Testimony of Healing July 27, 1929 Issue

"How and when did you come to hear of Christian Science?"...

Edwin W. Cowlishaw

"How and when did you come to hear of Christian Science?" was a question put to me by a member of a Christian Science church. In thought I retraced the years to the time when a man in my employ who knew something about the teachings of Christian Science used to say to me, "You ought to be a Christian Scientist." This became a saying in the building, and if one of the lads hit his finger instead of a tool or nail the saying would be repeated. I little knew what benefit was to come to me in later years through this most illuminating teaching.

When we came to the city from the country evil times, so called, fell upon us. After several periods of back-racking pain, I entered one of the leading hospitals on the advice of a doctor. After about a fortnight's retention and examination by X-ray, I was told that the cause was ulcerations, and that these would need to be removed by an operation, which would be rather serious at my age. As my heart was in good condition, however, the doctors thought I would come out all right. After consulting my wife we agreed to accept the doctor's advice. The operation was performed, but it left me in a very weak condition, and for weeks careful nursing and attention were given me, for which I can never feel grateful enough to the nurses. The incision did not heal, however, and it became necessary to have a minor operation performed every four weeks. I became weaker, though at times I was able to walk with the assistance of two sticks.

My son then met a Christian Scientist who had helped him during a time of trouble, and having learned of many wonderful healings at the Wednesday evening testimony meetings, he introduced the subject to me, after I had had a severe spasm of pain. I asked him who and what were Christian Scientists. He explained, but I had little faith in any power which could heal, for I had prayed many times for my healing without avail. At last we consented. Just as a Christian Science practitioner arrived and during his visit I was in an agony of pain. I scarcely remembered what he said. During a quieter period he said to me, "Repeat the Lord's Prayer silently," which I did. He then left me. My son had been lent a copy of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy. I read and reread the chapter on Prayer during the next few days. Though the pain had lessened considerably after the practitioner's visit, it did not leave me entirely. The next few weeks passed too quickly, and the time for the minor operation arrived. I was preparing at noon to get into bed when a voice seemed to say to me, Why not pray? Then that beautiful promise of our Master came to me, "What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them." Then came to me Mrs. Eddy's beautiful explanation in Science and Health (p. 15): "In order to pray aright, we must enter into the closet and shut the door. We must close the lips and silence the material senses. In the quiet sanctuary of earnest longings, we must deny sin and plead God's allness." My wife, who was in the back portion of the house, missed me. She came to me asking, "Are you in pain?" I replied, "I was, but God has healed me." The work was instantaneous; the discharge stopped, the incision healed perfectly, and the pain all disappeared during that afternoon.

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