Testimony of Healing March 27, 1909 Issue

In 1894 I had an attack of rheumatic trouble which left...

Mary E. Eastlick

In 1894 I had an attack of rheumatic trouble which left me very weak, but, being the mother of a large family, I had a great deal of housework to do, and one day in lifting a heavy kettle I seemed to injure my back severely. I was put to bed in terrible pain, and when our physician came he pronounced the injury very serious. I was kept under opiates four days; I could not move, and life seemed a burden. Later, every attempt to do any work was accompanied with severe pain, the attacks often lasting ten days or longer. As time passed, for at least three years before my healing in Christian Science, I was able to do only some light sewing.

In 1900 a dear friend who saw my need brought Christian Science to my notice. For some weeks I read the Sentinel and Journal, also in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mrs. Eddy, but could not then grasp the spiritual meaning and failed to be benefited. I saw, however, that Christian Science was a most beautiful and desirable religion for those who could understand its teachings. I had been a member of an orthodox church from my girlhood and had brought my children up in that belief. I had always read the Bible and prayed, and I had answers to some of my petitions, but there never seemed to be anything certain about the results. In 1902 my health seemed to grow even worse, and I became a wreck physically and almost mentally. I was advised to have a change of scene, and though not able to travel I started. I went nine days and nights on the train, to get a change of climate; stayed several months on the Pacific coast, but the conditions were not changed.

I had a son living in San Francisco who had been greatly benefited by Christian Science, and he reminded me of this in every letter, but we as a family concluded that he was fast becoming a religious crank. In June, 1903, he sent me a copy of Science and Health. I commenced to read it, and where I had stumbled before, it was now clear and beautiful to me. That summer I was alone a great deal, and I read the book carefully. I sought to have God show me if it was the truth, and one day when I was fearful that it might not be of God I asked Him to make it plain to me. I opened the Bible for my answer, and this is what my eyes rested upon, "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever." I was fully satisfied, and several ailments, such as neuralgic trouble, etc., left me while reading the book. I had, however, no one to help me, and I had not gained sufficient understanding to destroy the worst trouble. In August of that year we concluded to attend the G. A. R. encampment in San Francisco. We were at that time living in northern California, and there was not only a long trip by stage, but when we got to the railroad I could not secure a sleeper. By the time we reached the city I was prostrated with an unusually severe attack of the trouble with my back, and had to go to bed immediately. This was Saturday night, and there I lay until Wednesday morning, when my son advised me to have the help of a practitioner. I said he might call up one, and tell her that I wanted absent treatment. The practitioner immediately commenced to treat me, which was about nine o'clock in the morning. A little later I got up, and although my feet were badly swollen, and my daughter helped me dress, I nevertheless walked three blocks, sat from ten o'clock until one, watching the parade of the old soldiers, and then walked around the greater part of the afternoon. In the evening I went to the Christian Science testimony meeting, which was a great revelation to me. I had never witnessed anything like it before. The hall was crowded even to standing-room, and there were as many men as women. I met the practitioner who had given me absent treatment that morning, and I told her that I had walked not less than three miles, after having been so helpless in the morning.

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