Testimony of Healing January 17, 1925 Issue

It was just six years ago that Christian Science was first...

JOHN WILLIAM FAIERS

It was just six years ago that Christian Science was first brought to my notice by a friend, who sent me the textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy. Up to that time I had never heard of this religion. On receiving the book I read part of it; but I completely failed to understand it, and thought I never should be able to comprehend it at all. This was, however, due to the deplorable state of thought I was in; for now I know that so-called mortal mind cannot possibly understand God as the only Mind and man as His spiritual idea or image, which Christian Science reveals to us.

For three years I glanced only occasionally at the textbook, although I always carried it in my pocket. At the end of that time I gradually awoke to the fact that many bad habits had left me quite unconsciously. I attributed this to Christian Science, and began to study more earnestly and regularly. Very slowly I experienced a great moral healing: the use of profanity slipped away; also a lot of evil thoughts; and the habits of smoking, drinking, and gambling were entirely overcome.

About three months ago I fell off my bicycle one day and injured my ankle. The suggestion came at once that I had broken it; but this I denied immediately, knowing that "accidents are unknown to God" (Science and Health, p. 424). For a minute I lay where I had fallen, repeating "the scientific statement of being," as found on page 468 of our textbook. Two men who came along helped me to my feet and asked if I needed their aid; but, thanking them, I replied that I would be all right, for I had overcome the pain. I mounted my machine, delivered the message which I had started out with, and returned home after notifying the works foreman of the so-called accident. On removing my boot I found my ankle and part of the leg very much swollen, and the foot seemed to be out of place; but I denied the evidence of the corporeal senses and turned more earnestly to the great Physician, in the manner explained by our beloved Leader. Even as I read Science and Health I felt a movement in my ankle, and all fear left me. I knew the bone had been set by divine Love. Owing to the rules of our business firm medical opinion had to be called for. Upon examination the doctor declared that I had a Pott's fracture, that the bone would have to be set after X-ray photographs had been taken, and that I would be kept in the hospital. When I heard this, fear crept in. I did not want to stay in the hospital, so I wrote a hasty note to a Christian Science practitioner requesting aid. This was most lovingly given, with the result that I was not detained, as the X-ray photographs proved that the bone had already been set perfectly. This seemed to puzzle the surgeons, and they said it was not so serious as they at first thought. A splint was put on my leg, and I continued to receive treatment from the practitioner. On the third day I took the splint off and walked about the room, but the ankle and leg were so much swollen and discolored that I could not banish the fear of deformity, so I rested my leg in the splint again until I could overcome the fear. What I required was more love for God, good, expressed in patience and in gratitude both for blessings already received and for the splendid opportunity this experience afforded to learn more of His love and mercy. According to the doctor's orders I was to keep my leg and foot in the splint for over three weeks and submit to massage for about six weeks, at the end of which time he said I would be able to put my foot to the ground and learn to walk again. But I put aside the splint, declined massage, and walked about in less than a fortnight. In six weeks I returned to work.

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Testimony of Healing

In 1902, an accident occurred which left me with spinal...