In the Christian Science movement, organized and established...

Maude Smith

In the Christian Science movement, organized and established under the inspired leadership of the Discoverer of Christian Science, Mary Baker Eddy, I have found loving provision made for every step of the progress which follows naturally and necessarily a student's acceptance and application of the truth. I have taken these steps as they unfolded, and have been unspeakably blessed in doing so. A glorious day began to dawn for me with the first proof I had that God heals the sick through Christian Science. Later, I came to know that God leads "in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake," and that righteousness is always lovely and greatly to be desired.

Through the daily study of the Lesson-Sermons, as outlined in the Christian Science Quarterly, I began to learn and to love the Bible and the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mrs. Eddy, and found that my whole outlook was being transformed. The first slight understanding I had that "the truth is the centre of all religion" (Science and Health, p. 20), as Mrs. Eddy beautifully expresses it, brought my first appreciation of the work of the churches throughout the ages.

The Christian Science Journal, Christian Science Sentinel, and The Christian Science Monitor have been as the angels of God's presence to me, instructing, inspiring, and healing. Membership in a branch church, followed by acceptance as a member of The Mother Church, and service for the Cause as a worker in a branch church, have brought responsibilities and blessings. Crowning all has been the privilege of class instruction, whereby I have learned more concerning the "weapons of our warfare," which are "mighty through God."

Because of possible benefit to someone who may be as deceived and deceiving as I was, I should like to tell of my release from the habit of cigarette smoking. This was difficult, because I did not wish to give up the practice. My first requests for help were therefore not wholly sincere, but rather half-hearted and because of statements in the textbook and other of Mrs. Eddy's writings, on the subject of tobacco. I asked to be healed of something I secretly cherished, and several practitioners worked at different times without healing being manifested. The work was being done, however. I may say here that smoking always had been detrimental to me, even while I glibly maintained that it had no harmful effect whatever, and that I could stop any time I wished to do so. Finally, I was desperately unhappy, and once more appealed to a practitioner. I mailed the letter, and one evening about a week later, having forgotten my appeal, I grimly resolved that I would not go on being so miserable, and that from that moment I would never smoke again. And I never did. It was late the next day before I remembered my appeal to the practitioner, and realized what good work had been done. I have had no desire to smoke since then. This healing has been especially dear to me, because it was to others convincing proof of what Christian Science really does, and because to me it was "His mercy opening me a path to live with myself again."

I have the greatest reverence and love for Mrs. Eddy, who as the pioneer of this revolutionary Science endured that which we can only faintly comprehend, to fulfill her mission by giving to the world what she had received from the Father—Christian Science, the Comforter.

(Mrs.) Maude Smith, Jackson, Mississippi.

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