Testimony of Healing December 14, 1907 Issue

I very gladly and gratefully offer my testimony

Theophilus Allen

I very gladly and gratefully offer my testimony. For some time past I have felt that perhaps I should send it forth, and sow seed in trust, and now the privilege has been granted me. Even as I have freely received, so I freely give, earnestly hoping that my experiences and demonstrations may be helpful to others who are searching for a haven of peace and safe anchorage. The opening sentence in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mrs. Eddy has been abundantly proved, "To-day is big with blessings" (Science and Health, Pref., p. vii.). In April, 1905, upon the invitation of my wife. I took up the investigation of Christian Science, our chief aim being to try to discover its healing and curative power for the benefit of a very dear relative under a severe ailment. Prior to the above date I had, if anything, been inclined to look upon Christian Science in a jesting way, and really had paid no attention to it at all. At the first testimonial meeting which I attended in our town, these words from Isaiah greeted me (the Scripture reading commencing just as we entered): "Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. ... Lift up thine eyes round about, and see." The invitation sounded so loving and so full of promise that I did lift up my eyes to see, with the result that I am now writing to testify to my gratitude for the light that has come from a study of the Bible and Science and Health, as well as from the Lesson-Sermons, the Sentinel and the Journal. Even though my understanding be small, the gain has been great, not only individually but in the unity of our thought as a family in Christian Science.

Very shortly after commencing the reading of Science and Health I discovered that the taste for intoxicants had entirely left me, for which I am unspeakably grateful. A supposedly chronic and inherited cough had also vanished—when, I cannot say; its disappearance was voiced first by my wife some three months after the "little book" had become my constant companion. The tobacco habit has likewise been overcome—this, however, not without a struggle; human sense was combative, and error loudly voiced against this step. With the loving help of a practitioner, however, and an understanding and realization of the truth, the unreality and false sense of mortal belief was uncovered, and I now have no desire for tobacco in any form. The following passage of Scripture was of great help: "Wherefore do ye spend money for that is not bread? ... hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good." Our beloved Leader, Mrs. Eddy, strikes the key-note in Science and Health, p. 60, line 29 to line 3, next page. Many blessings have come to me under varied conditions—at different times and divers places. For the physical healings I am very grateful, but most of all do I give thanks for the uplifting experienced by understanding that "God is Love" and that "divine Love corrects and governs man" (Science and Health, p. 6). Though brought up and educated along orthodox lines by loving parents, I had wandered away from churches, not being able to find or grasp the truth of being. This, however, I have now been able to do, the interpretation given by Mrs. Eddy having illumined the Scriptures for me so that many passages which before were obscure are now clear. "How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things," My thought turns with joy, love and gratitude to our Leader, God's messenger to this age, who has given us "glad tidings of good things" and pointed the way to God, "who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases."

Before the light of Christian Science dawned on us as a family it was a vexed problem how the children should be trained in religious thought, my wife and I holding widely divergent views. This vexed problem is now solved, and for this alone if for nothing else does my heart overflow with gratitude to God, our loving Father, that through the faithful work, unselfish labor, and unspeakable love of His messenger unity of thought has come to us as a family, with its resultant happiness and peace, its wholeness and harmony, through willingness and obedience, trust and reliance in the ever-present and omnipotent God and His Christ. The demonstrable truth which is now with us is of inestimable worth for our children, and all seeming ailments are met on the understanding that "all is infinite Mind and its infinite manifestation, for God is All-in-all" (Science and Health, p. 468).—Theophilus Allen, Palo Alto, Cal.

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