In the spring of 1911, while employed in one of the...

Charles Meyer

In the spring of 1911, while employed in one of the San Francisco Bay cities, I fell a victim to quick consumption, as it was diagnosed by the physicians. Upon the doctor's advice we sold our little home, and my wife and I moved near a small mining town in the Sierra Nevadas. At first my condition seemed to improve: I gained in weight, and was able to enjoy long walks in the mountains; but after a few weeks the symptoms returned in a more severe form; and at the end of three months I had been reduced from a robust man weighing one hundred and sixty pounds to less than one hundred pounds. At this time the attending physician announced that I could not live longer than ten days, as the stethoscope recorded that one lung was completely gone, and only a small portion of the other was functioning.

Our attention had been called to Christian Science, and literature on the subject had been given us, but I seemed unable to grasp it. A friend, upon being told of the doctor's verdict, lent us a copy of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy, with the information that she knew of several cases like mine having been healed through the reading of this book. After some struggling with mortal mind objections, such as that this was unreasonable, inconsistent, nonsensical, impossible, and the like, the mist lifted sufficiently for me to grasp the thought that the book was explaining to me how the same power which healed leprosy in Jesus' time heals tuberculosis in our time. With this realization came the turning point; and within a few days I was able to walk out of the house, where I had been in bed for over four weeks. Shortly afterwards I was able to resume the position I had filled before this experience.

It will be helpful that I here give a reason of the hope that is in me "with meekness and fear." My wife and I, being somewhat isolated in the mountains, had no one to assist us in our seeking for Truth, and some of our ideas were immature. A few evenings after the light of Christian Science had first dawned on my consciousness I experienced severe pains in the stomach, a condition that had before presented itself frequently. For this I had a material remedy always within reach; and I was about to use it when it occurred to me that I could use this opportunity to prove further that Christian Science heals; which I did. Two passages in Science and Health had held my particular attention, and I had memorized them. The following night error repeated itself in a fit of coughing and extreme nervousness, bringing about sleeplessness. For this I also had a ready material remedy; but again using the circumstance as an opportunity for another proof, I followed the same process as on the previous night, and with the same result.

The next morning found me very grateful for the good received. We destroyed all the material remedies and appliances we had on hand; we dismissed the doctor, after thanking him for his kind, untiring efforts; and I was sitting on the porch studying the Lesson-Sermon and enjoying my pipe. Presently the inconsistency of the picture appealed to me in this manner: Would you speak to a superior whom you respect and love with a pipe in your mouth? Would you blow the smoke in his face? I laid away the pipe; and after a day all desire for it had left,—this, after I had on several former occasions tried almost every known material way to rid myself of the habit without lasting success.

Since that time my wife and I have relied implicitly on divine Love; and it has met—and by that we know it will in future meet—all our needs. Many physical and moral healings have been experienced through the application of that truth which makes us free indeed. The unpleasant effects of quick temper, and its consequent, an evil tongue, have been nearly eliminated. That gnawing, nagging feeling of financial lack has been overcome. While I have not yet fully apprehended, I press forward, always grateful for the many good things that are provided to assist us on our journey from sense to Soul: for our periodicals; for the lectures; for the verbal and written testimonies; for the Lesson-Sermons; for class instruction; for the activities in a branch church, generally, and in the Sunday school; and for all the loving counsel of true workers.

That Science and Health was written by our beloved Leader under inspiration of God is, to me, patent from the fact that it has inspired me, as it has so many others, with life more abundant, joy more secure, love more unselfish, and hope unconfined. My great desire is that my daily life and all my works may be such as attest my grateful, loving tribute to that angel messenger whose writings truly interpret the Christ, as the Son of God, and show Jesus to be our brother, our example, our Way-shower, and whose sublime, incontrovertible logic does indeed leave no reasonable doubt that God is Love.

Charles Meyer, Everett, Wash.

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