Testimony of Healing August 13, 1910 Issue

About sixteen years ago I was taken with an acute attack...

Wm. E. Bates

About sixteen years ago I was taken with an acute attack of rheumatism which caused me much pain, and each year after that I had a similar experience, up to about ten years ago, when I began to have two or three attacks every year, each one more painful than the preceding and compelling me to remain in bed a week or ten days at a time. Later I was obliged to bend over until my head was on a level with my knees, in which state I remained for about four years. Seeing that medicine was useless, the doctors advised me to go to the springs. I did so, and remained there about eight months, taking hot baths daily, besides receiving massage and electric treatments; but, as I was getting no better, I finally left and went to San Francisco to consult a specialist. After several examinations, which included X-rays, they concluded to send me to a hospital, where I was placed in a plaster cast to get my dimensions for a leather corset, which I subsequently left with a Christian Science practitioner.

While I was in the hospital an arch-shaped cot was placed beside me, and at intervals of four hours each day I would alternate between it and the bed, the pain being so intense that it was impossible to lie longer than four hours at a time. After having the brace adjusted, it was found that it would not hold me erect, and it was then suggested that the muscles be cut. To this I objected, and with that I severed my connection with materia medica. After leaving the hospital I used crutches a good deal of the time, and later the disease appeared to be taking on symptoms of locomotor ataxia.

During different periods of my illness the subject of Christian Science was mentioned to me, but I paid no attention to it until one day I boarded a car and a gentleman who was seated beside me and had noticed the difficulty I had in getting on the car, asked what I was doing for my trouble. I told him. He then asked me if I had ever tried Christian Science, and went on to tell what it had done for him. He gave me a card to a practitioner, which I placed in my pocket, where it remained for a couple of months, until one day I came across it and made up my mind that I would go and see the practitioner; which I did. Treatment was continued for sixteen months, when my healing was accomplished. During that time the desire for intoxicating liquors and tobacco left me. I obtained a copy of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mrs. Eddy, and read it mechanically for several months without being able to understand it (the Bible and I were strangers); but I may say that it is now indispensable to me and an every-day companion.

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I give this testimony as to the healing power of Christian Science,...
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