Early in the year 1903, my husband went with an acquaintance...

Susan Lockett

Early in the year 1903, my husband went with an acquaintance to hear (as the man said) "some new doctrine called Christian Science." My husband was impressed with what he heard at First Church, London, and told me he would like to go again. He did go again and again, for the more he heard of it the more he wanted to hear. I was sorry for this, as we were members of the Church of England, and I feared he was being attracted by one of the many new sects which come and go; but my faith in God comforted me, and I knew He would not let him go wrong.

At this time I was in a bad state of health and was going to a doctor for a stomach disorder with accompanying troubles, also visiting an oculist, as I had cataracts growing over both my eyes. The next time I was going to the doctor my husband asked me if he might give me a Sentinel to read, as I had a long wait and I always liked to have some reading with me, though I could only read large print, and in a very good light. Sometimes I could not manage to see even then, but I always held a paper as though reading, as it prevented people talking to me. I did not at all like to take the Sentinel, but I did not like to refuse either. The next time I went I had no objection to taking it, and next time I found myself quite interested in reading it.

This went on for two or three months, till late in May my condition became worse than it had been during the eight months I had been going to the doctor. I was indeed quite prostrated, and was compelled to give up work, which caused anxiety to both my husband and son, and they consulted as to what should be done. They wanted me to go away for a change; but as that was impossible in my condition, I consented to be taken out into the country by easy stages, to try what fresh air would do for me. So we started, my husband and I, by a tram car which passed our house, intending at the end of that journey to take another going farther out. I might mention that the conductor on this first car waited patiently while I got up, for it was slow work in my weak state.

My husband had taken along a good supply of Sentinels, and as soon as we had started I found myself enjoying the reading. A little later the thought came to me, "Well, it seems that God heals people now as He did in jesus' time I know that God is no respecter of persons and will heal me as He has many others." I resolved to ask my husband to take me to the church, that I might ascertain how to get healed, and at that moment I was healed of the weakness, for to my surprise I found myself getting down from the tram car quickly at the end of the journey, and I quite enjoyed a walk for about half an hour. I did not want to go any farther, but to return home, and on reaching there I found myself running up the stairs, then I bustled about and prepared tea.

All this time we had not spoken a word to each other about what had occurred, we were both so surprised; but as we were sitting over that memorable tea, my husband said, "It seems to me that you are healed." I answered, "It must be so, but I cannot make it out." He then wrote to a practitioner, who quickly made an appointment which I gladly kept, and with the resolution that, as God is the healer, I would take with me all my ill-health troubles. I recounted to the practitioner that for the previous thirteen years I had had, among other ills, rheumtism, one attack having confined me to my room for eight weeks and for a considerable part of the time I was unable even to turn myself in bed. The practitioner explained something of Christian Science to me, and commenced treatment, asking me to come again in a week. My husband bought a copy of Science and Health, which we read and studied together, and we also attended the Wednesday and Sunday meetings at First Church.

After the third or fourth treatment the practitioner gave me the book "Christian Healing," by Mrs. Eddy, and I opened it as soon as I was seated on the 'bus going home. To my dismay, I saw that some of the paragraphs were in very small print, and my first thought was to read the large print and leave the small; then I thought that if God was to heal my eyes I must be obedient, and He would help me. I began to read, and at once the pain in my head and eyes started. Still my thought of the need of obedience prompted me to continue, and after the pain had seemingly done its worst, it left me suddenly just before I reached the end of that journey. I found afterward that it was the end of the cataracts, for I did not again have a return of the pain, and since then have had no trouble with my eyes. Some time after I happened to come across a Bible which I had discarded some years before, as the print was too small; but I opened it and found that now I could read it.

In January, 1904, I had an attack of rheumatism, and after working to overcome it for about a week, I was healed instantaneously at the communion service Sunday evening. I went there in great pain, but came out free and have remained so ever since, and that is over six years. I found it took much longer to overcome influenza, and for some three or four years it continued to assail me; but each time it was mastered by Christian Science in about a day, where in all the former attacks I had been kept in bed for more than a week each time. During the seven years since my first healing Christian Science has been the physician in our family, and has met the need of healing in many forms. I am indeed thankful to God for giving us our revered Leader, Mrs. Eddy, who through her consecrated life has been able to lift me from the bondage of sickness and also to give me a better understanding of God as a very present help in every trouble.

Mrs. Susan Lockett, London N., England.

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