Testimony of Healing February 28, 1942 Issue

In the only textbook of Christian Science...

Helen L. Petzing

In the only textbook of Christian Science ever written, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," its author, Mary Baker Eddy, tells us on page 442, "Neither animal magnetism nor hypnotism enters into the practice of Christian Science, in which truth cannot be reversed, but the reverse of error is true." She goes on to say, "Christ, Truth, gives mortals temporary food and clothing until the material, transformed with the ideal, disappears, and man is clothed and fed spiritually." The Christ, Truth, in Christian Science has supplied me with food and clothing, not once or twice, but many times.

Thirty-one years ago, when I was first introduced to Christian Science, I was working for a meager salary, rooming with strangers, separated from everything I held dear, by resentment, jealousy, and envy, as well as by many hundreds of miles. Self-pity, one of the most dangerous, insidious wiles of aggressive mental suggestion, seemed to hold me completely in its grasp, "but the reverse of error is true." Through Christian Science I learned that the sense of pain and material pleasure is false. In the exuberant inspiration of my first glimpse into the glories of this Christian truth, without awaiting my full healing, I put aside smoking and social drinking and applied for membership in a branch church. During this time many physical ills were healed—a sprained ankle, inscessant colds, chilblains, and many other minor ailments. It was not, however, in the healing of physical ills that my great need of Christian Science lay.

While retaining my church membership, I slipped back into the old habits again—I had held fast to my old associates. Later the desire came again to stop smoking, and many times I laid aside the habit for a few months, but it always came back with some other errors of thought: discouragement, dissatisfaction, discontent, all claiming they had influence. I knew that I was not following the directions of our dear Leader in Science and Health where she states on page 454, "It need not be added that the use of tobacco or intoxicating drinks is not in harmony with Christian Science." I took stock of what had been accomplished: the weary wandering through the wilderness, having left Egypt behind and crossed the Red Sea—why try to burrow my way out of the valley under the mountain, why not try to climb the mountains and see the glorious view?

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When I first entered a Christian Science...