Testimony of Healing November 12, 1904 Issue

I feel that the time has come for me to acknowledge...

Luther Carter

I feel that the time has come for me to acknowledge some of the blessings I have received through Christian Science; to withhold my statement any longer would seem like ingratitude. In 1885 I came to Southern California in search of a climate that was milder than Utah, feeling that I had only a short time to live, on account of the condition of my lungs. I had been a soldier in the army, and at the close of the war I came home a physical wreck, and a victim of the alcoholic habit. I located at Colton and soon afterwards my wife came to me. She too was an invalid, suffering from heart trouble, and often it would seem as though her life would go out, so grave and distressing were the symptoms. I did not find the help I had expected from the climate, and being very much discouraged, would try to drown my trouble in drinking and gambling, until we were reduced to the verge of poverty. My wife's mother, who was with us and in poor health, heard of Christian Science and was healed by it. Afterwards my wife was treated, and she too was made well. She was very anxious to go into a class and expressed to her practitioner her great desire for the teaching, but said that her husband was so opposed to anything like Christianity that it made it very unpleasant for her when she mentioned the subject. This lady advised her to wait, and said that Truth would open the way.

After this, my cough became much worse, and knowing what Christian Science had done for my family, I thought I would have a few treatments, to see if I could be benefited, but had very little faith. I had not met the Christian Scientist, for I was never at home when she came to the house, and did not care to see her, but when I found that I could be treated absently, I requested my wife's mother to go to Riverside and ask for the treatment. She explained my condition regarding the cough, but after a week's treatment all the symptoms seemed aggravated. I went deeper than ever into drinking and gambling, going so far as to buy out the gambling-den and stay there day and night. My wife, very sorely troubled at what I was doing, went to the practitioner and told her of all these conditions, that being the first she knew of my irregular habits. She comforted my wife as only those who know the truth and live it are able to comfort the sorrowing, telling her to trust, and all would be over soon, as it was nothing but error's final struggle. She repeated the words found in Science and Health, page 97, "The higher Truth lifts her voice, the louder will error scream."

Three days later I went home early in the morning, just as the sun was rising over the hills, with the sunlight of a new life dawning in my consciousness,—a sober man once more,—and told my wife I would never enter that hell again, and I never have. The "old man with his deeds," which were many, was laid off, and the light of Truth had taken their place. I was completely healed. My appetite for drinking, chewing and smoking, gambling, and the terrible sin of profanity had passed into oblivion, and soon all pulmonary trouble was destroyed; and glasses, which I had worn for ten years, were laid aside, and have never been used since. For these blessings, with many others that have come to us though this beautiful Christ teaching, I am very grateful to God, and to our Leader, Mrs. Eddy, who has so faithfully pointed out the way of Truth and Life to all mankind.

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