About six years ago, I became...

Virginia Dare Candler

About six years ago, I became interested in Christian Science. Before this time, I had prayed to God to let me get well or die. One night the thought came to me that if God is good (and good He must be, because such good as there was in me must have come from the source of all good), He does not place burdens too "grievous to be borne"' on the shoulders of His children, and there must be some solution to the problem of being which I had not found. At that time I was taking six different medicines prescribed by my attending physician.

Shortly after this, Christian Science was presented to me. Only because I had promised to read "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy did I continue to read. At first I rejected the teaching that there is no sensation in matter. However, after reading about a third of the way through the book, I thought: "Well, this book certainly ascribes all honor and glory and power to God. I like that about it, whatever else I may think of the rest of it." Then I began to think more kindly of the author, because I knew that anyone who gave such praise to God deserved respect.

That night after retiring I began to roll and toss. Then the thought came, "If that book is true, I do not have to lie here sleepless all night." Immediately the voice of the Christ, Truth, sounded in my consciousness, "Peace, be still." I fell asleep and did not awaken until the next morning. From that time on I discarded all medicine, and have had many healings, including those of lifelong constipation, fear of the future, an overwhelming sense of responsibility, and other ills, both physical and mental. I should like to relate one of them.

One afternoon it seemed necessary for me to make a short trip. I was suffering from a sense of unutterable fatigue. I had thrown myself on the bed and felt utterly incapable of getting up and making the necessary preparation for the trip. The practitioner who had been helping me was out of the city. I just held to the thought of God for I was too weary to think. Then came these angel thoughts: "There is no matter! There is no evil!" Nervous tension evidently had caused my shoulders to become hunched, and I now felt as though someone literally pushed them down, and I became relaxed. In a few minutes I was able to arise and make the trip with joy.

This condition had been caused by an internal trouble which the doctors had said required an operation, although they also said that an operation would probably not permanently relieve me.

My healing in Christian Science, although slow, was complete, and I am now in better health than I have been since I was fifteen years old. After taking up the study of Christian Science, I did not lose a single day from my work on account of this condition, whereas before that time I had to stay in bed for weeks at a time. The permanent healing came with these statements from the Bible: "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death." I did not at the time realize that I was permanently healed. This realization came later, when I was reading a lecture which spoke of the fallacy of hereditary laws and prenatal mesmerism. I then saw that the belief had been broken which had been holding me in bondage since before my birth—the belief that I had been injured in a fall which my mother had before I was born.

So much had I suffered that I always thought if I could study medicine and surgery I would make a good doctor, because I wanted so much to help those who suffered. I can now say in the words of Mrs. Eddy on page 165 of "The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany": "As an active portion of one stupendous whole, goodness identifies man with universal good. Thus may each member of this church rise above the oft-repeated inquiry, What am I? to the scientific response: I am able to impart truth, health, and happiness, and this is my rock of salvation and my reason for existing."

I am grateful for the revelation given by God to Mrs. Eddy, and for the activities established by this great and good woman to give the truth to the world.—(Miss) Virginia Dare Candler, Glen Allen, Virginia.

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Testimony of Healing

Like many others, I came to...

July 31, 1943

Contents

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit