Reading the chapter on "Fruitage" in the new edition...

R. P. V.

Reading the chapter on "Fruitage" in the new edition of Science and Health has awakened a sense of responsibility to give to others, who have not had a like experience, an account of our new birth in Christian Science.

In the early part of 1892 I returned from the last of a series of voyages from Liverpool to the West Coast of Africa, in a condition of health that was most discouraging, having contracted several chronic disorders, such as dyspepsia, liver complaint, nervous debility, etc. The future seemed dark and uninviting and life hardly worth living. At this time I was introduced to a Christian Scientist who told me of Mrs. Eddy and her great discovery. She gave me a copy of Science and Health which I began to read at once, with the greatest interest. The healing did not impress me at first so much as the wonderful logic and practical common sense that characterized Mrs. Eddy's interpretation of the Bible, and the clear explanations of the hitherto unanswered theological problems which had bothered me so long.

This intelligent religion, free from creed and superstition, which could be practised and proved daily, and which offered an assurance of a constantly brightening future, with renewed opportunities for doing good, so appealed to my sense of reason, that I accepted Christian Science as a whole, without reservation, feeling instincitively that it was a gift of God to a spiritually starved world.

Within three weeks from the time that I heard of Christian Science, I was perfectly healed of all my physical difficulties. I attribute this effect to the change in my thought brought about through reading Science and Health.

With this practical proof of the teachings of Christian Science my highest ambition was to go to America and study with Mrs. Eddy, or a competent teacher, feeling that I had found the pearl of great price and was willing to give up all in exchange for it. With this in view I obtained a position as engineer on a steamship sailing from London to New York, which enabled me to attend two services in New York City every four weeks. At the expiration of about a year and a half the way opened for me to remain in New York City and to go through a class, which took place immediately after the close of the World's Parliament of Religions in Chicago in 1893.

The class gave me just what I needed. Shortly after its close on returning to my room one evening, a lady living in the house met me at the door and told me of the great trial she was having with her son, who was a victim of the liquor habit. He was then having an attack of delirium tremens that had lasted more than two days, and she was tired out with being up with him day and night. I told her that I had been studying Christian Science and would gladly try to help him with my understanding of it. To this she consented, saying that at least it could do him no harm.

In less than fifteen minutes from the time the treatment was given, he had changed from wild delirium to calm and quiet attention to the truths of Christian Science. He asked if he might not dress and go down stairs to dinner, and was told he could. A little later he was sitting at the table, clothed and in his right mind. No one present, however, was more surprised and grateful than myself.

Since that time I have seen countless demonstrations of healing of all kinds through Christian Science,—physical, mental, mechanical, financial, and in fact, in every department of daily life. I feel that nothing but a complete sacrifice of every human thought and motive can express the gratitude we owe to our beloved Mother and Leader who has given to the world this greatest of all gifts,—the Key to the Scriptures,—which unlocks the gates of heaven and reveals eternal Life.—R. P. V., New York, N. Y.

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