The purpose of this article is not to criticize the methods of the medical profession; it is rather to show that the age in which we live demands a more intellectual and spiritual medicine, and that Christian Science is meeting this demand. Christianity, when understood as Jesus practised it, heals the sick and casts out evil; and Christian Science, the Science of Christianity, is attended with these "signs following." It is generally supposed by those who do not understand Christian Science, that because Luke was a material physician, and joined Paul in the healing work, he went on practising the drugging system, but Christian Science proves the mistake of such a conclusion. There is nothing in the Bible, nor out of it, to indicate that Paul and Luke worked from opposite standpoints. In order to become a true follower of the Saviour. Luke must have practised metaphysics—the standard his Master set before him.

It should be known that the practice of medicine sprang from idolatry, and although its practice has evolved much that is useful in certain directions, it still bases its healing power upon matter. The only instance in which matter is in any way mentioned in connection with Jesus' healing is in the case of the blind man at the pool of Siloam, and surely no one to-day really believes that the healing power resided in the clay. Is not the explanation given by Mrs. Eddy a more likely one, viz., that Jesus' act exemplified his contempt for matter as a healing agent? Christian Science has no quarrel with prevailing systems of material healing. Righteousness, right thinking, will aid the advocates of empirical systems, but if they are ever to be scientific they must be based upon one fixed Principle. Christian Science as taught by Mrs. Eddy, its Discoverer and Founder, declares that God—Spirit, Mind—is the true healing power, as the Bible teaches, and that Spirit acts independently of matter. It reverently affirms that this is the only real power, and that it can do all and more than faith in any other belief of power.

After I was convinced of the truth of Christian Science, I gave up the practice of medicine. I had spent nineteen years in its study, and thirteen years in its practice. Such a step, taken by one who loved his work and profession, could only be justified by very powerful motives. My reason for accepting Christian Science is best explained by some of my experiences during the last six years. I first heard of Christian Science early in 1900, when I was well established as a general medical practitioner in a populous colliery district in Lancashire, England. My father had been suffering for many years from an internal trouble, culminating in a serious attack of hemorrhage, and while contemplating an operation, he was persuaded to try Christian Science first, with the result that the operation was never required. He was completely healed in a few days' treatment. The report of this healing raised such a bitter feeling of resentment in me that I think I should have been more pleased if the cure had failed, for I then deemed Christian Science to be quackery.

However, some months later came my extremity, when medicine failed to check my daughter's headlong passage to her grave. When her condition was hopeless and helpless, from the material standpoint, I was advised to try Christian Science for her. That "man's extremity is God's opportunity," again proved itself a true proverb. I had no faith in Christian Science and had seen none of its literature, nor even met a Christian Scientist; in fact, it was practically unknown in the north of England. Life in the open air and residence in a pure atmosphere and all other means to combat the scourge were tried, and yet at the age of nearly eight years my daughter had wasted down to less than thirty pounds, i.e., to the weight of an average child of two years; in fact, to less than her own weight at two years of age.

I can never be sufficiently grateful for what Christian Science effected in this case. It completely unlocked the bonds of disease and destroyed the very nearness of death, transforming the whole outlook for my daughter. The material shackles were at once discarded and the child began to walk without suffering pain. From that day, six and a half years ago, she has gone on improving, without any setback and without spending an hour in bed through sickness. The joints became free, the stiffened limbs supple, and the wasted tissues were steadily and regularly rebuilt, until she is now one of the most healthy girls of her school,—never ailing, never absent, always able to take her part with other girls, both in school and out of school. She has not one symptom of disease about her.

I could go on enumerating case after case of similar physical and organic disease being healed by Christian Science prayer, and also cases of abject slavery to sinful habits and cravings. I have been able to keep myself well through Christian Science, and now I always take the medicine I recommend to others—the medicine of Mind. While Christian Science was doing such good work among my medical patients, I began to study its text-book, and soon found that my thought was changing; that the diseases I was called in to treat could be healed more quickly by Christian Science, with the inevitable result that it was impossible to serve two masters; one had to go. Believing Christian Science to be the truth, and seeing it time after time healing where medicine failed, my lot was thrown in with those who practised the teachings of Christian Science, a step which helped me to gain some small understanding of what Deity is.

It has been said to me: "You gave up a great deal for Christian Science?" Mrs. Eddy gives the correct answer to this. She says: "There are various methods of treating disease, which are not included in the commonly accepted systems; but there is only one which should be presented to the whole world, and that is the Christian Science which Jesus preached and practised and left to us as his rich legacy" (Science and Health, p. 344). To me the giving up has been all gain, it has been receiving, not giving up at all; it has brought newness of life. Christian Science is bringing more love and joy into my home and into my work. It is uncovering in my own consciousness the nature of self-love, laying bare the "old man with his deeds" and so enabling me to reach out for the "new man" and to realize something to the beauty of holiness and the practicability of its attainment.