Testimony of Healing June 1, 1907 Issue

One who has received physical healing and mental regeneration...

Edwin H. Rothert

One who has received physical healing and mental regeneration through the blessed influence of Christian Science, needs not the testimonies printed in our periodicals or told so feelingly at our Wednesday evening meetings, as an assurance for his faith. He has but to contrast those past days of disease, darkness, and despair, with the good health, real happiness, and joyful hopes of to-day, and with a heart overflowing with gratitude he has a message for all those burdened with the heavy load of ill health, for all those wandering in the misty shadows of doubt and fear and sin,—an assurance that God is indeed omnipotent and omnipresent, and that divine Love, infinite and immeasurable, will free the body from pain and disease, cleanse the heart from iniquity, still the inward storm of conflicting thoughts, and bring that peace "which passeth all understanding."

In the spring of 1904, through worry and anxiety over sickness in my family and the fear of losing my position. I became extremely restless and nervous. When word came that the office I held would soon be abolished, although informed with great kindness and condideration that such action was not attributable to any dissatisfaction with my work and due only to changed business conditions, I broke down completely. In the worldly ways of past years I had strayed far from the Father's house, and now I desired to return to His protecting care; but I did not then know the way—the one true way—the highway through the dismal swamps of careless and thoughtless action. For physical health and mental strength I consulted a physician prominent in his profession and long a trusted adviser, but I did not receive the help sought for, and to extreme nervous conditions were added protracted and distressing sleeplessness, and a general derangement of the entire physical system. In August came complete nervous collapse, and I was compelled to resign a new position I had obtained without the loss of a day when my old one ended. From that time up to the end of February I began a vain search for health, courage, and mental peace. I tried homeopathic and allopathic treatment, osteopathy, and vibratory machines, and had the services and opinions of a conscientious specialist. All were willing and anxious to help me, yet all failed to cure. I appreciate now, more than I did then, their kindness and condideration. Whatever mental improvement or physical betterment resulted was but temporary, and I drove loving parents and a dear wife to the verge of distraction. In November a return to a position once filled with some credit and ability was tried, in the vain hope that easy work might accomplish, at least mentally, what medical skill had not.

Christian Science had been suggested to me, and even a copy of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mrs. Eddy placed in my hands. Kind friends and loyal Scientists endeavored to interest and assist me, and I shall always remember their loving efforts. I would read the book and then discard it—only to return again and again to its pages. Twice I visited a practitioner, poured into his patient ears my tale of woe, and took an absent treatment, for I was afraid of any other kind. I was greatly discouraged and disappointed because I was not instantly healed. On these two days, some weeks apart, I did not take any medicine, but I did not discharge the physician and they are the only two days from May to the following February that I was not acting entirely under some doctor's care and directions and depending on drugs. But God's love passes human understanding; at the right time came a dear, good Scientist, and his confident assurances and helpful talk influenced me to place my case in the hands of a practitioner. I soon realized that Christian Science was all or nothing—and I sincerely thank God that I found it all. My healing was slow, but I was surely and truly led through the maze of doubt and fear into the realization of health and strength. How much I have gained in these days of increasing happiness and hope! In the eight months previous to taking treatment failing eyesight had been one of my greatest troubles. Examinations by four of the best oculists in three of our western cities resulted in each prescribing glasses of increased focal strength, all agreeing that I must wear them constantly and have a pair still stronger for closer work. For over a year now I have worn none. I have gained about forty pounds in weight, and can eat and enjoy anything, although before I had no appetite even for the simplest foods. All desire for tobacco has left me, although I had been an incessant smoker for nearly twenty years.

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