Testimony of Healing September 27, 1924 Issue

I did not come into Christian Science for physical healing

William E. Hewitson

I did not come into Christian Science for physical healing. I knew nothing of its teachings, though I had once heard of a person who when ill was restored to health through her understanding of this religion. At that time I was young and uninterested in religious matters, so did not give it any consideration. In my early childhood I was taught to love and respect God, though what God was, where He was, and what His true nature might be always seemed vague and uncertain. I was taught that He was a God of love; and yet, if I failed to live according to His law, as written in the Bible, He was capable of inflicting upon me terrible punishment that would be eternal! I could never be satisfied with this kind of religion, so gave up trying to understand that which seemed to me so unreasonable.

A few years ago I was traveling in the Central States with a theatrical company, connected with which was a young lady who seemed possessed of such wonderful poise that every one remarked about it. Some of the members would ridicule her, saying that she was one of those "silly Christian Scientists." This did not disturb her; and she was never unready to help any one who came to her, even those who seemed most unkind. One day she was invited to take a trip in an ice boat on a near-by lake, and while the boat was going at a very high rate of speed she was thrown by the capsizing of the boat, and sustained some very severe bruises. It was thought it would be best to call a physician, but she refused this help, merely asking that she be left alone. That night she went through her work without any difficulty, and she suffered no pain whatever.

To me this was a revelation. I was interested; I wanted to know what this was that was so practical for one's everyday need. One day I saw on this lady's table a little book, whose title was interesting,—"Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy. What a wonderful thought! I read for about an hour; but, not wishing to be caught, I put it down, only to return to it time and time again. One day its meaning was explained to me in such a way I could not fail to understand. I studied and learned the "scientific statement of being," as given in this texbook (p. 468); also the Lord's Prayer and its spiritual interpretation (pp. 16, 17), and gained much happiness from their study. I left that organization to go to Canada, and there I purchased a copy of this wonderful book and began to study in earnest. Three weeks later I found myself healed of the cigarette habit; all desire for intoxicants had left me; and a very obstinate case of constipation, for which I had taken all kinds of medicine was completely healed. Since that time I have overcome colds which seemed to come with the change of the seasons. I have had only one recurrence of this trouble, and was healed in a very short time. A carbuncle, considered by physicians most painful, through the study of the textbook and with the help of a loving practitioner was healed, and I suffered no inconvenience whatever. For all these and many other blessings I am deeply grateful; truly am I learning that "man is not material; he is spiritual" (Science and Health, p. 468).

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