Testimony of Healing September 3, 1904 Issue

It is now nearly three years since I first learned that Christian Science...

Helen M. Emery

It is now nearly three years since I first learned that Christian Science is only another term for "The Science of Christianity" or "Christianity applied." I had known that there was a sect of that name, that it was of sufficient prominence to evoke a good deal of criticism, and I am ashamed to admit that I was looking upon the criticism as probably true though I did not feel called upon to take a hand in it.

A friend who had become interested, loaned me the text-book, but after glancing through it, I returned it with the pert remark, that I knew much less than before, of what it all meant, and my friend dropped the subject. Christian Science unexpectedly broke upon me years later, not through relief from any physical suffering of my own, but through the healing of my daughter of various ailments, which physicians had failed to relieve, and which were fast growing more troublesome and real. When first I knew that she had turned to Christian Science and found, as I supposed, a fancied relief, it was a sad day for me. Our home was in Canada, but she had married the son of the friend referred to, and had gone to a far western territory to reside. To be sure. he was not tainted by Christian Science, but remained faithful to the orthodox church. He could see nothing in his mother's and his father's faith. So far, so good, we thought, and we had no fears when his parents journeyed far to visit the young couple, not, however, with the expectation that Christian Science would be accepted, especially by my daughter, who had flippantly rejected it in former days. But Truth is mighty and must prevail in time. The news of her acceptance of Christian Science cast a gloom over my mind for days, but as I received frequent letters telling me of her changed ideas of God, Love, and Life; and how her former discordant and clouded ideas of religion were gradually giving way to peace and harmony, mental and physical, what could I do but rejoice with her. Soon she began sending me copies of the Sentinel with marked articles, and I had only read a few when it dawned upon me, that this was the truth for which my heart had long been hungering. Now I knew why I had never been able to reconcile many of the old theories with my sense of right and justice,—they were irreconcilable. Slowly but surely the last vestige of prejudice disappeared, and with it the fear that Christian Science was a misleading and dangerous doctrine disappeared also; and better still I did not have to contend with opposition, for my husband realized from the first that it was good and not evil. Many times the testimonies and teachings seemed strange and wonderful, yet we never doubted or disputed, though we might not fully comprehend.

Hearing by chance that a former friend in whom I had much condidence, was a believer in this doctrine, I at once wrote to her for information and encouragement, and received both. In September, 1902, a physical ailment which I never expected to be rid of was entirely removed by the positive realization of the old truth which the Psalmist referred to, and which Christians in all ages have rejoiced in, that "underneath are the everlasting arms." If this is so, if it is anything but a beautiful figure, why wear a truss? If God can keep in perfect peace the one whose mind is stayed on Him, why not trust Him fully? and yet I hesitated to lay aside material support lest it seem like a challenge to the God I was beginning to understand. But all things work together for good when we are willing to be obedient, and when I left the truss off one morning by mistake, and only knew it when the usual sensations of pain and weakness began to warn me of danger, I felt that the time had come to demonstrate the power of Truth over error, and fearlessly went on with my housework. I literally leaned upon that promise, and for weeks was kept in perfect peace and safety. Then something obscured the light, and I found myself wavering and fearing that I had made an unnecessary trial and deserved failure. The dreaded symptoms, brought on by my doubts and fears, hovered near me, and I wrote to a Scientist in Montreal to ask if he thought I had done right or wrong. His reply had in it so much of the spirit of the healing Christ that I doubted no longer, and my new-found freedom returned to stay.

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