Testimony of Healing September 19, 1908 Issue

In December, 1903, I was taken down with lung trouble...

John J. Payne

In December, 1903, I was taken down with lung trouble and was confined to the house for two weeks. The following January I had a second attack, being confined to my bed about two months, and was not out till the latter part of April. All this time I had the best of medical attendance, and my physician advised me very strongly to go to a higher altitude as soon as I was able. In June myself and family went to St. Agathe and spent the summer there. In October we came home, and on our way I stopped in Montreal and was examined by a leading specialist who told me that my lungs were diseased and advised me to go to Denver, as my chance of recovery here was slender. On my return home my former doctor claimed that my improvement had been very slight and he also advised me to go to Denver. In November I started for that city in search of health, and after being examined by a specialist there, I followed his treatment. I may say here that I had for some years a stomach trouble that doctores and diet had failed to cure. The specialist treated me for this disease as well as the lung trouble, but in a month's time I was no better. He then gave me another prescription, telling me that if this did no good in a few days, to stop it. I followed his orders, and finding that the prescription was not doing me any good I gave it up.

About this time Christian Science was brought to my attention by an old schoolmate who had been healed of lung trouble. When I was told that I could be healed without medicine it appeared rather strange to me; however, I consented to have a talk with a practitioner, and we went to see one the following day. I was convinced before I left the home of the practitioner that Christian Science is the truth, and I commenced to take treatments. My healing seemed slow, but I thank God that it was so, for this taught me how to rely on God for all things. In the following August I decided to come home, although my healing then seemed far from complete. The thought came to me very strongly that I should be examined again before going home, as my family did not know that I had taken up Christian Science. I spoke to the practitioner about it, and she tried to have me see God's allness, and that I really was better and could go home. The following day I went to the doctor, and after an examination he told me that I was foolish and would never again be able to live in Canada, but if I stayed in Denver he thought that in about two years time I would be able to do something. When I told this to the practitioner, she lovingly assured me that God would care for me at home just as well as in Denver. I returned home in August, and many of my friends advised me to go back, for my appearance did not indicate health, but I continued to gain steadily, and in October commenced office work again, though not without a protest from my friends. I, however, believed that God would complete the healing, and He has, for I have had no return of either of the above diseases, and we have had many healings in our home since. One that I will mention was that of our little daughter, then four years old. She had been doctored for stomach trouble about two years but was no better. Her healing in Christian Science was instantaneous and she has never had a return of the trouble.

Best of all, Christian Science has taught me how to read the Bible, which before was almost a closed book. I am trying to follow the truth; and I know that by so doing I am under God's law and not the man-made laws of disease. I am indeed grateful to God for His unbounded love and goodness, and to Mrs. Eddy for showing us the way.—John J. Payne, Granby, Que., Can.

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