At the close of a day of steady snowfall, which the warm breath of April had, at every street crossing, quickly converted into mud of uncertain depth, the thought came: "This is Wednesday evening; surely the gathering at the dear church will be thin to-night, yet I cannot afford to stay at home." So, dressing to suit the weather, I waded forth, only to find, on arriving, that every one else was of the same mind, and the church was as usual well filled.

The thought arose: "What is the attraction that will fill a church on such a night as this with people from every quarter of the city?"

I saw lawyers, professional and prominent business men, with their wives and families, side by side with many from the poorer walks of life, all with earnest, happy faces, as if they were coming to a feast. Had they come to be thrilled with the eloquence of some famous preacher, or to listen to strains of rare music? No, it was only the midweek assembling together of plain, every-day people, to tell what God's love had done for them, in the healing of sickness, sorrow, and sin; to give out from their varied experiences words of help and encouragement to others who are hungering for something that the world has failed to give them.

An opening hymn was sung. Following this, a few passages from Scripture and Science and Health were read, then an impressive silence of a few moments, when every head is bowed in prayer, followed by the Lord's Prayer, in which all, even the little children, join. Another hymn was sung, and the leader announced that the meeting was in the hands of the people.

The first testimonial given, was, as told to the narrator by a business man of this city, as follows: A poor dog, which had had its back broken, or injured in such a way that he was helpless, was lying in a vacant lot, opposite his house and was being kindly fed and cared for by the children in the neighborhood. The gentleman thought it would become his duty soon to notify the city officials of the presence of the body of a dead dog. A few days afterward he looked across and did not see the lame dog in his usual place. He crossed the street and searched among the weeds, but not finding the dog, he asked his wife if she knew what had become of the animal. "Yes," said his wife, "he has been healed through Christian Science."

Some days later they were sitting on the porch, when a shower came up. Directly a dog came up the street (the very same that had been injured), turned in at the gate and lay down at the lady's feet. When the rain stopped he trotted off.

This testimonial called forth another experience of a somewhat similar character, concerning the healing of a pet kitten, showing that the understanding of God as infinite Mind, and infinite Love, destroys all sense of pain and discord, in even the humblest of His creatures.

The next experience was of a man, a brilliant lawyer, who had become a slave to the habit of strong drink, from which he had vainly tried to free himself. He had taken the Keeley cure four times, only to lapse into the old habit worse than before. Finally his condition became so desperate that his wife applied for a divorce, and the last hope of regaining his manhood seemed gone, when he had a talk with a Christian Scientist which resulted in his going to a Christian Science practitioner for help. In a marvelously short time the craving for drink was entirely gone, and he is to-day, in the words of Scripture, "Every whit whole."

A case was cited of a man of about sixty years, who had since early boyhood been addicted to the habit of tobacco chewing; had tried to break it off by will power, but the craving was so strong that he became so irritable under the strain as to make himself and those around him miserable. He finally applied to a Scientist, who gave him some helpful thoughts from the writings of our beloved Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, to repeat often and keep in mind. This he did for three days, then from sheer force of habit he put a piece of tobacco in his mouth, but it tasted so bitter that he at once spit it out, and involuntarily lifted his heart to God in prayer. He declared that he had never had the slightest desire for tobacco since.

A young man arose to tell how he was led to investigate Christian Science through the healing of his mother and brother, the latter having been twelve years an invalid, suffering from inflammatory rheumatism. When he saw its truth and beauty, and its application to all his daily needs, he felt that he could not do without it.

Next, a lady testified that she had been a great sufferer, and undergone a severe surgical operation, only to have the old disease return in a more malignant form, and be told by her physicians that nothing more could be done. She was made well in a few weeks, through Christian Science treatment. Her physician admitted that mental and nervous diseases might be healed through Mind, but this baffled his comprehension.

When the world can accept this simple statement, that in Science but one Mind is recognized, and that Mind, infinite, all power, all presence, all good—then mystery and miracle will disappear, and Christian healing will be seen, as it really is, the most simple and natural thing in the world.

This thought is well illustrated by a young mother who told of her two little boys—the younger, naturally loving and affectionate, while the elder seemed to evince opposite traits of character. This condition was regarded as a hopeless reality, until through the study of Christian Science the thought dawned upon her that both were alike God's own dear children, governed by the same Mind, and that Mind, infinite Love. Holding persistently to this thought, the elder child began to grow loving and gentle, and the unlovely traits of character faded away. What a lesson is here for mothers!

Other testimonies of widely varied character were given, each illustrating the one central fact, that the words of the Psalmist are as true to-day as when they were first spoken: "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; Who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies" (Psalm 103 : 2–4).

M. E. Killie.
In the Denver Republican.