Testimony of Healing February 24, 1912 Issue

The truth that has been revealed to me through Christian Science...

A. C. Collard

The truth that has been revealed to me through Christian Science is the answer to a life-long prayer, an unutterable longing to know God. From the years of early childhood to womanhood, I was a source of great anxiety to my mother, because I could not accept her view of the Bible, or rather what she had been taught, for I do not think that deep down in her heart she believed the generally accepted teachings any more than I did. The evidence of sin, disease, and death, which was prevalent on every hand, saddened the whole of my young life, and I was in this wretched mental state, over three years ago, when husband, love, and home were swept from me in one blow, which seemed more than I could possibly bear. My health was broken, and there seemed nothing to live for; in fact, I was praying daily for death to come and end, as I thought, my suffering.

A position I had filled years before, as a traveling auditor, was again offered me at this time, but my physicians strongly advised me against taking it and frankly told me I would not live a month if I gave up medical treatments (three a week) and took up such work. I replied that if going would hasten my death, I would go at once; which I did. The first month of traveling seemed to benefit me, then the tide turned and I grew worse. The third month I was just on the point of sending in my resignation and going somewhere to die, when by chance, as it then seemed, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" fell into my hands. I took the book to my room, and though I had not been able to read at night, on account of my eyes, I was still reading the book at one o'clock in the morning. I could hardly get to my room quick enough at night after this, to read it again. My eyes had troubled me from childhood, and I had worn glasses for years, being told by a well-known specialist that I would never be able to go without them; but they did not trouble me then, and I now believe they were healed the first evening I read Science and Health, though I did not discard my glasses till some three weeks later. I have never had them on since then, and my eyes seem perfectly normal.

Two weeks later I was sent to a little New England city, and my first Sunday there I asked the lady with whom I was stopping if the Christian Science people had a church in that city, and she directed me to one two blocks away. I had visited churches of every denomination (except the Scientist) in the different cities I had been in, seeking for the spiritual light,—for even a crumb of comfort,—but I had found none. I had mingled in the crowd till the churches would be almost empty, and sorry I am to say it but it is true that I seldom got a handshake, though all could see that I was a mourner and in trouble. Not so, however, in this little Science church; one would have thought I was some long-lost friend, and the welcome brought tears of joy. My experience after this service was indescribable. My heart seemed fluttering within, as if it would burst its bonds and come out to the flood of sunshine that greeted me.

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