Testimony of Healing August 9, 1913 Issue

About seventeen years ago I began the study of the Christian Science...

Lewis S. Townsend

About seventeen years ago I began the study of the Christian Science text-book, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mrs. Eddy. From the first the book seemed beautiful to me, almost too good to be true. At that time I had no thought of physical healing, indeed I must say I tried to find some fault with the teaching because I could not make it fit in with my old church doctrine; but by careful study of the text-book, together with the Bible and the Quarterly, and by putting into practise the little gained each day, I was able to prove for myself that Christian Science is the rule of scientific healing, both for sin and for sickness.

Through this teaching I have been able to overcome many discordant physical conditions in myself, as well as in others, but about three years ago I had a severe struggle. I got what in the Northwest is called a hay-needle, or wild barley, in my knee. At first I paid little attention to it; but in less than two days the knee became so painful and swollen that I could not walk. I asked my wife for help, and she did all she could, according to her understanding; but fear crept in and I grew worse. A Christian Science practitioner was called by telephone, but replied that she was very busy and could not come. She said, however, that she would do what she could for me. Later in the day she called up and recommended a practitioner in another city, and we agreed to the change. Let me say here that the hay-needle came out after one or two treatments by the first practitioner, but complications set in, and the entire leg became greatly swollen and inflamed. To outward appearances I was growing worse every day, and I became so helpless that they had to lift me on a sheet from one side of the bed to the other.

Some of our friends advised an operation, saying that I could not recover unless the leg had an opening. I was too weak to make much resistance, but I knew I did not want that, and my wife could not be persuaded to leave Christian Science and trust to material means. Thanks be to God, we did cling to Truth and the operation was performed without surgeon or knife. In the epistle to the Hebrews we read that "the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword." Then my friends said, if I ever walked again I would be a cripple; but thanks be to God, and to the faithful practitioner who so encouraged and helped us with words of cheer in the letters sent us, I was able to walk in about nine weeks, and a week or two later did not even use a cane. I had in all eleven weeks of absent treatment, and was able to go to work, which was farming at that time, two weeks after the treatment was discontinued. Soon after my recovery, my wife and I took class instruction from our faithful helper.

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