Many times I have turned to the testimonies published...

Edmund Hogg

Many times I have turned to the testimonies published in our periodicals for help and inspiration, and never without increased joy and thankfulness. It is therefore my desire, and my duty also, to bear witness in like manner.

I knew of Christian Science and Christian Scientists for many years without being actively interested in this religion. There came a time, however, when I was being driven away from a cricket match by anxious friends, with the symptoms of serious food poisoning upon me. I had endured these same symptoms in a lesser degree once before, when I had been ill for three weeks. Now they were tenfold in their seeming potency. The anxiety of my friends increased my own fear, and the possibility of death suggested itself. While I was in this condition, the words "Christian Science" came into consciousness; and the thought uppermost was, How do Christian Scientists deal with a situation like this? The answer immediately came: They get rid of fear. Again the inner query: And how are they able to do that? Because they believe that God is omnipotent, the mental answer came. Then a swift realization followed, that the issue was God omnipotent or no God! And in that moment I rejoiced in the truth of the omnipotence of almighty God, our heavenly Father; and the fear left me. This caused me to be instantaneously healed.

A little while afterwards the friend who was sitting next the driver of the car turned around, saying, "You look a great deal better." It was five miles to the station, and the proof that I was all right was given when my relieved friends cheerfully left me alone, although no train was due for some time. This healing I recognized as spiritual; and in my heart I gave God the praise, though outwardly I did not acknowledge my debt to Christian Science, but went on satisfied as a member of another church. I continued like this for six years, until the outbreak of the World War in 1914. Then I saw that my nebulous ideas of Christianity were of little practical value to lean upon in time of trouble.

This failure was brought to light later in speaking with my minister, who was also a good friend, when it became clear that his ruling belief was that the war was in some inscrutable way bound up with the will of God, which we did not need to question. This view was entirely repugnant to my newer understanding of God. All this occurred after I had joined the ranks, during the first month of the war. I then knew that the issue must be focused, as in the previous healing. If God were the only power and evil not a power, which according to Christian Science I had before proved, then Christianity must be the only Science, available in every situation. I quickly saw there was no hope outside of this teaching; and I determined to prove it. My one desire was to find scientific Christianity. This desire was satisfied in every way, and each succeeding step was a proof of the truth of Christian Science.

During the years of the war, as every human prop was discarded or knocked away, I came into a progressive understanding of God as divine Principle, and recognized in Christian Science the coming of the Comforter promised by Christ Jesus. I praise God, who brought me face to face with the revelation of Christian Science and made me see therein the final significance of the words and works of the Saviour of men. The life and acts of the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, Mrs. Eddy, in establishing the Christian Science church for all time on the spiritual rock—Christ, Truth—fill me with ceaseless gratitude and affection. While on service I was able to serve and satisfy my superiors; and advancement, eventually to field rank, came. During all this time the truth of the Master's saying, "If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death," was literally proved to me.

Edmund Hogg, Hampstead, London, England.

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