The
memory of my first visit to The Mother Church lingers in thought as a beautiful and healing experience, and its afterglow has been as gentle and radiant as the evening light.
Not
alone from stars and birds and flowers, but also from the rough clangor and hard glare of daily life, does the alert Christian Scientist gather the lessons that make it possible to apply his understanding of Principle to every problem.
When
Jesus the Christ, discoursing with his disciples on the deep things of God, said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me," he referred not to his human selfhood, but to the divinity of the Christ; to his true relationship to God.
The
transforming power of divine Truth, made known through Christian Science, is soon evidenced in the great change which takes place in our lives when we have earnestly and with sincerity taken up the study of this Science.
In
these days when there seems to be such a great shortage in the world's food supply, it is instructive to review Bible history and see how in times past those who were willing to obey and trust God had their needs met on different occasions.
Jesus of Nazareth, preaching, in the First Century, to the shepherds and fishermen, to the laborers and artisans, of Galilee and Judaea, spoke to them with a marvelous simplicity which revealed the deep things of God in a way which they, equally with the cultivated Pharisee and the scribe, the Sadducee and the physician, were able to comprehend.
In an item which recently appeared in the Telegram, after stating that The First Church of Christ, Scientist, of Boston, had announced an expenditure of $500,000 for the relief of war sufferers, wonder was expressed how Christian Science can justify the pains and sufferings that now exist, since it teaches that illness is a mental evil.
On Sunday, February 17, 1918, there took place on one of the battleships stationed at Boston Navy Yard, Charles-town, Massachusetts, the first official Christian Science service to be held in the United States Navy.
It
is not possible to study the gospels without noting the emphasis laid by Christ Jesus upon the instructions given to his twelve disciples at the time when they were nominated by him for the service of God and humanity.
I would like to give my testimony through the Sentinel in gratitude to God for all His goodness and for the many blessings which I have received since taking up the study of Christian Science.
Although I knew for years of the many wonderful healings through Christian Science in my parents' and sisters' homes, I would have nothing to do with it.
My heart is overflowing with love and gratitude for Christian Science, and I send my testimony in the hope that it may bring help and courage to others.
In studying the Lesson-Sermon one day I came to the account of the healing of the blind man, and Jesus' reply to the question of his disciples held my attention.
When I realize the change in my condition during the past six years, I want to exclaim, as did the man born blind whom Jesus healed, "Why herein is a marvellous thing.
I thought when I had my healing in Christian Science nine months ago that I would write my testimony right away, but it never has seemed the right time until now.
William T. Giles
with contributions from Owen C. Giles
Personally, I did not seek Christian Science for healing; but through the understanding that comes with its study I have been many times healed, and in almost every case instantaneously.
In August, 1915, I experienced a second attack of nervous breakdown, and was given very little hope by the physicians that I would ever be strong again.
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