Testimony of Healing November 3, 1923 Issue

In my youth I heard a great deal of ridicule of Christian Science,...

Samuel N. Ball

In my youth I heard a great deal of ridicule of Christian Science, and, after I was of age, a great deal of abuse of Mrs. Eddy. This, with the reading of a criticism of Christian Science and of Mrs. Eddy, formed the basis of my concept of Christian Science. One day I picked up a book in a public library, "The Life of Mary Baker Eddy" by Sibyl Wilbur. After much hesitation, I read the book, which interested me very much.

A year later, the complete mental, physical, and moral regeneration of a friend, through Christian Science, made a very deep impression on me. He talked to me of Christian Science, and I received many blessings from the talk; but my prejudice prevented my receiving more. At this time, I was so ashamed to let people know I was interested in Christian Science, from fear of being thought queer, that I went at night to get some literature from a free distribution rack. In a short time I dropped Christian Science; but a year later conditions became so discordant that I started again to read this same literature, which I had put away on a shelf. My hatred of Mrs. Eddy had become so great that when her name was mentioned I would throw the periodical across the room; but I always picked it up again and continued reading. In time this hatred was destroyed by divine Love; and love and gratitude took its place. A friend gave me a cup of cold water by explaining away many of my false concepts of Christian Science.

I could not see how matter could be unreal, as Christian Science teaches. One day I determined to settle this problem once and for all, however long it took me. No problem was ever so interesting to me as this one. How long I worked on it, I do not know; but I thought of little else, and would sometimes stay awake at night working on it. One day I awoke with a great peace of mind, something previously unknown to me. It seemed as if all the unhappiness I had ever known was gone. While I was walking down the street, it came to me, like a flash, that the great problem was solved. But how? Then I realized I had caught a glimpse beyond the unreality, matter, to the reality of spiritual existence. This was the "falling apple" for me. In a few days I purchased a Bible and a copy of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy, and started to study them. The next Sunday I went to a Church of Christ, Scientist, to learn more of the truth. My journey since has been through many wildernesses.

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