Testimony of Healing November 29, 1919 Issue

I have lately felt an increased sense of gratitude toward...

Catherine Brooks

I have lately felt an increased sense of gratitude toward all those who have helped me in Christian Science. My first experience came more than seven years ago, when a gentleman, then past eighty years of age, presented me with a copy of Science and Health. I knew nothing whatever of this beautiful religion at that time, but gladly accepted the book and listened eagerly to his explanations. From the first I gave all my spare time to reading Science and Health, and it seemed the most beautiful book I had ever read. While for a long time I did not understand it very well, still it immediately had an uplifting effect and I wanted to know more and more of what as yet seemed afar off.

A year later, while in southern Illinois, I was thrown from a horse, landing on my back. I seemed to be severely injured and for several days could not get up or lie down without assistance, and suffered much pain whenever I moved. I decided to return to St. Louis to see a city physician, as the doctor in that little town did not give any relief. In the meantime, however, I had written to a friend, a Christian Science practitioner, telling her of the accident, and the night before I expected to leave for St. Louis I received a letter from her telling me not to worry but to read Science and Health and she would work for me. I sat up reading until ten o'clock, when I was helped into bed. I soon fell asleep, and when I awakened in the morning turned over, stretched myself, then suddenly remembered I had not been able to do that since my fall; in fact, I had not been able to turn at all after lying down. To make sure I turned again, and found I was free from pain and could move about as I wished. Except for a slight soreness, which left in a short time, there was no further effect from the fall. This was a perfect healing; it was practically instantaneous, and I know the quick relief was due entirely to Christian Science.

Even then I did not turn to Christian Science wholly. I still read the literature all my spare time, loved it, and recommended it, but was sick a good deal and took a good deal of medicine. Finally, I became acquainted with another practitioner, who urged me to attend church and to make practical use of what I read and loved. This friend helped me many times and gave me a better working knowledge of Christian Science. I did begin to attend church regularly and from that time have depended entirely upon the truth under all circumstances. I have had the great privilege of class instruction, which was the most beautiful demonstration of them all, and have no other desire than to grow in the knowledge and understanding of God. I know that without Christian Science I could never have gone through experiences which brought great unhappiness, but which are being obliterated from thought through the growing understanding of the unreality of material things and a fuller realization of the all-power and all-presence of God. The wonderful spiritual uplift which came to me, and which stayed with me for several months after having class instruction, the joy and peace and freedom that I felt, were to me a foretaste of heaven, and are certainly worth striving for.—(Mrs.) Catherine Brooks, St. Louis, Mo.

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