It was four years ago that I first heard of Christian Science,...

Martha Krug

It was four years ago that I first heard of Christian Science, and I have had ample opportunity since then to prove by experience that it is this understanding, as given us by Mrs. Eddy, which constitutes true Christianity, and that it is as effective today as it was in the time of Jesus and the apostles. For twenty years I had been a great sufferer, to sense, with severe nervous illness, besides a disease for which I had to undergo an operation that brought relief, but did not cure the trouble. When this condition grew worse again, the last physician whom I consulted declared that sooner or later a dangerous disease would develop, if I did not submit to a very serious operation (though he could not guarantee a successful issue), and he depicted dreadful images to me, which I fortunately did not entertain. As I felt better without any medical treatment, I decided to drop it entirely, but looked forward to a hopeless future.

At that time dear friends brought me help through Christian Science, which I at first accepted with great reluctance, as the thought often would come up that it might be a false doctrine. It was very hard for me to give up faith in so-called medical laws, theories, and methods, and to recognize firmly and unswervingly God's law of life and perfection, as for fifteen years I had been active as a nurse of the order of Malta in the service of the poor and of the sick, and loved my vocation above everything. However, with the growing understanding of spiritual being, and supported by the loving and indefatigable work of a Christian Science practitioner, the trouble gradually disappeared, the general condition improved rapidly, and I became healthier and stronger than I had ever been before. Whereas I formerly used to feel that every draft was injurious to my health, I now have been defying for years every inclemency of the weather. As a result of the nervous trouble a functional disorder of the nerves in both feet had manifested itself for seven years. Medical treatment had brought relief, but no permanent cure. This disorder disappeared instantly through a flash of understanding that God created all that was made, and that all reality is good; that God does not create disease, and that therefore it has no scientific basis and is but the result of false concepts.

Last year I was greatly depressed and troubled because of the seemingly severe illness of a friend whom I would have loved to help, but who does not want to hear anything about Christian Science. The fear and grief which I suffered on this account induced the reappearance of a nervous heart trouble which had formerly tormented me for years. I had to ask for help, as I felt unable to work and my thoughts were constantly circling round the erroneous belief. Thanks to Christian Science, I was enabled to attend to my present vocation as a teacher and to overcome the exertion caused by the constant trips to and from the clinique, where my friend was under treatment. Several times, however, I have had the joy of affording help to others in threatening cases of disease, for which I am especially grateful.

I myself have had a few experiences this year which clearly prove the truth of the teachings given to us by Mrs. Eddy. One of my toes had been frozen, and a small sore appeared. That evening I was taken with an ague which lasted several hours. The foot, which was very much inflamed, gave me severe pain, and the upper part of the leg appeared to be involved. This time I did not ask for treatment, but worked in Christian Science as best I knew how; neither did I have the slightest fear, for I knew that truth gets the victory over error. It took about two weeks for the foot to be healed, as I had to go out nearly every day, and the wound was chafed, but with the exception of two days I could attend to all my duties. A short time ago I accidentally poured some boiling water over my hand, but at that moment I had a clear realization that all is Mind, and that man is not material, but spiritual; therefore nothing could harm me. I felt the heat on my hand, but experienced no pain, neither did the skin become red, although the water had been boiling hard enough to lift the cover.

For all these proofs of healing I am grateful with all my heart to our revered Leader, Mrs. Eddy; but Christian Science has given me more. The old theology had taught me that God is our Father and Christ our redeemer, but I did not gain the true understanding of God's love and omnipotence, or the true apprehension of the redeeming work of Christ. It brought me comfort and submission during the long years of suffering, but no deliverance from evil, no Christian joyfulness, and I gained self-knowledge only in a slight measure. Much of what I believed to be unselfish love I have recognized in the light of Christian Science to be selfishness, but where there is comprehension there is also the way toward deliverance from error. The old theology removed the fulfilment of the Biblical promises mostly into the world to come, but I have come to see with Paul that "now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation." I used to think that I believed in God's omnipotence, and yet I depended on material means. I professed to believe that God is Love, and yet I held that He had inflicted upon me disease and sorrow through His inscrutable decrees. Now I know that God is good only, and that there is no power outside of Him. This apprehension, which I owe to the better understanding of the Bible gained from the writings of Mrs. Eddy, is an ever-present help in all the exigencies of human existence.

Martha Krug, Schandau, Sachsen, Germany.

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