Although professing to be a Christian and striving to be...

William E. Mackenroth

Although professing to be a Christian and striving to be kind and charitable, there was a time in my life when I ridiculed Christian Science. In November, 1918, when away from home and loved ones, in a way not planned by myself I was led to make my home with a Christian Scientist, and in just a week I was quickly healed through Christian Science of Spanish influenza, which I had greatly feared.

I shall never forget that, the evening I left my office unable to work any longer, I was warned that I was staying in the home of a Christian Scientist and it might be well for me not to go there but to a sanitarium. As I had taken every preventive medicine that I thought good to ward off this sickness, and had had several prescriptions from kind doctors, but had not received any benefit, this caution somewhat aroused my thought, and I went home to the Scientist.

The atmosphere of this home was different from any I had been in. There seemed to be something there which appealed to me. At my request the kind lady of this home explained something of Christian Science to me and gave me the Bible, opened at the ninety-first psalm. She told me to read it and to place myself in God's care. I read this chapter several times, and immediately my sense of fear was dispelled. I felt such a sense of security that I went to sleep, rested well that night, and awoke the next morning well, with the exception of a slight hoarseness, which was overcome in the next two days. Needless to say, I took up the study of Christian Science with an unprejudiced mind, and have been wonderfully blessed, guided, and protected in the years that have followed.

My first copy of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy was very lovingly given me by a roommate, a young Christian Scientist, who happened to come along shortly after my first demonstration, and who helped me to plant my feet on firmer ground. I have been healed of the need of wearing glasses, of colds, headaches, a painful skin disease, and a nervous breakdown and all that goes with it—loss of weight, despondency, disorder of the stomach; but though the healing of the last-named was not instantaneous or even quick, still I am very grateful, because it taught me many lessons and proved the words of our Leader, Mrs. Eddy, that "trials are proofs of God's care" (Science and Health, p. 66).

Since I came into Christian Science, seeing the good that it has done for me, my father, when in the depths of despair and despondency from a severe case of heart trouble, for which physicians held out little hope of recovery, applied for Christian Science treatment and with the help of a practitioner was healed in a short time. This healing took place over four years ago and has been permanent.

I rejoice, like Paul, that the scales of materialism fell from my eyes and that I was able to see and understand something of God's perfect creation. I am very grateful for membership in The Mother Church and in a branch church, for the privilege of class instruction, for all the activities of our beloved Cause, for all the authorized Christian Science publications, and for our loyal Board of Directors of The Mother Church. I am grateful for the opportunity to teach in our Christian Science Sunday School.

I am truly grateful to God, the Giver of every good and perfect gift; to Christ Jesus, who so lovingly and unceasingly showed us the way; and I think most reverently of Mrs. Eddy, who, inspired by God, gave us this new-old truth.

William E. Mackenroth, New Orleans, Louisiana.

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