Testimony of Healing May 15, 1909 Issue

With the hope that some one whose release from bondage...

Burton W. Mudge

With the hope that some one whose release from bondage is seemingly slow, may be encouraged by reading my experience, it is here given somewhat in detail. While in attendance at an academy, from which I graduated about ten years ago, I incurred what is termed the periodical liquor habit, together with its kindred vices, such as gambling, love of fast company, etc. For three years after I engaged in business, I indulged from time to time these practices, which soon were considered a part of my personality. At the end of that period my position, together with the confidence of my friends, associates, and family, was seemingly lost, notwithstanding I had earnestly sought through human will, and with the loving assistance of a good father and mother, to abandon the companions and practices which had brought about my undoing.

I then removed to a distant city, where I again entered the service of a railway company, though at a much less salary and in less pleasant surroundings, and doing so with a great sense of loss and discouragement. At this time Christian Science, of which I knew something through my mother, who had persuaded me to call upon a practitioner some years previously, presented itself stroungly to my attention. In the next four years I consulted three Christian Science practitioners in as many different cities, also studied Science and Health intermittently during this time. Each time the work seemed to be done, and surely the good practitioners did their duty; but I was unwilling to give Truth the credit, and a relapse inevitably resulted.

It was then my good fortune to meet a gentleman whose concept of God as the only power was so absolute, and his inspiration to impart his understanding to others so great, that within a few months I suddenly realized the demonstration was made, and the feeling of gratitude and freedom that flooded my consciousness cannot be described. I do not want to convey the impression that my healing came about in a mysterious manner and with no effort on my part. I had been led to realize the necessity of obedience to the command, "Work out your own salvation." The past two years have been beautiful with progress in the understanding of "Him whom to know aright is Life eternal" (Science and Health, Pref. p. vii.). I am now earnestly striving to know more of this great truth, that I may help some unfortunate brother who has truth, fallen a victim to the false and pernicious mortal belief that a young man must "sow his wild oats."

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