In obedience to divine Love I desire to add my testimony...

Gertrude Egolf

In obedience to divine Love I desire to add my testimony to the gratitude already expressed by others through our periodicals for the healing power of Christian Science.

Ten years ago I was facing a fifth major surgical operation as relief from internal injuries caused by a fall when a young girl. Each operation had left serious after effects and a long convalescence, followed by a recurrence of the difficulty in some other form. Consultation of physicians offered only relief, as they believed I could never be really well or active. Financial reverses had seemed to force us from our home, causing great mental depression. Fear both of living and of dying made me most miserable. I was constantly under the care of physicians was kept on a strict diet and took many kinds of medicine; nevertheless I suffered much pain and great weakness.

At this time a woman brought me "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy. I was supposed to be amused at the penciled notes made in derision of this book, but I was in no mood to laugh at anyone's religion; so, although I took the book, I refused to read it for several days. When the only way out of my extremity seemed to be another surgical operation, I prayed earnestly for guidance and for divine help through this experience. While in great fear and much pain I suddenly remembered that the Christian Science church was said to be founded upon Christian healing, and that Christian Scientists studied the very book which had been given me. Prayerfully I contemplated such surcease from my difficulties. Longing for assurance, I opened my Bible and these words of Jesus the Christ flooded my consciousness: "Lo, I am with you alway." Then, opening Science and Health at random, I found these words (p. 495): "When the illusion of sickness or sin tempts you, cling steadfastly to God and His idea. Allow nothing but His likeness to abide in your thought.' Turning from page to page I found many passages telling me that spiritualization of thought brings health; that Jesus healed the sick through divesting thought of sin, fear, and false belief. I read far into the night, never seeing the penciled marginal notes. All former criticism of Mrs. Eddy and the Christian Science movement left me. Fear and pain subsided, to be replaced by the consciousness that the Christ, Truth, heals sickness and sin now as surely as it did centuries ago.

The next day I was so much improved that I decided to abandon material remedies and to trust the rules of Christian Science. I threw away everything in my medicine chest, and God gave me the courage to call the physician to tell him not to return. My husband acknowledged my decided improvement and gratefully began to read with me. By the second day I was doing light tasks about my room, eating what I chose; and within a few days I was completely free.

I began to read the Bible and Science and Health each day and to study the Lesson-Sermon in the Christian Science Quarterly. I also began to attend the Sunday and Wednesday services of a branch church and to use the Christian Science Reading Rooms.

Within three months after this experience we were again in our own home, and position and supply had begun to be realized. During the last ten years there have been many added proofs of the power of the Christ, Truth, to heal physical and mental discord. One evening at an authorized lecture on Christian Science I was healed of influenza in an aggravated form. The habit of responding to belief in colds, bronchitis, cystitis, abscess, burns, headaches, and so forth, has been largely overcome, and I have been enabled to lead an active, useful life.

Many times I have been helped through the loving ministrations of a practitioner, and many times relief has come through my own study and application of the rules of Christian Science. I desire also to express gratitude for the healing of grief, for the lessening of many erroneous traits of character, and for the privilege of active service in the Christian Science movement.—

(Mrs.) Gertrude Egolf, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts.

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Testimony of Healing

I first heard of Christian Science about ten years ago

July 16, 1932

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