Article April 17, 1915 Issue

By Its Fruits

ELDO STEDFELD

When beginning the study of Christian Science, I was confronted with the fear that this religion might not be right, might not emanate from a good source. I was, however, greatly attracted to its teachings, and kept on trying to comprehend them in spite of this latent fear. After I had been studying for some time, the realization gradually came to me that many changes had taken place in my thought. I became conscious of the fact that certain old and intense dislikes which had long held me in bondage, were no longer influencing me, and that I was beginning to see good where I had believed only evil existed. I realized that a great deal of fear was fading from my consciousness; and this was especially noticeable in relation to my family. As the mother of small children, I had now a means of working out the innumerable problems and anxieties that came to me, a means that I had not possessed before.

My concept of God had also greatly changed. God seemed nearer; I was more conscious of His presence and never-changing love than I should once have believed possible. Then, too, I was beginning to care for the Bible. All my life the Scriptures had seemed contradictory and unauthoritative to me. The seeming contradictions and incongruities were, however, reconciled to my thought by the truth which the study of Christian Science invariably brings forth,—that the Bible is to be spiritually understood and interpreted,—and I found that it is the spiritual interpretation which is logical and satisfying and helpful.

In this way there gradually grew up a great confidence and joy in my heart; a confidence that if, as Jesus has said, "a good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit," then that which had brought about the changes of thought I have mentioned, and many more not mentioned, but all of which made for the good, must itself be good. So I was no longer afraid to study Christian Science, no longer afraid that it could have any but a good source or any but good and pure and uplifting effects.

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