonistic thoughts. Often while studying I would make remarks to my wife something like this, "There are a great many beautiful thoughts expressed here, but they are so nearly lost in a mass of foolishness that it is quite tiresome to search them out;" still the book had an attraction for me which was irresistible. Slowly, one by one, the great lessons were learned, often only after stubborn resistance from "the traditions of the elders," — my early teachings, — and I saw that what I, in my pride, had called foolishness was the truth.

After some years I began attending Christian Science services. Some features attracted, others repelled me, but I soon found myself unwilling to miss any. The Wednesday evening service was a stumbling-block for quite a time, as now and then some zealous speaker would relate what to me seemed the most nonsensical tale of help, which would almost blast my budding hope that these people had found the truth, but the earnestness and unquestionable sincerity of the speakers would calm me after a struggle with what then seemed my common-sense. After Truth had cleared up my mentality somewhat there came an awful struggle with self. It seemed as if the dark shadows of doubt and despair would overwhelm me; depths of depravity were revealed by the light, quite beyond belief, and, strange as it may seem, I found I loved them. I could not turn back, for I had already learned as Peter so well expressed it, that there is nowhere else to go; and with Paul, I began to die daily and to know that I should find the truth which Jesus said would make us free.

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