Testimony of Healing March 23, 1907 Issue

About thirty years ago, when but a child, I had a very...

Harvey L. Denny

About thirty years ago, when but a child, I had a very severe attack of rheumatic trouble, was in bed for a year, then was hauled around in a little wagon, and finally walked on crutches for about two years. This left me with what the physicians called a disease of the bone, which troubled me more or less all the time, although I was taking medicine almost constantly and had at least five operations at the hands of physicians during a period of twenty years, some of them very severe. The last physician who had my case was one of the best in the city, and did everything in his power for me. My wife, being very anxious about me, had asked another doctor to find out what my physician thought of the case. The report was that he had given me all the remedies of which he knew for the disease, and the next thing would be the knife again, but with little hope of an operation proving successful. As soon as my wife learned this she went in her trouble to her mother, who at that time was learning of Christian Science, but knowing of my great faith in materia medica she had said but little to me on the subject. Her mother said she would have a talk with a Christian Scientist about me, and consulted with a practitioner that afternoon, asking her if she would take my case without my knowledge. The lady replied, "He must seek this truth for himself. Ask him to call and talk with me." She gave her some Christian Science tracts for me to read, and these my mother-in-law gave to my wife and told her what the practitioner had said. My wife hardly knew how to broach the subject to me, fearing that I would ridicule Christian Science, but what evening she asked if I would read some tracts on the subject of Christian Science, and finally asked me to go and see a practitioner. I promised that I would, and to please my wife I kept my word.

I appeared at the office of the practitioner, discouraged and dejected, little dreaming of what was really in store for me. At first I was very much afraid some friend would see me while talking with the practitioner, but the truth voiced soon removed my prejudice, changed fear into hope, and gave me my first glimpse of the truth which "health all thy diseases." "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mrs. Eddy was placed in my hand, and I was asked to read it carefully, prayerfully, and without prejudice. After two weeks' treatment, without the dreaded operation, without any material medicine, a running sore on my side was healed up entirely. I received in all about four weeks' treatment, part present and part absent; and went ahead with my work, not losing a single day. We had a great deal of antagonism to meet, as we were living in the same house with a nurse and a doctor; also from my own people. My mother told my wife that if anything happened to me, she would never forgive her; but I am glad to say that nothing happened but good, and we know that nothing else can happen, for we trust in God. who is our Life, the source of our health, and our strength all the way. Many obstacles have crossed our path, but Christian Science shows us how to overcome every one of them. At first we kept our Science and Health and other Christian Science literature out of sight, as we did not want any one to know we were studying it, but that did not last long, for soon we were glad to tell what Christian Science had done and was still doing for us, and will ever continue to do if we practise it aright. This is our first testimony for publication. It will be nine years ago next October since I took up Christian Science and was healed, and I have had no return of the old trouble.

When I began treatment I was a constant user of tobacco, both chewing and smoking,—had used it ever since I was ten years old. I had tried on several occasions to give it up, but failed in each attempt and started in harder than ever. The practitioner. referred me to Science and Health (p. 404), and told me that one could not use tobacco and read "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," at the same time, without losing all desire for tobacco. I made up my mind this should be my own demonstration through the reading of the book. How well I remember trying to read and smoke at the same time, but it was not long before I would forget all about the pipe in reading that precious book, and it was not a great while before all sense of pleasure in using tobacco left me entirely. One evening, about six years ago, I listened to a lecture on Christian Science. The lecture was just grand, and how I did enjoy it, but from that day to this I have never had the least desire for the weed, and this demonstration seemed to me almost greater than my former healing.

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