Testimony of Healing July 2, 1910 Issue

It is with a grateful heart that I give my experience in...

William S. Canaan

It is with a grateful heart that I give my experience in Christian Science. I first heard of it about fifteen years ago, but only through those who were prejudiced because of a false apprehension of it. My information being from such a source, I also was greatly prejudiced against it. I did not care to investigate any further, and was still in this frame of mind when the subject was again presented to me, over eight years ago, by my sister and her husband, who had investigated and found it to be the truth which heals every ill. They were anxious that others should learn the truth as they had, but being in this opposing mental state I refused to talk to them and requested that they say no more about it in my house. Matters stood in this way until my mother, who had been staying with this sister, came home, and she brought with her a copy of Mrs. Eddy's book, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," in order to study it herself. I decided to read it for the purpose of criticizing the teachings, and of course from my standpoint I found a great many things which seemed inconsistent and some very absurd. So much for the poor blind man (mentally), who will not see when given an opportunity.

My sister had said, in the mean time, that when I got ready to study Christian Science in earnest she would send me a copy of Science and Health; so, about a year after my perusal of the "little book" for criticism, I again had a desire to read it, but from an altogether different motive. The book came, and I commenced to read it, this time not with prejudice, but with a yearning for the truth; and the truth which had been hidden to the critic, was revealed in all its glory to the penitent child seeking at-one-ment with his Father. It seems to me that I can never forget the light and joy that came to my spiritual vision as I read those immortal words in the Preface: "To those leaning on the sustaining infinite, today is big with blessings." The light came with those very first words, and continued to pour is upon me as I read the book. While I was not reading for the sake of the healing, in fact was not thinking about it at all, I was nevertheless healed of heart trouble and of awful headaches with which I had been troubled daily nearly all my life, and they have newer troubled me since.

Myself, wife, and five children are all earnest students of Christian Science, and we have daily proofs that God is "a very present help in trouble." We have had much to overcome, and have still much to meet, but we are learning, as Mrs. Eddy tells us, that "every trial of our faith in God makes us stronger" (Science and Health, p. 410) for the next; and as we endure and overcome we can in a small measure appreciate what our beloved Leader has had to meet in presenting this truth to the world. Verily she will have her reward. I wish to live the life of a Christian Scientist in such a manner that it may stand for a daily testimony to the efficacy of God's word to heal and save people in this twentieth century and in all time.

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Testimony of Healing

Words can never express what the understanding of...