On three occasions the book written by Mary Baker Eddy,...

Hugo Weil

On three occasions the book written by Mary Baker Eddy, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," was called to my attention.

About thirteen years ago, while visiting my relatives in an eastern city, my father complained to me that my sister owned a copy of this book. I observed the book lying in her room, but noticing an improvement in her which I could not describe, I remarked that if she was unwise enough to ascribe this to the reading of a book, she should be allowed to continue in its possession.

I had been searching for health for about fifteen years, visiting different resorts and physicians all over the United States; and ten years ago, when passing through a southern city on my way to an eastern health resort, a friend living in this city showed me this book by Mrs. Eddy, stating that he was studying it, and that if I did likewise I should be healed. This made no impression upon me and I continued my journey to a famous health institution, where I spent several weeks and several hundreds of dollars, as well as undergoing a minor operation.

Three weeks after leaving this place I was in Mexico, seeking the solace of liquor in order to forget my disappointment at my failure to regain my health; but apparently this only seemed to make matters worse. Practically giving up a successful business, seemingly a complete physical wreck, I saw no way out and thought of committing suicide. However, my wife prevailed upon me to return to Los Angeles; and when my friends there saw my appearance, it shocked them. A business acquaintance then advised me to see a Christian Science practitioner. Figuratively, I entered this practitioner's office with a chip on my shoulder. I remember telling him that I was an atheist, had never read a Bible, and doubted whether he could in any way aid me. He gently replied, quoting Mrs. Eddy's words in Science and Health (p. 8), "We never need to despair of an honest heart," and handed me this book.

This was the third time the book had been called to my attention. Now I took it, and while I was reading, the practitioner gave me my first Christian Science treatment. Following this, I purchased all of Mrs. Eddy's writings, a Bible, Concordances, and a Christian Science Quarterly, and began to read them, and have never stopped. I threw out all my medicines, which consisted of any number of different remedies, stopped drinking and smoking, and have never touched medicine, liquor, or tobacco since.

Through Christian Science I was led to engage in a new business which proved even more successful than the former one, leading to my appointment as a director in one of our local national banks. Later, we had to prove our stand in this truth, when financial difficulties developed during the slump of 1923, and I was caught with what would be termed "frozen assets," and also when differences arose with my wife's family as well as my own, through their misunderstanding of what they thought Christian Science to be. The same practitioner continued to aid until again our business prospered and peace was restored with nearly all of our relatives. We came out of these experience much strengthened.

Since then I have had the benefits of membership in The Mother Church, as well as in a branch church, class instruction from a pupil of Mrs. Eddy, and opportunities of serving the Cause. My desire is for more understanding in this truth, as well as more love and humility, that I, too, may bear witness to the one who first unfurled the banner of Christian Science—Mary Baker Eddy—this banner of Truth of which she speaks in Science and Health (p. 224) on which "is the Soul-inspired motto, 'Slavery is abolished.'" Hugo Weil, Los Angeles, California.

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