On page 150 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures,"...

On page 150 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," the textbook of Christian Science, Mrs. Eddy says: "To-day the healing power of Truth is widely demonstrated as an immanent, eternal Science, instead of a phenomenal exhibition. Its appearing is the coming anew of the gospel of 'on earth peace, good-will toward men.' This coming, as was promised by the Master, is for its establishment as a permanent dispensation among men; but the mission of Christian Science now, as in the time of its earlier demonstration, is not primarily one of physical healing." The truth of this statement that the mission of Christian Science is not primarily one of physical healing has been brought out many times in my experience as a student of its teachings. In fact, were the demonstration of its healing Principle confined or limited to the restoration of the sick it would be of little value in our family, where we enjoy perpetual good health; yet I know of no one who has had greater need of Christian Science or who has derived more benefit from it than have we.

It is not sufficient that we as students of Christian Science should be merely interested in Mrs. Eddy's discovery of Christian Science; we must discover Christian Science for ourselves if we would prove our faith by our works. The way of this individual progress is definitely outlined by Mrs. Eddy in the textbook (p. 495), where she says: "Study thoroughly the letter and imbibe the spirit. Adhere to the divine Principle of Christian Science and follow the behests of God, abiding steadfastly in wisdom, Truth, and Love." I have had many years of study and growth. For the first five years the way was rough with furrows plowed deep by many years of wrong thinking, of fear, ignorance, and superstition. Pride and self-will rebelled in the face of humility and selflessness, and a strong sense of injustice, with its accompanying beliefs of criticism because of the results of the teachings of false theology, had to be replaced by love and forgiveness. When I realized that the very experiences which had seemed so afflictive had been the means of opening the gates of heaven for me, where I found God and my true self, there was nothing to forgive. During those five years we had many physical healings in our family. I was healed instantaneously of heart trouble in its most severe form, also of varicose veins and of severe attacks of neuralgia, by reading Science and Health. Organic disease of long standing was slower to yield, but when I had grasped enough of the teachings of Christian Science to realize that my body was simply the canvas on which my thought was delineating pictures and that each discordant manifestation was nothing more or less than a discordant thought, I began earnestly to replace these unlovely thoughts with divine ideas, and gradually I became a well, strong woman, every whit whole. While I am very grateful indeed for these physical healings, I am more grateful for the practicability and availability of Christian Science in meeting and mastering the details of everyday experiences.

Over a year ago it became necessary for us to give up the house in which we were living and to buy a home. We had just thirty days in which to accomplish what seemed almost impossible of accomplishment, as our city was greatly congested at that time and prices were much inflated. Our savings of many years were invested in registered Liberty bonds and we were told by our lawyer that it would require considerable time and red tape to transfer them and that this could only be done at great financial loss. By this time I had learned the utter futility of mortal mind ways, so turned unreservedly to Christian Science to solve my problem, realizing that this was a call for higher proof of my understanding, and there was no fear or doubt of the outcome. My duties at that time as secretary of the joint literature distribution work in this field required most of my time and attention, so that I had little or no time to investigate houses or possible locations, and this never occurred to me as the proper method of procedure. My method of procedure was a mental one. I had a clear sense that man's home is in spiritual consciousness, in the secret place of the Most High. There was no fear, no sense of hurry, but a firm conviction that in just the right time and in just the right way God's law of adjustment would bring it to pass. My mental house established, several hours daily were devoted to making preparations for the change. Thus two weeks of my thirty days had gone by when our landlord called to see what progress we were making, and when he was told that no house had been found, he became much disturbed and said that we could not expect to find a house when we had not looked for one. To please him, I spent the next few days in visiting real estate offices, scanning newspapers, and answering advertisements, only to find myself up against a seemingly unsurmountable barrier. At no place could we obtain possession under thirty days, many houses were undesirable, apartments too small, and the prices beyond our ability to pay. More convinced than ever that Christian Science is the only way, I turned with greater confidence to divine Love for guidance and protection. Preparations for moving into our new home went on, vans were engaged, and when we were asked for the address of the house into which we were moving, we replied that it would be furnished when the vans arrived to move us. The telephone company was given the same assurance, and the landlord was told that he could issue the order releasing his furniture from storage as we were prepared to release the house at the appointed time. Just five days before our time limit word came to us over the telephone of an available house, and so sure were we upon investigation that this was our house that we did not take the time to look it over carefully and it was not until I was cleaning the house preparatory to moving in that I found many conveniences and comforts that I did not know were there. At first the price seemed beyond our reach, when it came to us to make a cash offer of considerably less. This was accepted within an hour, and the deal put through. It required just ten minutes to transfer our Liberty bonds and they were accepted at full value. The owner of this house found an apartment which met his need, and vacated within three days, so at the appointed time we were established in our new home, showing that what had blessed one had blessed all. Everything had been so orderly that a guest who visited us on the second day remarked that it looked as though we had lived here always.