Testimony of Healing July 11, 1908 Issue

Having tried many other systems of healing without...

Kenneth B. Elliman

Having tried many other systems of healing without permanent help before I knew of Christian Science, I was very slow to accept it as the truth. During the first three years after I became interested in Christian Science I was healed of many diseases with the help of a practitioner, but not understanding the process, and failing to find formulated rules for treatment in the text-book, at the end of this time I still thought that the cures were brought about in some mysterious way. Living at this time in a country house which had no telephone, I woke up one morning with a pain so severe that it frightened me. I thought my slight understanding of Christian Science was not sufficient to relieve me, and after trying for a few minutes to read Science and Health I had to go back to bed. Every one else in the house being asleep, I did not see how I could reach a Christian Science practitioner or a doctor in less than an hour, and I was afraid I would be dead sooner than that; so I called a member of the family, and when he came I asked him to read to me from Science and Health. As I told him, I had heard of people being healed simply by reading the book, and although I did not believe it, I thought it was a good chance to try it, especially as I was sure by this time that I was going to die anyway. He began to read, and much to my surprise, in a little over half an hour I went sound asleep, and woke up later feeling so well that I went to business as usual. Considering that it is impossible to go to sleep when one is in severe pain, and that nothing was done in this instance to relieve me except to listen to the reading of Science and Health, I could not help concluding from this experience that "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mrs. Eddy contains the healing truth. About six months after this a most serious nervous disease, which had grown no better for seven years, left me entirely.

That Christian Science can prevent seasickness was clearly proved to me when I crossed Lake Superior in a northeast storm in the summer of 1902. The boat I was on was one of the large steamers which navigate the Great Lakes, and carried over a hundred passengers. I had never been seasick before, but when every one around me began to be ill, I was very much afraid I should be too. Having then but a slight understanding of Christian Science, and not knowing what else to do, I went to my stateroom and began reading Science and Health, as well as thinking over Isaiah's statement, "When thou passest through the waters I will be with thee." My realization of God's protecting presence became so strong that all fear left me, and in about ten minutes I was able to go up on deck again, and enjoyed watching the ship ride the great waves. This experience was all the more remarkable to me because I found there was only one other passenger on board who was not seasick and she, too, was a Christian Scientist.

When one has sought for many years without success for demonstrable truth, is it any wonder that he feels grateful to Mrs. Eddy for discovering and teaching this great truth which is both demonstrable and practical?

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