Testimony of Healing February 21, 1948 Issue

In the early part of this century...

Joseph E. Marshall

In the early part of this century I was directed to a Christian Science practitioner to secure freedom from alcoholism. Relief was almost instantaneous. On the morning following the first treatment, I had no desire for the usual morning drink. Freedom from alcoholism's enslaving hold continued for some months. Then new phases of the error appeared. Mrs. Eddy writes in Science and Health (p. 102), "The looms of crime, hidden in the dark recesses of mortal thought, are every hour weaving webs more complicated and subtle." I lost my position, although I was enabled to get employment for short periods by going from city to city, but each time my freedom from the devilish habit was brief.

For many weary months I held to the truth that God is Love, with a feeling that somehow this truth would dominate and govern my entire activity. I attended Christian Science services whenever I was near them. One Thursday morning, following attendance at a Wednesday evening testimony meeting, I was in a hotel room preparing to have my morning drink. As clearly and plainly as though addressed to me by someone in the room, there came the instruction, "Pour it out." This command was obeyed, and for nearly forty years I have had freedom from that appetite. Soon after this an opportunity for me to enter business in a small way was offered. I was shown how I could have a home and have my family join me.

During the time I spent in the wilderness of error our youngest child had grown from three to five years old. On my occasional brief trips to see the family, he was very happy to see me. Because of this his mother said to a practitioner that she was so sorry for the boy, because in later years he would learn that his father was a drunkard, and that would break his heart. At once the practitioner rebuked the statement as malpractice and made clear to her the truth that man is God's image and likeness. Very soon after we were established in the new home, a talk disclosed that the Thursday morning when my healing came was the morning following the day the practitioner had rebuked the malpractice. Can there be more conclusive evidence of the effectiveness of right thought regardless of mortal distance?

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