Letters January 26, 1907 Issue

LETTERS TO OUR LEADER

with contributions from Rudolph Knur, Anne Dodge, Lillie D. Storm, Bonnibel Reynolds, Jessie Jennings Kester, Alina Porter, C. S. Rogers

Colorado State Prison, Canon City, Dec. 30, 1906. Beloved Teacher and Leader:—I consider it a pleasure as well as a duty to give to the world my feeble testimony in addition to the many already given in behalf of Christian Science, remembering the words of Scripture, "With the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." Let me say in the beginning that I took up the study of Christian Science not I was subjected to any physical ailments, but rather because I felt the need of a spiritual help, having come to the conclusion that my former life had been utterly useless and wasted. Up to a year ago I was considered by the world at large not only a degenerate but a as well, living in the illusion, now to me very foolish, that life was not worth living except in sin and pleasure. This illusion and the stress of circumstances placed me behind prison bars for a long term of years; but if I understand aright the teachings of Christian Science, the errors of mortal mind are necessarily subjected to punishment and even confinement.

The study of Science and Health has convinced me, or better said, I now fully understand, that "it is our ignorance of God, the divine Principle, which produces apparent discord, and the right understanding of Him restores harmony" (Science and Health, p. 390). I also understand now the true meaning of the last line on page 391: can master sin through divine Mind," because divine Mind knows nothing of sin. Whilst I candidly admit that there is as yet a great deal of materialism in me, I can, nevertheless, feel myself drawing nearer the chemicalization spoken of on page 168, line 31: "The process which mortal mind and body undergo in the change of belief from a material to a spiritual basis." Poor mortal mind can never realize what Science and Health has done for me and the world, and I shall always believe that you must have been inspired by divine Mind when you wrote the same. I can honestly say that many of the vices which heretofore have seemed to give me pleasure, are now positively repugnant; and surely the religion which can do that much for one who has been depraved and steeped in crime as I have been, must be a true religion, based on God, good. I say it not as a boast, but rather in shame, that I do not think it possible for any one to have been more corrupt than the writer of this testimony, but I thank God—Life, Truth, Love—that it is now impossible for me to fall into like errors again.

I shall never cease to thank the great divine Mind for the light which He has shed on poor humanity, and from the bottom of my poor heart I thank you for the great help which you have given to all who realize that they have been in need of spiritual help. Allow me to say in conclusion that in the future I shall always bear in mind the beautiful words of number 37 of our Hymnal:—

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