Testimony of Healing December 4, 1909 Issue

About nine years ago one of the popular magazines...

Jane L. Vilas with contributions from William F. Marrs, Emily Margaret Marrs

About nine years ago one of the popular magazines published an article which held Christian Science up to ridicule and gave a distorted statement of its teachings. At that time I had barely heard of Mrs. Eddy and her noble work, but witnessing the apparent glee of another over this uncharitable attack, a strong sense of indignation at its injustice was aroused within me, and I determined immediately to investigate Christian Science for myself. Thereafter, for two or three years, I had with me a copy of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," either obtained at the public library or borrowed from a friend, till I finally secured one of my own; but I confess that I did not then seem to get much out of it, probably because I was reading everything I could find on oriental philosophy, hypnotism, spiritualism, and the like. In my hunger for something beyond what I had found in the teachings of the orthodox church of which I had been a member all my life, I was reaching out on all sides for spiritual food, unable to formulate any prayer, but trying in a feeble way to cling to God as my only salvation.

About six years ago a frailty which had hampered me for years—the result of childbirth—took on very troublesome proportions, and complications were so multiplied that it was pronounced necessary for me to submit to an operation. Instead of one, four were performed by three of the most skilled surgeons of this city. For a time there seemed to be much improvement, but after two years all the old distressing conditions returned, and the physician stated that another and more serious operation must be performed, after sufficient strength had been gained. To this end a course of osteopathic treatment was arranged for, but this was almost at once given up, for at this point a realization came to me that I had been trying to mingle material methods with Christian Science. Truth led me to cling to the latter and discard the other, and I procured a Christian Science Quarterly and began to study in earnest. I had not been able to walk a block without the seeming necessity of lying down for hours after, but it was not many weeks after this before I awakened to the fact of perfect health and strength, ability to walk miles without fatigue, an enthusiasm for life, and a certainty of "God with us" in Christian Science.

Since then progress in understanding has at times seemed slow, but it has been sure, and it has been attended by some very convincing demonstrations of the truth in solving daily problems. It has been proven to me that matter has no power to transmit a tendency to enlarged joints, known as a rheumatic condition. I have proven, when the severest dental work was being done, that there is no sensation in the teeth, and that man is not under any so-called material law. Christian Science has also brought to light the fact that God is our source of supply, and that His storehouse is always full for those who realize man's divine inheritance. Did not Jesus teach a lesson for all time on the shore of Galilee, by supplying also the physical needs of the four thousand while they were hanging on his words for spiritual sustenance? Christian Science is helping me daily to test my thoughts by the standard of Christ, and shows me how much I have to overcome in order to be like the Master.

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