Testimony of Healing April 21, 1906 Issue

I first heard of Christian Science in 1904

FANNIE M. McKOON

I first heard of Christian Science in 1904. I had been an invalid for many years, having come to California from New York State in 1876, seeking health through a change of climate. My family physician urged my coming, saying he could not vouch for my life if I took another cold. I had had a pain in my chest and a cough for several months. The change dealt kindly with me for several years, then other troubles came,—I suffered from stomach, kidney, and heart trouble. In 1903, a member of out family was insane for three days before his death. I was alone with him when this was first manifested, and was so startled that I had palpitation of the heart, which resulted in insomnia and heart failure This continued for eight months, when my husband was taken ill and died in ten days. To mortal sense I was a sick and heartbroken woman, with a large ranch on my hands and two young sons to care for. At that time, our family physician, who was a dear friend, urged me not to take opiates, for if they did help me I would have a struggle to give them up; and, besides, the action of the heart was too weak to take them with safety. I have always felt grateful to him for this advice.

Three months after, I turned to a friend who had been healed of spinal trouble through Christian Science, and the first night she proved through demonstration the power of divine Love. I had all night a restful, dreamless sleep, and awoke refreshed and with a longing to know what Christian Science prayer is. I purchased a copy of Science and Health and commenced to study its pages. My healing was very slow because of my desire to know the how and wherefore of everything before I would accept it as true. I was frequently discouraged, as so many ailments seemed to assert themselves, and because of any injury to the spine which made it painful and difficult for me to get up. I seemed to be using this last to prove whether God healed through Christian prayer.

One day it dawned upon me that I was better, and that I did have something to be grateful to God for,—that I slept better and could eat better, did not have headache all the time,—and I then said, "I do thank God for these blessings." Weeks after I remembered that my back had not hurt me since I had thanked God and counted my blessings. Then a sense of love went out to our dear Leader. who was so loving and patient and willing to meet the hatred of the world that we might know the truth and be free.

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