Testimony of Healing December 7, 1918 Issue

For the past five years Christian Science has been my...

Nettie P. Young

For the past five years Christian Science has been my rock of refuge. For about twenty years, however, I have known of it, and cared more and less for its teachings because of my associations with various friends in Science. In the course of that time a day came when I saw that to gain the happiness I so intensely craved, I had to yield my material idols; I had to choose between Spirit and physical sense. Then I realized that "there is but one real attraction, that of Spirit" (Science and Health, p. 102), and that in turning away from the seemingly attractive claims of matter lay my salvation; so I made my decision for Christian Science.

I bought a copy of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mrs. Eddy, and plunged into its study; but like many other young students my intensity soon brought me to grief. My "zeal of God" was "not according to knowledge." I thought all my friends had immediately to see the new and better way, and that it was my special province to convert them, and I talked what I thought was Christian Science promiscuously. The result was, as a friend has since aptly expressed it, that in trying to push others into Christian Science I pushed myself out. I began to give up my study and the church services for dinners, Sunday automobiling, theaters, dances, under the mistaken impression that I was being kind and unselfish to the other persons.

One Sunday, while on some rocks by the sea, picnicking, the crushing thought struck me that I had lost my mind. Weeks of dire confusion followed. To make a long story short, I was given Christian Science treatment and was taken abroad, and slowly but steadily regained mental and physical strength. On thinking over my experience I saw the significance of the metaphysical interpretation of "Rock" as "spiritual foundation; Truth," as given on page 593 of Science and Health. A humbling of self and a healing followed my seeing our church stand impregnable,—seeing it stand without my support. And so I builded anew on a firmer foundation, and came back to Christian Science stronger than ever in my allegiance, and am, I trust, impervious now to all temptations to miss the church services.

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