About sixteen years ago, after a search of several years for a satisfactory explanation of life and a way of solving its apparently many inharmonious conditions, I had become confronted with problems which I knew would require more than human means to solve. Periods of mental depression from which I had been suffering for some time were becoming more intense and more frequent, a growing habit in the use of alcohol filled me with dread of the future, and astigmatism and indigestion had become troublesome fetters, although the latter seemed insignificant when compared with the mental problems, as I found later that the physical discord was but the effect of the mental state.

Many genuine attempts had been made to obtain the needed help from religious denominations, but with no lasting benefit. Specialists in materia medica were tried, and also various philosophies which seemed promising, but nothing was found sufficiently substantial with which to meet the conditions in their persistent expression of discord. One evening, when it seemed as though the entire brood of human fears and passions had passed my power of resistance, I suddenly came face to face with the terrible conviction that everything worth trying had been tried and had failed.

That "man's extremity is God's opportunity" was again demonstrated, for as a last resort I turned to God in prayer. Thinking that I had no faith in God, prayer at first seemed very difficult, but gradually it came clearly to me that good is power and that if I could become conscious of enough good, it would outweigh the evil tendencies; that I must desire good and persist in the desire. Then came to me an indefinite but comforting hope that there was a form of good applicable to my case and that if I earnestly desired and sought for it, I would find it.

Several days later, having decided to visit a near-by city, with the hope of finding employment, I met a Christian Science practitioner at the railway station. The instant I saw her coming toward the station, I associated her expression with this new hope which I had been striving to entertain; and a few moments later, during a conversation on the train, the healing truth of Christian Science had dawned upon me. Vital questions were answered with such wisdom and love that the dark illusions of mortal bondage began at once to pass out of my thought, and by the time we had reached our destination there was nothing left for me to doubt as to the absolute truth of the statements made, and nothing comparable with the wonder of them. Mental depression and the desire for alcohol and tobacco were instantly and completely healed, when it was revealed to me that the only Mind is good, that evil is not Mind, and that man is really the image and likeness of God, good. A few days later the right position came to me, glasses were dispensed with, stomach trouble was healed, and a wholesome, progressive activity established.

Since that time, Christian Science has been my daily help and guide and though long periods of earnest striving have been required for the overcoming of some of the subtler phases of error, and at times stern lessons had to be learned from the failure to follow the leadings of Principle, still I am finding all experiences in the light of spiritual understanding to be steadily leading me on to higher demonstrations of the omnipresence of divine Love, to greater helpfulness, happiness, and harmony.

I thank God for the blessings that have come to the world through the teachings of Christ Jesus, and for the life work of our revered Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, through whose inspiration, obedience, and unselfed love, has come the revelation of the Christ, Truth, in Christian Science.

J. Donald Hinds, New York, New York.