Testimony of Healing July 30, 1904 Issue

I first heard of Christian Science about ten years ago,...

Gertrude R. Speese with contributions from Sallie Rohloff

I first heard of Christian Science about ten years ago, when visiting relatives who were Scientists. I cannot say, however, that I was enough interested in it to ask much about it, but the remembrance of the happy, harmonious home lingered long with me. I often thought of it, and a few years after, I became a little more interested and asked questions which were very kindly answered. It seemed a very beautiful life to me. A little later I was healed through it, but when I told my friends they ridiculed it, and told me I would have been well anyway if I had waited a little longer. I then went back to materia medica. Again I visited my uncle and aunt, and so longed for that perfect peace which was theirs; but I had not the courage to start again. "He that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord."

During the last four and a half years I had such bad health that if I had not had two little children to live for, I would not be here to-day. I had had two operations and was preparing for a third. I could not sit up longer than three hours at a time. I was so weak and miserable that I prayed to die. I was of no use here, seemingly, and why did God let me live? I knew I had not the strength to undergo another operation, and where should I turn for relief? I again thought of Christian Science, but had never heard that it shortened ligaments, and thought this impossible. My only hope was to visit my aunt and have a talk with her, but it was a day's journey to get there. I accordingly received my husband's consent, took a sleeper, and in it until I reached my destination.

I told my story with just the slightest glimmer of hope that I might be helped, and then asked my aunt if she could heal me. She was very quiet and thoughtful for a moment, and I thought, "Oh, she can do nothing, and does not want to tell me;" but by-and by she answered me, "No; I cannot, but with God all things are possible." Those words I shall never forget. In my weakened condition I felt as if my heart had leaped to my throat, and I seemed to be blinded by an intense light which the eyelids could not shut out; so great was my joy and hope. I visited with them and received treatment for two weeks, and came home (not in a sleeper this time) so much improved that my family and friends marveled at my appearance. I must say, however, that I had not gained the understanding for which I now longed. I wrote my aunt that I missed her talks very much, and she answered that I should not miss her, and referred me to James, I, "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him." This seemed so beautiful and so appealed to me that I felt a hungering for such wisdom. Then came, to comfort me, those beautiful verses from the Sermon on the Mount, "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled," and "Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God." That was the first dawning of my understanding. I both hungered and thirsted for knowledge.

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Testimony of Healing

I wish to tell how I came into the light of Christian Science