Testimony of Healing February 23, 1929 Issue

My gratitude for all that Christian Science has done for...

Charles M. Young

My gratitude for all that Christian Science has done for me during the past eleven years is very deep and sincere. When this truth was first presented to me and I began the study of the textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy, I was at once impressed with the logic of the statements found therein, and by the promise which it held of being a practical religion. The philosophy, psychology, and kindred subject which I had studied in college had shaken my previous rather vague religious beliefs, and had left me with no very definite ideas on the subject; so it was with a great sense of gratitude that I found that my reason could accept the explanation of God and man's relation to Him as taught in Christian Science. As I did not seem to be in need of physical healing at the time, that side of the subject was not given much thought. Some time later, however, a physical difficulty manifested itself and I endeavored to overcome it, using what little understanding I had of Christian Science. I was not successful in meeting it, and the trouble seemed to grow worse, until at last I was persuaded to ask for help. The only practitioner I knew at that time lived in a city in the Middle West, while my home was in New York, and the sense of distance separating us added to the doubts which I already had. A telegram was dispatched, however, stating the circumstances and asking for treatment, and in a few hours the difficulty had entirely disappeared.

Another experience which proved that "divine Love always has met and always will meet every human need" (Science and Health, p. 494) occurred in this way. My wife and I were motoring through a sparsely settled region of one of our western states and had spent the night on a ranch. The next morning when I endeavored to procure gasoline I found there was none to be had in the place, and that the next possible filling station was an indefinite number of miles away. As we had some in reserve and it was necessary for me to be in a certain place on the following day, we decided to proceed, being careful to husband our supply by cutting off the motor and coasting on all down grades. The promised filling station did not appear, and early in the afternoon the engine stopped. We had passed no human habitation since leaving the ranch in the morning, and the situation looked rather grave. The only thing which it seemed possible to do was to proceed on foot. As we sat there working on the problem it came to me that there would be a small amount of gasoline in the bottom of the tank below the end of the suction pipe, and that this could be transferred to the vacuum tank above the motor. The need of a small receptacle to make the transfer was apparent, and as we quoted the line from our textbook above referred to I was led to look in a side pocket of the car and there found a paper drinking cup. This frail article met the need, collapsing only as the last drop was poured into the vacuum tank! On this meager quantity of gasoline we proceeded for several miles, the engine failing this time on a slight down grade, but I was able to keep the car rolling by running alongside and giving it further impetus by an occasional push. As the bottom of the grade was reached and the momentum failed, we saw a small ranch house near by, and I inquired of the man who came to the door as to the possibility of obtaining some gasoline. He answered that no one in that vicinity owned a car and that the chances were not very good. As I turned away he suddenly said: "Wait a minute. Some time ago I had a gasoline stove, and maybe there is some gasoline left." A search in various corners of his house and woodshed revealed two quart bottles of the precious liquid; and again we were able to proceed, rejoicing over another need met. After leaving here we were favored by a number of long down grades, and on the last of these, as our engine again stopped, we were able to coast to the very door of a small country store where our empty tank could be filled. This experience was very helpful in that I learned that one should make use of whatever supply one has, even though it may seem inadequate, and go forward confidently, assured that when more is needed it will be available. Since that time I have had additional proofs of the ability of Christian Science to heal both mentally and physically, and for all of them I am most grateful.

Charles M. Young, Brighton, Massachusetts.

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