Testimony of Healing January 21, 1911 Issue

Christian Science was first brought to my notice more...

Alzaria Burwell Case

Christian Science was first brought to my notice more than eighteen years ago, when I occasionally read a copy of the Journal. Not receiving much understanding however, or seeking it, I remained a devotee to surgery and medicine for all physical ills, until after a severe illness some tem years ago, when I was given up as incurable. Specialists who were called in refused to operate, and evinced great surprise that I was living a week later. At that time my father's cousin, who heard of the decree that I was soon to pass on, gave me treatment in Christian Science, my husband knowing of it. To the surprise of all—doctors, nurses, and the household—I rallied. I was told by the doctor on his next visit (the day but one after the above verdict was given by him) that he found my physical condition so improved that I could have a regular dinner. Again my husband had told the cousin above referred to of my condition, and she had seen me a few days before, when her presence and words of love uplifted me. She again gave me absent treatment, and I gained quickly at first, then more slowly, as conditions came up outside of my illness which seemed to affect me.

I had passed through the loss of two of my family friends, having the entire care of one and a great deal in the case of the other, and under conditions which were very adverse to the effective help I was endeavoring to give. This with other sorrow, in the form of grief, fright, and wrong, continued after my recovery from the acute illness. I was still under the doctor's care, and he predicted an early passing on if I neglected to have the treatment ordered by the specialist, although he said it was very improbable that I could survive the ordeal. During this time I asked the Christian Scientist who had helped me, for literature, and received copies of the Journal and Sentinel. The reading of these uplifted me, and I wished to know what the reference to the text-book, Science and Health, meant. some time after, while visiting my mother in Jersey City, I sought out the Christian Science church, and was impressed by the happy and healthy look of those present. As I did not receive relief from my illness, I asked the loan of Science and Health and kept it so long that I had to be reminded. I finally secured a copy of my own, now over six years ago, and the Quarterly soon followed. I then sought out the nearest Christian Science services to my home,—which was Winsted,—where after a time I became a member, as also of The Mother Church.

I experienced during my study of the Lesson-Sermons many demonstrations of the power of divine Love. Let me here say that I was led to give up materia medica before I asked for Science and Health. When conditions came up which heretofore had confined me to bed with threatened recurrence of my previous severe illness, under the reading of our text-book and the little understanding which I had gained, relief speedily came. It was marked enough to make my husband take notice; and again, when he himself was almost instantaneously healed of a spasmodic attack of asthma, with which disease he had suffered from infancy, and which was supposedly inherited. During the study of Science and Health a condition of my feet which had necessitated the wearing of bandages since the severe illness above referred to, and when it seemed that I could not rest day or night from the severe pain,—this condition was healed entirely during the study of a Lesson-Sermon on "Life." The next morning I did not use the bandages, and have been free ever since. That was also noticed by my husband and the help in the household.

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