Testimony of Healing April 9, 1910 Issue

In 1902 my health began to fail, and it was at first...

John J. Todd with contributions from Harriet J. Grant

In 1902 my health began to fail, and it was at first thought that I had overworked myself and would be easily restored by rest and a change; but the benefit was only temporary, and I soon broke down again. This time the trouble was diagnosed as nervous breakdown, and after dragging along through the summer of 1903 without improving, I again went away, and was apparently somewhat better when I returned. A friend then offered me a situation requiring outdoor work. In the spring of 1905 my health gave out completely, I developed a severe cough, and my family and friends urged me to go West immediately. As it seemed quite an undertaking to wind up my business, I wished to be sure that this was necessary and went to a physician and asked for a thorough examination.

When Christian Science was recommended to me, I had undergone a part of the physical examination, and the outcome had been most discouraging. The verdict was that my lungs were affected, and if I wished to prolong my life I must go to a different climate. The prospect of leaving my little children fatherless tormented me hourly, and my life, which had seemed so full with fine business prospects, hosts of friends, and a happy family, was now burdened with care and discouragement, I grasped at Christian Science at once. I was glad to try anything that promised any help whatever, and went to see a practitioner, my voice so weak that I could scarcely be heard across the room. His advice to me as the first step toward Christian Science, was to break off the medical examinations I was then undergoing. As I recall this interview, during which I asked questions and received answers thereto, I realize that my mind was not only made up to discontinue medical treatment and examinations, but that I had taken a long step on the road to recovery. I went home and destroyed all my medicine, telling my wife that I was going to try Christian Science.

I had obtained a copy of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," and commenced to read it at once. I had never read the Bible, had never thought it practical, but I had been reading Science and Health only a few days when I found a Bible a positive necessity. When I read the Gospel of John, I found to my surprise that it alone contained more meaning to me than I had expected to find in the whole book. I knew I was healed, and that I had found a remedy for every discord,—the Science of Life. My duty was plainly shown me in Jesus' words as given in Matthew, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." Afterward I asked for help in overcoming the tobacco habit, to which I had been a slave for twenty years, and was healed in five treatments. I have also lost the taste for alcoholic stimulants, which I occasionally used to excess. The desire for all these things has been utterly eliminated from my consciousness. Our children have never had a drop of medicine since my healing, where previously they took medicine continually and we paid doctors' bills as regularly as we paid the grocer.

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