I feel it a pleasant duty to write a partial list of the many...

H. E. Goan with contributions from Blanche W. Goan

I feel it a pleasant duty to write a partial list of the many blessings which Christian Science has brought to me, through kind practitioners and the understanding of God gained by the study of the Bible with Science and Health, and the reading of our periodicals. From childhood I had not been considered very strong, and about five years ago moved to a suburban town, because I believed I could no longer live in the city; but instead of deriving benefit from the change I grew gradually worse. I tried everything that promised any help, but without receiving more than temporary relief. I was suffering from a stomach disorder, and in consequence was very weak at times. Coupled with this was a great fear of the future and of everything in general.

Eight months before receiving treatment in Christian Science, I went to a sanitarium, and the doctor prescribed a course of dieting, which I followed faithfully all summer, without any other effect than to add a few more articles to the list of foods which I feared. At the time I went to the sanitarium I decided to have my nose operated on, it having been injured when I was a boy. One nostril was almost closed, and a number of doctors had told me that it would aid in the overcoming of a catarrhal condition if it were opened. It required two very trying operations to accomplish this end, and while breathing was easier after the nose had healed, still it did not help me in other ways.

During the summer that followed I lost a great deal of time from business, and looked for relief in a two-weeks vacation. Later, I went to the Adirondacks for another two weeks. Before going to the mountains I had been urged to try Christian Science, but I was reluctant and concluded that I would try it only as a last resort. I received some physical benefit from the mountain trip, but shortly after my return my mental condition, which at times had been almost unbearable, slipped back into the old rut, and I concluded that if Christian Science could not help me I should be left to choose between insanity and the grave. Once I had determined to try Christian Science, I lost no time in going to a practitioner. I had treatment for one week, the healing of the stomach trouble being practically instantaneous, and I soon learned that if I trusted God I had nothing to fear.

On my first reading of Science and Health I could scarcely read fast enough, and my condition changed for the better as fast as I read. I never had any religion before I became acquainted with Christian Science, and knew very little of the Bible, and when I learned that this truth is founded on the teachings in the Bible and that these teachings are of actual use to mankind here and now, it was indeed a revelation! For one who had been handicapped nearly all his life by a wrong mental and physical condition, this has indeed proved a blessing. Since my first experience I have had much help when needed and have enjoyed a degree of health and strength unknown to me before I found the truth.

I have both experienced and witnessed many wonderful demonstrations of the omnipotence and ever-presence of divine Love, and I wish to express my deep gratitude to God, also to our Leader, for all that I am today. As my understanding of Christian Science broadens, I marvel more and more at Mrs. Eddy's life and work.

H. E. Goan, La Grange, Ill.

I desire to add my expression of gratitude for Christian Science to that of my husband. I became interested in Christian Science through reading the text-book, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mrs. Eddy, from a desire to aid in the healing of my husband, as I had been told that harmony of thought in the home would expedite his recovery. I became so interested in the book that, as we had only one copy at first, it seemed impossible to read it enough. I felt it was the truth, and proceeded to follow the teaching as soon as I assimilated the meaning. I threw out the contents of our medicine-case, which was becoming too small to hold what we had thought necessary, and we have proved since that Truth can be absolutely relied upon to make us free.

After having read the entire book, I realized that I had not worn my glasses during the time, and that the headaches for which I had used them had not menaced me. Christian Science has healed me of acute and chronic ills, and whereas I had never enjoyed an outing of any kind without returning home exhausted by headache, now if one threatens I can help myself with the understanding I have obtained from our text-book. Recently I was taken ill with what seemed a combination of acute lung and heart trouble. At the beginning of this difficulty I was lifted out of a condition of delirium, with chills and fever, within an hour after the practitioner whom we called reached our home.

Before becoming interested in Christian Science, the Bible was a closed book to me. With the aid of Science and Health, it is now a daily study, a comfort, and a very present help. Christian Science has destroyed fear to a great extent, and is daily helping me to overcome sin and disease to the degree that I understand and follow the teaching. I am grateful to live at this time when the truth is again brought to mankind in its entirety. The literature we are privileged to read in connection with Christian Science is a great blessing and help in the spiritual understanding of God. My desire is to show my gratitude to God, and to Mrs. Eddy, for these blessings, by faithfulness in the study and practice of this truth.

Blanche W. Goan, La Grange, Ill.

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