Testimony of Healing December 15, 1906 Issue

My first serious acquaintance with materia medica began...

Charles A. Hedenstrom

My first serious acquaintance with materia medica began when I was still a boy, going to school in Sweden. I was confined to a sick-bed for several weeks, with lung trouble, and later had another and more severe siege of the same disease. When able to be up I was warned to be careful; however, I grew stronger and for a period enjoyed a measure of good health, so that I was able to follow the trade of a painter, although during most of this time I took drugs. My next serious experience came through lead poisoning. It was a severe case and I had the advice of four different doctors in Chicago. Before this time stomach trouble had gradually developed and my ailments increased rapidly, becoming very severe and complicated.

In this condition, and with an ever-growing sense of dissatisfaction with human life, I first heard of Christian Science in San Francisco, and became sufficiently interested to buy a copy of the text-book, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," by Mrs. Eddy. I surprised myself with the earnestness with which I endeavored to grasp its contents. It appealed to me from the first as religious teaching of the highest order, but I had become so prejudiced against religion in general, that I at first failed to see that here teaching and healing went hand in hand. I continued to read the book occasionally for over three years before my prejudice was sufficiently removed to see that association with the Christian Scientists would be a help to me; for up to this time I had kept strictly by myself; however, nearly three years more went by before I became willing to take my stand for Christian Science, which I finally felt impelled to do about seven years ago. Under wise and loving counsel, the truth is growing clearer day by day. The few treatments I have received since coming into Christian Science have been followed with marked results. I am healthier and happier now than ever before, and have a feeling that I am on the ascending path. My appreciation of Christian Science, and gratitude for it, for its great Leader and faithful and loyal workers, is increasing daily.

The above describes not a half of my experience, either under materia medica or in Christian Science. Any comparison between them, either in respect to efficiency or economy, is in my estimation wholly in favor of Christian Science. In all cases where this comparison takes place, it must relate to physical healing alone, and in Christian Science, physical healing, although a great blessing, is the least of all.—Charles A. Hedenstrom, Vancouver, B. C.

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