When in 1903 I first heard of Christian Science, I was...

R. Renaut

When in 1903 I first heard of Christian Science, I was very much dejected, owing to troubles of all kinds which had come upon my family and which reacted rather severely upon me. As I did not have the material means to allay their suffering, it distressed me greatly to witness it. I had prayed to God fervently, but my prayers had not been answered, and as a result I lapsed into discouragement and lost all faith in God.

I had a sister who had long been stricken with paralysis, and a few years before had entirely lost her speech. Later on she had also become afficted with nervous attacks of a most serious nature, which made it necessary to have her constantly watched. Some time before this two ladies who practised Christian Science had rented rooms in the house where my sister lived, and one of them became interested in her and gave her treatment. I knew nothing of the method used by this lady, and my sister was incapable of explaining it to me, but I did perceive that she was being benefited mentally. I however thought it was useless for me to try to make the acquaintance of this lady, since everything had failed me in my need.

One day in destroying some old letters I came upon a telegram from my brother-in-law, begging me to come and care for his wife, who had just had a very severe attack,—that was the way I used to be informed every time that calamity came upon us. This telegram was eighteen months old and was the last of its kind. The sight of the telegram reminded me that since then my sister had not had such an attack, as she had been healed after the first few treatments in Christian Science. A light dawned upon me instantly, and I hastened to the practitioner to ask her what means she had employed in curing my sister of one of the most terrible of diseases. She declared herself ready to give the desired explanation, but I so averse to hearing about God, and the words Christian Science were so novel to me, that I absolutely failed to understand her explanations and did not give them the attention which they deserved. Though ignorant of the marvelous power of Truth, nevertheless I soon had occasion to experience it.

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