Testimony of Healing February 12, 1921 Issue

Gratitude prompts me to tell others some of my experiences...

Rose Morris

Gratitude prompts me to tell others some of my experiences along the way which leads from the belief in matter to the realization of Spirit. When first coming to Christian Science in 1914, I was not suffering from any so-called physical disease, for the suffering was entirely mental, accompanied by a nervous breakdown, which had for the previous five years grown steadily worse, so that I feared my reason would give way under the strain.

For nearly two years I was a patient of a well-known nerve specialist. I shall always feel grateful to this physician as he was thoroghly honest with me, and endeavored to direct my thought toward spiritual realities, which at the time I thought unusual in the practice of medicine. Several times he told me that in my case medicine was of no use, and that he could not help me, unless I could help myself, also that I must always be hopeful. I told him that I would be glad to help myself, but I could not as my will power had gone, and I had nothing left to hope for; I wished only to be saved from myself, and from final collapse. On another occasion he asked if I ever considered the fact that I had a spiritual self, as well as a physical body. I did not see any meaning in his question, unless it was to prepare me for final disaster, but now I see that he was trying to save me from despair by spiritual means quite outside the limits of his orthodox profession of medicine. I told him that I often went to church but rarely sat through the whole service, as church seemed only to add to my depression. He insisted that going to church was not what he meant. At this point in our conversation I seemed to remember hearing something about a religion which healed, and I asked him if he knew anything about Christian Science. He said he knew there was such a religion, and that it had done some good work for people with diseased nerves.

I mention these converstation in the specialist's consulting room only to show how one of the prominent doctors of the day, when faced with disease which he knew would not yield to medicine, turned deliberately to Spirit for his patient's aid. I remembered his statement concerning Christian Science, and when, some months later, I seemed absolutely engulfed in mental depression and my physical strength was giving way so that I felt I had at last come to the end of human endurance, this remark of his forced me into action. I felt too desperate and ill to consult him again, believing myself to be past human aid, but I knew that I must have some relief immediately. In great mental anguish I telephoned to a Christian Science practitioner whose name I had heard mentioned in connection with Christian Science, and fearfully made an appointment for the same day. Accompanied by my mother—I was too ill to go alone—I visited his office. I hardly know what happened that first visit; I was past knowing or caring about anything, but I came away with a peace of mind I had never known before, and a strong determination to fight this mental trouble, with all its bitterness, loneliness, disappointment, and depression, and to overcome it. It was a revelation to find that I did not have to use will power at all, but that human will had to surrender to the divine Mind.

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