Testimony of Healing January 6, 1906 Issue

I gratefully acknowledge and cheerfully bear testimony...

Mary M. Vaughan

I gratefully acknowledge and cheerfully bear testimony to the manifold benefits through Christian Science. Eleven years ago it found me at the grave's mouth. For five years I had been a miserable, useless, and almost helpless sufferer. For three of those years I seemed to be under the very shadow of death, which meant days of weakness, weariness, and pain, and nights of sleepless agony with ceaseless tossing and moaning. Those about me looked for me to die, and I wondered myself why I did not. My case was complicated. I was first incapacitated for work by a very distressing form of bladder trouble, supposed to have been the result of over-exertion, and diagnosed as ulceration of the urethra by two physicians,—one a visiting surgeon of the Woman's Hospital, Soho Square, London, E. C., England. This trouble caused the most intense, torturing pain, and every exertion, however slight, aggravated the suffering. To walk, or even stand, was almost impossible, and for three years I could not walk up-stairs. Later these conditions appeared to induce extreme nervous debility, followed by constipation, disordered liver, and heart failure.

I had taken large quantities of medicine, allopathic and homœopathic, had been in hospitals in London, England, and in Boston, U.S.A., had been twice on the operating table; in short, every known human invention for the alleviation of suffering had been tested for my relief, but like the woman in the Scripture, I was "nothing bettered," except for a little temporary relief; and I continued to grow worse, until, utterly prostrate with weakness and suffering, and knowing nothing else to look to, I resigned myself to what seemed inevitable, and calmly awaited the end which I felt must be very near.

But my extremity proved to be "God's opportunity," and at this juncture that white-winged messenger of peace, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mrs. Eddy, found its way into my home. It was sent to me through the mail by one who had been wonderfully helped by Christian Science, and who, hearing of my case, yearned to help me. I had not been able to for some weeks, and when this book was placed in my hand, I opened it almost indifferently, but my attention was arrested by a leaflet it enclosed, bearing the testimonies of persons who had been healed through the reading of Science and Health. It struck me very oddly that a person could be healed of physical infirmities by reading a book; but a new hope sprang up in me, and I thought, Perhaps, now, there is a chance for me after all—if others could be cured, why not I? I closed the book and lifted my heart to God in prayer, that I, too, might be helped.

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