Testimony of Healing November 18, 1916 Issue

Ten years ago I was persuaded to visit a Christian Science...

James P. Eilenberger

Ten years ago I was persuaded to visit a Christian Science church one Sunday morning, and it was the grandest thing I ever did. I did not seem to understand or get much from the reading, although paying close attention, but there was something in the service that I had never experienced before in any other church,—a feeling of peace and harmony. After the service I promised my friend to attend the Wednesday evening meeting. At this meeting some remarkable testimonies of healing in Christian Science were given. It was all strange and wonderful to me. A gentleman to whom I was introduced gave me some literature and offered to lend me a copy of Science and Health, which was received two days later through the mail. I read the literature and studied the text-book.

At this time I was suffering from sleeplessness, and the least bit of noise would keep me awake; the ticking of a clock would so annoy me that I would have to get up and stop it, or put it out of the room. I had been studying Science and Health two weeks, when the thought came to me that if Christian Science was the truth I could be healed of this trouble. Under conditions which were not at all favorable, I therefore put into use my little understanding of Christian Science; that is, the understanding that God is Love and that God loved me. I did not sleep immediately and had to exercise some patience, but when my wife awoke me the next morning at six o'clock I found I had slept soundly the whole night and gotten the rest so much needed.

At work the next day the thought came to me, If Christian Science is the truth, then what? Fear seemed to take possession of me, for I saw the drink going and I loved my beer. Also, I would have to give up gambling, playing the races, smoking, and all the things which I thought made life worth living, so I began to fight for the things I thought I loved. I began to reason that to use them was only common sense and natural; but I remembered that Christian Science claims to be common sense. I thought of the book and of the author. Mrs. Eddy offered it as a "Key to the Scriptures," and I had to confess that to me it had been so, for it was the truth of the Bible which had healed me. That evening when I reached home I was honest with myself; I read and studied, and again found the rest so much desired. I was healed, and a short time afterward all desire for alcoholic drinks disappeared. I no longer felt the need of a sedative or a stimulant. I found what a poor substitute drink is for "the divine energies of Truth" (Science and Health, p. 186) that bring life more abundant in happiness, peace, and joy.

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