Testimony of Healing February 17, 1917 Issue

In August, 1861, I enlisted in the Federal army for the...

Marshall P. Thatcher

In August, 1861, I enlisted in the Federal army for the civil war, and served about four years, many times suffering from lung and stomach troubles brought on by the exposure in all kinds of weather to which a cavalryman must submit if he would do his full duty. A physical weakness followed, and surgeons gave medicines to ward off malaria and other ailments, but at the close of the war they told me that whisky and quinine were the only medicines they could recommend to prolong my days on earth. Thus a habit was formed that apparently nothing could shake off, and attacks of illness came so often as almost to discourage me.

After enduring this condition for about forty years Christian Science was brought to my notice, and in 1903 a paragraph in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mrs. Eddy caught my attention. I read the book until late that night, and then slept as I had not done for months. Up to that time rheumatism had followed other weaknesses until I was almost a cripple, but in a few days my knee and shoulder joints were as supple as in youth. Before Science and Health was read through, all my physical weaknesses had been forgotten and I became happy in the thought that I was no longer the slave of tobacco or strong drink.

Since coming into Science I have had many proofs of God's love and ever-presence, for hardly a day has passed that has not brought a blessing in some form. On one occasion I stepped on a nail and it went nearly through my foot. It was hard to pull the nail out, but by the next morning I could scarcely find the place where it had pierced the flesh and there was no soreness or swelling. Though the nail was rusty I had no fear of the result.

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