Article April 12, 1913 Issue

BEARING TESTIMONY

H. COULSON FAIRCHILD.

Observing , as we often do, how willing Christian Scientists are to bear testimony to the healing power of Truth outside of the regular Wednesday evening meetings, we sometimes marvel that there should be any hesitancy on the part of those benefited to testify at these meetings. In the Preface to Science and Health our Leader has written that in her early expression of Christian Science "she 'lisped in numbers, for the numbers came.'" (p. ix). This would indicate that the desire to express the truth is a prayer which is invariably answered. If we know that the word of Truth is expressed through us, we need not fear that we shall say something unscientific. Humanly speaking, the best testimonies for Christian Science are those where the individuals bearing testimony have actually experienced the healing and reforming power of Christian Science. It is not considered wise to give hearsay testimonies; and they are certainly not so convincing as direct testimony.

To accomplish the best results our testimonies should unmistakably express the idea of the allness and omnipresence of God, good, and the nothingness an unreality of evil. To do this we should avoid, so far as possible, a long recital of the details of discordant experiences, and briefly state the case, name the disease which has been destroyed if need be, and indicate how quickly and wholly we were healed by Christian Science treatment, always remembering to state the facts conservatively. If we have not experienced a quick demonstration, we must be careful, in speaking of the slower cases of healing, not to leave our hearers with the wrong impression; for instance, to say that we applied Christian Science treatment faithfully and without result, "seemingly growing worse," is not calculated to encourage the listener, who may not know that our condition was due to "chemicalization," a term they probably do not understand. If the demonstration has been prolonged, we should take care to convey the idea that progress is the law which continually governs it.

Another point to guard against in there meetings is the use of such terms as "belief," "claim," "to sense," "worked a long time," etc. Instead of using the term "worked," or any other expression with which the public is not familiar, it would perhaps be better to say that we "prayed for the patient, as we are taught to do in Christian Science," or words to that effect. Neither is it wise to bear testimony to unusual and extraordinary experiences. Testimonies as to the finding of lost articles may be strictly scientific, but they must be very carefully given or they are apt to be misunderstood. The only premise upon which success in business can be achieved is the Scriptural one, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness." A business demonstration cannot scientifically be such unless we are about our "Father's business," in other words, rendering a true service to the community; and it would seem that business demonstrations must be made on that basis, else they are not the subject of Christian Science testimony. Certainly we should not endeavor to teach Christian Science by means of our testimonies or by reason of our remarks on Christian Science in these meetings.

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