Testimony of Healing March 1, 1913 Issue

It is just a year ago that a fellow sufferer who had been...

J. A. Stephens

It is just a year ago that a fellow sufferer who had been restored to health by the teachings of Christian Science advised me to go to a Christian Science practitioner and be healed. For twenty-five years I had battled for life against the belief in a torpid liver, nervous and stomach trouble, continuous headaches, and sleeplessness. I spent thousands of dollars for the services of physicians and medicines, and only employed the most honorable and capable men in the profession. It is likely that had it not been for their skill I would have died long ago; but though they gave me temporary relief, they did not cure me. Twenty-five years ago I quit the practise of my profession, the law, traveled for two years, and returned to San Francisco more helpless than when I left. I took the "rest-cure," lived on milk for two years, was in practise again, but always troubled as above stated. I took enough of one drug prescribed for headaches to kill an ordinary man, and tried every other drug in vain; but not until I had been treated by a Christian Science practitioner for a month did I obtain relief.

Today I am in perfect health, eating anything and everything I wish, with never an ache or a pain. Those who have known me for years marvel at my recovery; some who do not know me so well, think I imagined I was sick, and that if I had exercised will-power I could have cured myself. To such as believe that disease can be cured by will-power emanating from mortal mind, I have only to say that the physicians who attended me claimed that it was will-power which had saved my life and given me strength to conduct my business. I went into the world to earn my own living at the age of nine years, and no one ever gave me a dollar unless I worked for it. Will-power kept me from letting my friends or those whom I loved know what I suffered, but will-power could not and did not cure me. I think it proper and useful to say that I have never used tobacco, and I have led a temperate and simple life. I read the Bible and loved God and had faith in divine power, but I now know that I never understood the teachings of Christ Jesus until I studied the Scriptures, aided by the interpretation given in Science and Health by Mrs. Eddy. May God direct every man and woman in our beloved land to learn from these two books, not only to live a godly life, but to live a life of happiness and comfort, free from pain, and absolutely fearless of sickness or death.

In conclusion I would advise any one who is unfamiliar with the writings of Mrs. Eddy, and is suffering from bodily ailments and seemingly unable to help himself, to go to a practitioner. Six years ago I was advised to study the Science and was given the text-book to read. I read several chapters, and came to the conclusion that I could not reap any benefit from it, so I gave it up. I now feel that by my failure to seek the needed help at this time I lost five years' time, which had I been a well man would have been the most valuable period of my life to myself, to those I love, and to my city. I send this testimony in deepest gratitude.—J. A. Stephens, San Francisco, Cal.

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Testimony of Healing

At the age of ten I began to be ill, and I suffered for...