Testimony of Healing August 31, 1907 Issue

Christian Science first attracted my attention some...

D. E. Armitage

Christian Science first attracted my attention some fifteen years ago, and at that time, in the words of Paul, "I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth." I was then pastor of an orthodox church, and some of my most prominent members, through the healing of a friend of theirs. become interested in Christian Science and finally left the church. I was sincere in believing that Beelzebub was at work, and that it was my duty to destroy that illusion and "rescue the perishing," but I found to my surprise that I could not bring them to feel the need of rescue, and finally left them to their fate. After this I read some Science literature, but always with a prejudiced thought, and so derived very little benefit. I did, however, become very much dissatisfied with the old theology and the slight effect its teaching seemed to have upon the masses, or even upon professing Christians. This led me finally to resign my pastorate and retire from the ministry. I did not realize at that time just what the difficulty was and why the so-called gospel seemed to have so little effect, nor did I realize why my own life seemed so inharmonious.

In conversation with an avowed infidel, about this time, he said to me, "If you people will only go out and heal a few sick people as Jesus and his disciples professed to do, I will believe, both in their work and in yours, and will become a Christian." I felt then, and have many times since, that the infidel has reason on his side and that it ought to be just as possible to heal the sick now as in Jesus' time, but, strange to say. I was not willing to give Christian Science the credit for doing this very thing. However, after spending a great deal of money, and after my wife had suffered the pangs of several deaths, in fact, after we had exhausted the resources of materia medica without benefit, we very reluctantly and faithlessly turned to Christian Science.

It is needless to tell Christian Scientists what we found. They know, but for the benefit of any who may read this, who are still clinging to the old way, I desire to say that we found heath where for years we had known only sickness; happiness where we had known only suffering; harmony where before all had been discord; hope, faith, and peace where before despair and discouragement had reigned supreme. Not one of our family of seven has taken any medicine since we have learned the better way,—the Truth-cure,—and every one enjoys health and happiness. But, marvelous as the physical healing has seemed, I am even more forcibly impressed with the spiritual uplift that has come to us as a result of the study of this wonderful subject. The Bible has become a new book to us, and God an ever-present, all-inclusive reality,—the reality of Life, Truth, and Love. Christ Jesus said, "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest;" and again, in the vision of Saul who afterward became Paul, "Why persecutest thou me? ... it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks."

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I was healed by Christian Science in March, 1900