Among all the testimonies that are given of the "night"...

Among all the testimonies that are given of the "night" through which many have passed, my own experience seems to be the darkest in variety of suffering, in surrounding conditions, and in length of duration. When this past presents itself to me, my spirit wells up in gratitude for the courage and bravery and spiritual strength of our dear Leader, at whose feet it was my great privilege to sit and learn years ago,—whose love has made emergence from such a dark cloud possible, emergence into the light of divine Love. The psalmist says, "O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy." Through the patient and loving teaching and waiting of our dear Leader, I have come to the certain knowledge that "the Lord is good" and that His mercy "endureth for ever," and I am rejoiced at the privilege of saying so. I give thanks that I have been redeemed from the hand of those enemies of all mankind,—sin, sickness, and death. My struggle to reach an understanding of the truth was long and hard. For many years I was troubled with the thought that the little printed notice, "Mrs. Eddy takes no patients, etc.," was even cruel. It was not that Mrs. Eddy took no patients, which troubled me,—I could easily see the wisdom and justice of that,—but I seemed to have had a hard experience, and I longed to have Mrs. Eddy tell me to whom to go. Watching so long that little sentence, I failed to see that in the most perfect way she was constantly telling us all to go to our heavenly Father. Now I have come to regard that same notice as an expression of true courage, and one of my greatest blessings.

Were I to relate the sufferings of many years, all would know that my gratitude for deliverance must be unbounded, —gratitude to the infinite, unfailing Principle, Life, Truth, and Love; gratitude to Christ Jesus, whose life was so pure and true that time could not hide it; gratitude to our Leader, whose life has also been so pure and true that it has lifted us to an understanding of what Truth is, and gratitude to those brother and sister Scientists who have patiently helped me. I am thankful for the steps already taken, and always mindful that there is something better and higher.

Mrs. Anna C. Thew, New York, N. Y.

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April 13, 1907
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