It has long been my desire to send a testimony to our periodicals in order to put into words something of the gratitude I feel for Christian Science and all it stands for. Hearing of it many years ago, I laughed with others at what I thought it was. Then, about 1920, I read the textbook, Science and Health by Mrs. Eddy, and that reading healed me of prejudice and intolerance toward Christian Science, but I did not pursue its study further. Some years later, through a brother, I came to realize something of what a vast and important subject it is. I was also assured that it could be demonstrated as one studied, and so I started to read once again. This time I was ready, and realized with some surprise that some of my thinking since 1920 had had its source in the textbook.

An early healing, from which I have subsequently learned much, was the overcoming of susceptibility to an irritating rash caused by the leaves of a plant which I had been growing for winter house decoration. Shortly after I took up Christian Science it became necessary to repot a number of these plants, and I declared emphatically that it was ridiculous that a plant which we loved, and which gave us such pleasure and joy throughout the winter, could harm us. Neither my wife nor I have been affected by the leaves since, and we can handle the plants with impunity. How often that healing puzzled me in its very simplicity when later other things, seemingly much more important, appeared harder to demonstrate! Then realization came that our attitude to the plant had been entirely in accordance with Principle, Love. We had loved it, cared for it, watered it, protected it, and, above all, in spite of its seemingly unpleasant characteristic, we had felt no resentment towards it. And so the simple emphatic declaration healed. Other physical healings have been those of water on the knee, healed in five days without my having to stay in bed; and some internal trouble, for which I was grateful to be able to turn to a practitioner for help. A lump of wax in my ear, which seemed to be giving me a jab every time I swallowed, disappeared instantly on my declaration that nothing could separate me from God.

Though seeing only physical healing in that first reading of the textbook all those years ago, I have since had proof after proof of the efficacy of Christian Science in all sorts of other problems. Disagreeable traits of character, impatience, intolerance, quick temper, have begun to lessen, and I was early healed of a tendency to regret and dwell on past mistakes and failures, seeing clearly that such things have no place in the real man. Matthew 24:18 healed me of that. I am grateful, too, for guidance and protection on many occasions, and through demonstration have proved that when we entertain a desire which we know to be right, the more we can leave it to Mind and the less we outline for ourselves, the surer and better will be the demonstration. A few months after studying earnestly I experienced a healing of strong resentment through my own understanding of the spiritual meaning of John 18:6. Only a year or so before this I had tried to read the Bible understandingly and had failed. This remarkable change proved to me that Science and Health is indeed a "key" to the Scriptures, and that the Scriptures heal when spiritually understood.

For the privilege of serving in various capacities in the Field, for membership in The Mother Church and a branch church, and for class instruction I am deeply grateful. I am very thankful, too, for a visit to Boston, where there came the realization more than ever before of something of the wonderful inspiration and selfless love which guided our Leader, Mary Baker Eddy. In conclusion I can honestly say that, after retiring from a very strenuous business life unusually early, I have found in Christian Science work of absorbing interest, which I know will grow and unfold till this mortal dream vanishes forever.—Leslie Burn Andreae, Costessey, Norwich, Norfolk, England.

I should like to corroborate my husband's testimony about the plants. My first healing occurred after I had been reading our textbook for a month. This claim, which was of thirty-five years' standing, was severe constipation, which necessitated my taking aperients always, and more often than not, ones of a very strong nature. As a professional singer, this condition caused me a great deal of inconvenience and nervousness. Shortly after my husband and I had started reading the textbook together, he remarked to me one day, "This means that you will have to give up your medicines." This was a very terrifying thought, but I realized that if I were to stick to the truth contained in that book; I should be obliged to renounce medical means, and could never go back to them. So I decided to try. Such a wonderful month followed this decision that I can remember thinking, Whatever is this wonderful truth which is healing me and of which I know practically nothing?

Then came a time when I had to know more about this truth. I looked in The Christian Science Journal, and found the name of a practitioner on whom I called in great fear and trepidation, not knowing what a treatment was. I was very kindly received, and after about a ten-minute talk in which I was told that "Love is like a rushing river, washing away all impurities," I left the office and the condition again yielded. From that very first day that I decided to stand for the truth not a drop of medicine has passed my lips. During some of those days when I had to hold on firmly, the following quotation which I found in a Sentinel was continually with me: "Let us, then, joyfully measure up to the opportunity inherent in every experience, buoyed up by the words of Paul: 'There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.' "

I can never say how grateful I am for this healing, and for the great lesson that Christian Science is teaching me—to have no fear. We have our physician at hand in this wonderful panacea that Mrs. Eddy has given to us all. This healing and the subsequent study of Christian Science have enabled me to use my musical training again in service as soloist in our church. Many other privileges have followed, including church membership, class instruction, and a visit to Boston, and I can never express my gratitude sufficiently for all the blessings that have come into our lives through a small understanding of the Science of Christ, and the joy of knowing that the healing method which Jesus used is reinstated.—(Mrs.) Muriel S. Andreae.