Testimony of Healing February 16, 1929 Issue

For many years I have read the testimonies in the Journal...

Fannie C. Smith

For many years I have read the testimonies in the Journal and Sentinel and received much help and encouragement therefrom. In appreciation of this I wish to express my gratitude through one of these channels, hoping that someone will receive as I have received. In childhood I was supposed to be sensitive to mental and physical hurts. If an epidemic presented itself in the school, I always carried the infection home to other members of the family. Sensitiveness was regarded as an asset when, as in my case, it was accompanied by a loving, quiet disposition, obedient to home discipline, and so forth; so I accepted sensitiveness as such, and it grew and thrived. Small wonder that, as the years passed by, pain became almost a daily companion, and a medicine chest a part of the household furnishings.

My first copy of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy was purchased in 1892, at which time I received some instruction from an older student and healing (without special treatment) of an ailment of several years' standing, proving that "a grain of Christian Science does wonders for mortals, so omnipotent is Truth." Later, I found that, as Mrs. Eddy further says (Science and Health, p. 449), "more of Christian Science must be gained in order to continue in well doing." A few years afterward, this wonderful truth healed me of a physical condition that seemed hopeless, and of a mental condition of despair. I was healed in four treatments; all manifestations of the disease were gone, and there was a complete return to normal physical strength.

I feel great charity for the many who say, "I have read the Christian Science textbook and tried so hard to understand it, but seem unable to do so," for this was my experience. I continued to read, but the mist would not rise. Many beautiful passages were read and read again. The definition of God was enlightening and made a deep impression; but the light was not sufficient to remove the sense of mortal man which was always before me, and I could not see man as the image and likeness of the God I was so ready to accept. There were no Christian Scientists in the place where I then lived, and when another severe illness came to me a physician was called. After several months of medical treatment without relief I asked for absent treatment in Christian Science, but failed to receive help. After that a straying time came, when many schools of healing were tried, and finally surgery, which gave much relief but no complete healing. I cannot pass by this time of confusion without acknowledging the kindness and deep interest shown me by the many worthy physicians; but, "as a cloud hides the sun it cannot extinguish, so false belief silences for a while the voice of immutable harmony, but false belief cannot destroy Science armed with faith, hope, and fruition" (ibid., p. 298). An internal trouble still remained, a source of much fear and, consequently, pain.

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