Testimony of Healing January 8, 1910 Issue

I first heard of Christian Science in Sydney and in Melbourne,...

Katharine T. Porter

I first heard of Christian Science in Sydney and in Melbourne, Australia, and though I grasped little of its meaning in the one or two interviews I had with the Scientists there, the earnestness and love which they manifested attracted me as I had not been for years and led me almost to hope that Christian Science was at any rate part of all they claimed it to be, and that it would reward honest investigation. I accordingly bought a copy of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," and being then on my way home to England from New Zealand, I read it on the boat, at first suspiciously and cautiously, but with a growing perception of its truth, till on my arrival in London I recognized that here, for the first time in my life, I had found something worth living for—something that not only was worth doing, but also could be done and must be done, and that by me; where effort to do good, instead of being futile, was sure of lasting and ever-increasing fruition.

I had tried several kinds of occupation, hoping to do good and that my life would not be altogether wasted, but the fact that I accomplished so little where I hoped for so much, and a suspicion that things would have probably been just as well if I had left them alone, were most discouraging, and at the time when Christian Science found me words cannot express the utter emptiness of my interests. Religion, too, had failed me, for from girlhood I had been quite at a loss to understand the teachings of the orthodox churches. From the time when I first read Science and Health I knew that all this was ended, that never again need I be lonely, inactive, without guidance, or lacking a keen incentive in life. I saw that my work was before me, clear and distinct; that I need never again be prayerless, nor at a loss for both good and joy-bringing mental food.

From that time I loved Christian Science with the strongest love I am yet capable of feeling, and with a gratitude which I know can never be satisfied with just saying so. I have also received physical help over and over again from Christian Science, but the unspeakable blessings I have just mentioned are what I most needed when Science found me, and every day is increasing them. Some time ago, when walking with a friend who is also a Christian Scientist, I fell and at once realized that something serious had happened to my ankle. I however managed to scramble up on my uninjured foot, and for a moment or two we both stood there in a silent effort to realize the completeness of God's protection and the consequent impossibility of any injury to His child. Leaning on my friend's arm, I walked for about a hundred yards to where another Scientist lived. We had, however, not more than two or three minutes to spare, as the friend who was with me had to catch a train, and I meant to see her off. I was able to go up and down the station steps, with ease and rapidity too, and I then walked home, the best part of a mile. On my arrival, though I found that the foot presented an alarming appearance, I was delighted to be able to go about the house all the evening. I experienced some pain during the night, but I used all the understanding of Christian Science which I had, and at about four o'clock in the morning I went to sleep, feeling that divine Love had met my need. Next day, although both foot and ankle still gave evidence of the injury, I was on my feet with comfort all day long; whereas I know, from former experience, that without Science it would have meant at least three or four weeks' complete inactivity, besides giving much trouble to other people.

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