Testimony of Healing February 2, 1957 Issue

The Christian Science textbooks...

Maurice C. Freidus

The Christian Science textbooks, the Bible and "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy, were in my possession during my service in the Navy in World War II. I remember reading a few passages from Science and Health concerning smoking and drinking, and I went to Christian Science church services which were held for the naval personnel. However, I felt I could never succeed in giving up the drinking and smoking habits, although I had tried several times. I did not understand that Christian Science could heal me of them; so I did not continue to read the textbook or attend services.

In 1950, about five years after my honorable discharge from the Navy, I was still in bondage to both false appetities when I was interviewed by a Christian Science practitioner for a position. During the interview she stated that one could rely on God for healing in every case. I left her office feeling that her stand was too extreme.

The next morning I picked up the Christian Science textbook andread the following passage (pp. 406, 407): "The depraved appetite for alcoholic drinks, tobacco, tea, coffee, opium, is destroyed only by Mind's mastery of the body. This normal control is gained through divine strength and understanding. There is no enjoyment in getting drunk, in becoming a fool or an object of loathing; but there is a very sharp remembrance of it, a suffering inconceivably terrible to man's self-respect. Puffing the obnoxious fumes of tobacco, or chewing a leaf naturally attractive to no creature except a loathsome worm, is at least disgusting."

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