Testimony of Healing May 11, 1918 Issue

Looking back to my earliest childhood, I cannot remember...

Frank P. Parker, Jr.

Looking back to my earliest childhood, I cannot remember when I was not extremely nervous. I was always well, very strong, and unusually active, but could never relax. In June, 1898, I took my examinations for Harvard University, and failed absolutely. I was then put in charge of three tutors, and worked day and night, with the result that the following September I passed in every subject offered. A nervous breakdown followed, and our family physician told my mother that the chances were against me. I was sent to Marblehead, Massachusetts, and in two weeks was at college and at my studies. I did the four years' work in three, the fourth year taking a course at a commercial college in Boston. After graduation I came to New York and started to work in a large concern at the very bottom of the ladder. I seemed tireless, but there was no relaxation.

In June, 1908, I married and came to Montclair, New Jersey, to live, assumed large financial burdens, and worked twice as hard as before. All went well until January 1, 1910, when, while at lunch, a most awful feeling came over me; it seemed like a mental collapse. When finally the doctor came, he told me that my hard work was over, and later said that as I had a family, I ought to be informed that the arteries were hardening and my heart was badly affected. The next five years were a nightmare. I had mapped out my work, and could not give up—the thought of quitting at thirty, a failure, was intolerable. I must provide for my family, so I hung on by will power. Sometimes I had to be helped home, and I always carried the strongest medicines and observed a most rigid diet. One night I had convulsions, and it seemed that the end had surely come; but in a day or two I was back at work again. Finally, in the fall of 1915, it seemed that the end had come indeed, and death seemed preferable to the condition in which I was living.

It was while in this condition that I wandered into a Christian Science reading room, and asked the lady in charge if there was help for anyone as badly off as I was. A few years previous my mother had given me a copy of Science and Health and its teaching had impressed me strongly, but I was not ready for it, so had loaned the book to a relative. This librarian most kindly directed me to a practitioner. My need being great and urgent, I went to her directly from the reading room. Health and strength came with my understanding of the truth of being. My nerves relaxed for the first time in my life, slowly at first, and there were some setbacks; but the work was lovingly and patiently carried on, and a perfect healing has been brought about. I am, and have been for over two years, perfectly well.

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