Testimony of Healing May 8, 1909 Issue

It is a number of years since I got my first news of...

E. Kyle Battley

It is a number of years since I got my first news of Christian Science from a jest on the subject in a daily paper. As the doctor was a constant visitor to our home, my interest was roused to a hopeful wonder as to whether my child and husband might not be benefited, if all that was claimed for Christian Science were true. I seemed to feel that those scornful remarks covered a truth, and if so, they could be explained. And they were, by two gentlemen, both of whom have written ably on this subject. My debt of gratitude to these faithful watchmen is very large. We wrote to one of them to inquire for the whereabouts of literature, after trying at a bookseller's—to his evident amusement, in those early days (1900). Very soon after the arrival of the text-book, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," I was healed in three treatments of a painful internal trouble; then my husband took treatment, and was so greatly benefited that we knew this was the truth of which Christ Jesus spoke. So we buried our medicine-chest in the garden, and resolved to "trust in Truth, and have no other trusts" (Sentinel, July 4, 1903). We have never regretted this step and no medicine of any kind has been in our home since, nor has a doctor ever visited us professionally in all that time.

On one occasion my little daughter was sent home with the news that a fever had broken out in the school and it was feared she had taken it, as she had all the symptoms except the rash. I knew even then that my duty as a Scientist was to call a doctor if this went on, but I decided to go to God first. So I put the child to bed, then went to my room to fight with my great fear, at the foot of God's throne, as it were; "alone with God," for we had lost three children and this was our only one. My cry for help was a silent one, but it speedily brought me absolute calm, and I did my first work to the best of my very small understanding in the "closet" of a mother's "earnest longings" (Science and Health, p. 15), asking divine Love to mold them aright. Half an hour later I stole to the child's bedside, and my heart danced with joy; for the flaming cheeks and hot skin were cool and moist, and she slept as one healed! There was no need to send for a doctor, and next morning she was quite well.

We went to the seaside that year—the first time for fourteen years—without physic, or lotion, or flannels, and were all better than on any former occasion. I had a sharp attack of bronchial trouble, but this my husband was able to meet for me, so that I was very soon relieved. It, however, camp up later, and had to be destroyed by further treatment. Our child, from being delicate, was now strong and ate well. She had been a source of great worry, so delicate had she been, and obliged to wear a truss since her birth. Science and Health told us not to worry, and I had become so weary of worries that I gladly obeyed. As soon as I did this, the child began to get better. It was heaven to feel that God's care is so perfect that we had liberty to rest and "take no thought" for the body, either in the case of ourselves or the child. Just about this time her truss was broken, and fear presented itself, but God's loving care as shown in the past gave us confidence to trust Truth again. We had, however, to strive very hard this time, for we all three knew it was to be a stiff test, but in a few days we conquered our fears, and in a few weeks we all three actually forgot she had ever been in such bondage. It was after three years, when we were trying to remembre our blessings gained in Science, to count them over, that among other things we suddenly thought of that particular one. It has now been six years since she was healed and she can run, jump, and lift very heavy weights for a girl of her age (eighteen), without ever having worn another truss. Numberless have been our small demonstrations since then.

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