Testimony of Healing November 2, 1912 Issue

It will be remembered that several years ago much appeared...

E. A. Whitney

It will be remembered that several years ago much appeared in the press in regard to Mrs. Eddy which was very startling. I had no counter information, but I refused to believe that these things written against her could be true. I wanted the truth, and I wanted to know that these reports were false, but I knew no Christian Scientists, I had never seen a copy of Science and Health, and did not even know that there was a Christian Science church here. I therefore went to the Congressional library and sent in a slip for Science and Health. I was surprised to have the book brought to me, not by one of the boys who usually do this work, but by one of the older men, who seldom leave their desks. Giving me the book, he said, "I will ask that when you leave the room you will please not leave this book on the desk, but hand it to me." This was so unusual, and I looked so surprised, that he said, "I ask this because this copy is one of the first editions, and is worth seventy-five dollars." I almost refused to take the book under these conditions, but the great desire to know for myself about Mrs. Eddy prevailed, and thanking him for the book, I took it and began to read.

As I now look back, I realize that in a few moments I had become quite unconscious of my surroundings. In two hours the print seemed to blur, and I took off my glasses and rubbed my eyes; but this was no improvement, so I again took off the glasses, for I could not read with them on. A voice then spoke to my inner consciousness, bidding me destroy the glasses. Destroy my glasses, without which I could not read or write a word? Too often in the twelve years that I had worn them had I been handicapped and delayed in my daily work through their being misplaced or broken. How could I destroy them? Besides, they had cost a great deal, and how could I throw that money away? All this flashed through my thought in an instant, but the voice again bade me burn my bridges. So impressed was I by this spiritual admonition, and so suddenly was I freed from all fear and doubt, that I put a "Reserved" slip in the book, left it at the main desk as requested, and walked out to the end of one of the long corridors. Here, with a swift glance around, I dashed my glasses on the marble floor, and left them lying there—gold bows and all—while I returned most happily to the reading-room and to the book. I read on for two hours more, and then went home. Not a doubt rose to trouble me. I was so glad,—so happy, so filled with this floor of wondrous light,—so humbly glad that God had put it into my heart to seek out the truth. How plain now seemed my intuition that those charges against Mrs. Eddy were absolutely without foundation! I felt that my acquaintance with a mind so pure, so exalted, was a gift, a priceless gift. All my life I had searched and searched for just such satisfying truth as I found in Science and Health. I took up my work, which had always necessitated the constant use of glasses, and never since have I felt the slightest need of them.

This was my introduction to Christian Science. For more than thirty years I had been the victim of a peculiarly baffling form of stomach trouble. Physicians did not help me, drugs did not help me. I had tried all sorts of baths, dieting, fasting, exercise, etc., until one day I realized that, look where I would, I could see absolutely no help. Everything I had ever heard of had been tried, only to fail. I turned to Christian Science, but I knew no practitioner. Then I found a list of names in the telephone book, and called them up, one after the other, until I found one at home. I was given an immediate appointment, as I was feeling very sick, and never shall fade from my mind the memory of the dear woman who met me so cordially and listened with loving attention as I briefly explained how desperately ill I was and almost in utter despair. I then sank back in the big chair and closed my eyes. The practitioner spoke only a few words, but a mantle of peace seemed to enwrap my tortured sense as the moments of silence slipped softly by. My self-control and a measure of strength returned to me, and I left the office comforted.

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