God's promise voiced by Isaiah (65:24), "It shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear," has been proved true many times in my experience.

More than sixty years ago I was a student at one of the English universities, studying political economy, psychology, and logic. My life ran along pleasant lines, and any interest in religion was mainly academic. But later in a time of stress I found myself praying to a God whose existence I had doubted. The prayer was answered when a friend sent me a copy of Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy. As I read, the spiritual meaning of the Bible began to unfold, opening up a new concept of our life in and of God here and now.

I had a difficult problem to be solved. My parents, for reasons that seemed sufficient to them, were bitterly opposed to my going to Canada to marry the man to whom I was engaged. I loved them dearly, and to ignore their wishes might mean a complete break; but already, through my study of the Bible in this new light, I had gained a sense of confidence that God would show me the way. Earnestly I prayed each day to be divinely directed and resisted the temptation to make human plans or to seek the advice of friends. The answer came from an unexpected quarter. Someone I had never met but who knew my future husband and our problem invited me to visit her in Toronto. I went, and from then on the way opened up. I was married, and after a while there was complete reconciliation with my family.

My husband's early manhood had been clouded by a very severe illness that threatened to make him an invalid for life. When partially recovered, he was told of Christian Science and from then on relied entirely on its teaching for his health and well-being. When he was well enough, he left England for Canada, expecting to find his right place and work. One opportunity followed another, until, having proven his ability, he was made director of an art gallery, then in its formative period of growth but of national importance. Without specialized training for the work, but with natural ability and a continuing trust in God's guidance, my husband established the galley on a wise and firm foundation. Despite the setback of the war years, it added steadily to its usefulness and the scope of its activities. Finding and purchasing worthwhile pictures from limited funds is not an easy task, and that our sincere prayers resulted in wise decisions was shown very definitely when, within a comparatively short time, an appraisal by experts judged the old masters' collection to have doubled in value. My husband's whole life was enriched and blessed by the teachings of Christian Science.

A religion that offers practical proof that its doctrines are true appealed to me strongly from the first. Attending the midweek testimony meetings in our branch church, I listened intently to! e individual speakers telling of physical headings and problems solved. Their words rang true. Accepting the fundamental truth that a God who is love could neither create nor sanction sickness, I too began to put into practice a little of what I was learning ring coughs and colds, which had always been a bane, just disappeared, and so did sick headaches and a tendency to seasickness. Friends noticed a change for the better in my disposition. However, a distressing attack of rheumatism did not yield until I woke up to the fact that pride, not muscle, was crippling me. Then is I forgot the body and prayed for humility, the healing came, proving the menial nature of the sickness.

At one period I fell into the trap of intellectualism and, neglecting to listen for divine guidance, I allowed faulty human reasoning to lead me astray. When I had suffered sufficiently from the consequences and was ready again to be shown the way, a consecrated Christian Science practitioner awakened me to the need of seeking earnestly to become better acquainted with man's true, spiritual selfhood. As I studied the textbook, Science and Health, and Mrs. Eddy's other writings more deeply, the pattern of this precious religion unfolded more clearly to me, and I saw how each statement falls into place, strengthening and being strengthened by the next, the whole woven into one web of Science.

In particular, the articles entitled "Bible Lessons" and "The New Birth" in Miscellaneous Writings by Mrs. Eddy, awakened in me some realization of man's spiritual inheritance. With a flood of relief and comfort came the first clear realization that I had never sinned against God. The truth was dawning that only contrition, abiding meekness, and steadfast allegiance to good can bring the warm inner joy, the tender holy sense, the communion with God that we so much desire.

After one visit with the practitioner, as I was saying good-bye, she told me to cherish the light of spiritual understanding within and it would never fail me. I am grateful that for a period of years I have been able to use this light of understanding to help others. The living Christ, God's message to men is, now and always, the healing power.

Through the years the truth of Christian Science has been an unfailing source of strength, quieting fears, solving problems, maintaining health and, at the time of my husband's passing, wiping out grief with a peaceful sense of uninterrupted life reflecting God, who is our Life. Each day brings a new unfoldment of good, new strength and joy, and a happy assurance of our Father's encompassing love for all.

(Mrs.) F. Maud Brown
Ottawa, Canada