Testimony of Healing April 29, 1905 Issue

It is with pleasure that I write of my experience in...

Joseph Archer

It is with pleasure that I write of my experience in Christian Science. About twelve years ago I was taken very ill with an abscess on the lung. The doctors said I had consumption, and after several years' battle, during which time I was able to work only about half the time, I was advosed to go to a dry climate. I gave up my position on the railroad and went to Tucson, Arizona. I improved there for a short while, but after I became acclimated the same trouble re-appeared, only worse,—bronchitis and catarrh of the lungs. I expectorated day and night, coughing up much blood; I had severe night-sweats and could not sleep. The doctors gave me opiates and said the end was a matter of only a few days. A friend of mine told me of a place for consumptives. and I again fled to a new climate. My friends all bade me good-bye and never expected to see me again, but I rallied and after four months returned to my position, thinking I had a chance of recovery. Again, however, the relief proved only temporary. In June, 1904, the awful disease made its appearance worse than ever before. It took a great effort to walk half a block. This time I gave up all hope. I knew it was no use to seek other climates, but I did employ the best physician I could, though all he could do was to give me opiates to try to induce sleep. He told me it was only a matter of a few weeks or so to the end. I decided to go to Los Angeles to die, as I had a dear friend there, a train dispatcher, who had been writing me for nearly two years about Christian Science. I considered him crazy and did not give it a thought, but after I met him he again insisted on my taking treatment. I asked him if he took me for a fool, but after about a week had elapsed, he again mentioned Christian Science to me, and this time I was somewhat under the influence of liquor, trying to pass away my last days happy, as I thought. I decided to go with him and he took me to a practitioner on July 8th, and a blessed day it was to me. I could not understand her at first, or even Science and Health. It all seemed unintelligible to me; but in about two weeks I was sleeping all night without coughing and could not drink liquor. My friends all said I would die because I was without the liquor, but I was back on my run in about five weeks and have been there ever since; and now I weigh nearly one hundred and eighty pounds. When I met the doctor on my return, he walked by me several times, looking at me as he passed. He finally approached me and asked what on earth I had been doing. I told him of my experience and that Christian Science had enabled me to do without all the opiates. I was an infidel all my life, and never believed in God until I was healed in Christian Science, when "life everlasting" was revealed to me.

I have the latest edition of Science and Health and have subscribed for the Sentinel and Journal. I never take any more drugs and have no fear of sickness. I wish that my experience might enlighten some poor sufferer who is passing through such awful struggles as I have. May God bless our dear Leader for her great work and for the good she has brought to suffering humanity.

Joseph Archer, Yuma, Ariz.

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