Testimony of Healing December 6, 1919 Issue

It is now about eleven years since I first had the privilege...

D. Demas with contributions from NATALIE E. ZILLER

It is now about eleven years since I first had the privilege of hearing about Christian Science from a friend. It was not for relief from any disease that I accepted its regenerating teachings, but rather from a tendency to search for the truth. Since then I have had only occasions for gratitude for the reforming, healing, regenerating, saving influence of this blessed teaching, which opens our eyes that they may see, and our ears that they may hear, the "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."

Being at that time a student of the school of fine arts I was acquainted with all the so-called artistic ways of living —stupid exaggerations of all kinds, love of amusements, tobacco, et cetera, believed to be indispensable to art students and to inspiration. Although not in great sympathy with all those things, I was gradually released entirely from their hold through the understanding I then had of Christian Science. I undertook seriously to learn English in order that I might independently study for myself our textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," and the other writings of our revered Leader, Mrs. Eddy, as well as the Christian Science periodicals. Thanks be to God I have now for years been able satisfactorily to do that.

I was a hard smoker for five years, but when I heard that it was not in accord with Christian Science I tried to give it up, but without knowing quite why. So I succeeded in doing away with it entirely for a period, but afterwards fell again into the temptation of believing that if I had lessened it every day it would have been enough, and that it would be impossible to do away with it at once and forever. I was under the mesmerism that a temperate or even a very small use of it could not harm, so I arrived at the conclusion that all that I could do would be to reduce the use of tobacco. So I did, but alas for the subtle nature of evil, I never succeeded in standing by even the standard of reduction I had accepted. So it was, until I understood at last—nearly three years ago—that "evil cannot be usedtemperately: its slightest use is abuse" (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 289). I have been healed also of periodical nervous headaches which I had from a very early time in my life, and of many lesser troubles and difficulties.

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