About twenty-six years ago,...

Madeline H. Hughes

About twenty-six years ago, when I first took up the study of Christian Science, I did not think I had any need of healing. At that time I smoked and went to cocktail parties, but I thought that was the natural thing to do.

It was many years before I overcame the desire for cigarettes and social drinking. During the years, I have been healed of blood poisoning, colds, fainting spells, and financial difficulties, and I was beautifully uplifted and sustained when my husband passed on.

Some time ago, accompanied by two friends, I was on my way to have Thanksgiving Day dinner with another friend when my car was forced off the road by another car. We ran into a telegraph pole, and all the occupants of the car were severely injured. We were removed to the hospital, and X rays were taken.

My friends, who were not Christian Scientists, accepted medical treatment; but I explained to the doctor that I was a Christian Scientist and would rely on God for my healing. He said that was all right, but he could tell me now that I had a broken nose. He added that he would have to see the X rays before he could tell me what else was broken.

The ninety-first Psalm had always been a great help to me in working out my problems, and I began repeating it. When I felt myself losing consciousness, I recalled these verses from the Bible (Matt. 8:14,15): "And when Jesus was come into Peter's house, he saw his wife's mother laid, and sick of a fever. And he touched her hand, and the fever left her: and she arose, and ministered unto them."

That gave me food for thought and enabled me to recall other statements of truth that I had learned.

When we failed to arrive for the dinner engagement, our friends became alarmed and called the police station, the highway patrol, and all hospitals. As soon as they had located us, they immediately came to the hospital.

When they walked into my room I requested that they call a Christian Science practitioner for treatment. After that call was made, I relaxed and went to sleep. The practitioner was there when I awakened, and arrangements were made to take me to a nursing home operated by Christian Scientists. I shall always be grateful for the loving, healing atmosphere and the excellent care I received. After two days I was on my feet, and within two weeks I was able to leave.

When I went to the doctor's office to pay him, he seemed surprised to see me. He said, "Why, you look good." Then he took my chart out of the drawer and explained the state of the injuries, which included a broken bone in my foot, a broken kneecap, several broken ribs, and broken bones in my chest and in my hand. My nose and also a cheekbone had been broken; my eye had been cut, and I had sustained a slight concussion. After pointing out each injury, the doctor would say, "Amazing!"

Four or five months after the accident, I accepted a position in which it was necessary for me to stand almost all day. After about three weeks I began to have quite a bit of pain in the foot that had been injured. My first thought was that the healing had not been complete, and for about a week the pain was extreme. Every night I worked with the references to the word "bone" in the Concordances to the writings of Mary Baker Eddy until I was convinced that the real man, made in God's likeness, is not made up of matter. I also clung to a verse from Ecclesiastes (3:14), "I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it."

I am grateful to say that I soon overcame the error. I am indeed grateful for all that Christian Science has done for me and for all that it is doing for the whole world. —(Mrs.) Madeline H. Hughes, San Francisco, California.

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