Testimony of Healing September 17, 1910 Issue

My attention was directed to Christian Science by seeing...

James Edwin Clark with contributions from Elizabeth Lewison

My attention was directed to Christian Science by seeing the benefits of treatment given to a boy whose case had been diagnosed by the doctors as hip disease. His brace was laid off and he returned to school as usual. I then began to attend First Church of Christ, Scientist. I was an attentive listener at the Wednesday evening meetings, becoming convinced that the speakers had that Christianity pure and simple which I wished to have. In the early months of 1905, while traveling in Iowa, I had a severe attack of acute lung trouble. I applied to a practitioner for help, and treatment was begun in her home. My associate in business knew nothing about Christian Science, and he was afraid that I would not be able to get to Chicago; but we did, and absent treatment was given me for two weeks, when I was fully recovered. I purchased the text-book, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mrs. Eddy, but I was so pleased with my quick recovery that I wrote the practitioner that if anything happened to me later, I would like to consider her my regular practitioner. She, however, gently rebuked me, telling me to read Science and Health and that I would then be able to help myself. I did read the textbook, but like many others I did not grasp its deep meaning until I learned that I should think more about the truth of which I had read.

Later, there happened to me, through the folly of wrongdoing, a serious illness. I went to a practitioner, and told him of my faults. He gave me a number of treatments, then said he did not think I needed to come again. At the table where I sat in a family hotel, there were a mother and daughter who belonged to First Church of Christ, Scientist. Noticing that I was getting lame with rheumatism, they suggested that I call on a certain practitioner, not far away, for treatment; and this I did. She needed no explanations, but said to me after a treatment, "I think you need not come again." I was greatly surprised at her assurance, but could not accept it as applying to me, because I seemed to suffer so much from the pains. Seeing, I suppose, my lack of faith, she gave me several treatments afterward, and having to leave the city, she sent me to another practitioner, who worked perseveringly until the healing was rrealized. I had absent treatment for failing sight of one eye, then for difficulty of hearing, also for hernia, until one after another all these ailments disappeared. Later, I slipped on the ice and injured my wrist, but was cured in one treatment.

While some ailments remain, I feel deeply grateful to God for His tender mercies, and to Mrs. Eddy for Science and Health and her other writings. My desire is to acquire a practical spiritual understanding.

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