In the Sentinel of January 2, 1904, on page 282, there was the following extract from a newspaper: "It taxes the material understanding to agree that prayer will set a fractured limb, or that it will remove a cancerous growth. . . . Whence comes authority to affirm that the great Healer cannot set a fractured limb or heal a cancerous growth? and whence the authority to declare that He will not, if the sufferer lives the Christian life and puts his faith absolutely in God?" Whence, indeed, in the face of many proofs to the contrary, in one of which I was the active participant?

One afternoon a little more than two and one half years ago, I started out for a bicycle ride. I was riding along a short distance behind a carriage which served as an admirable wind shield, and which enabled me to see whatever might be approaching from either side at any of the cross streets, but, in view of what followed, it unfortunately prevented me from seeing in time a vehicle coming in the opposite direction. At any rate, a carriage coming toward me suddenly turned in behind the one I was following, and before I was able to turn aside or pull up, there was a collision, and my wheel and I both went down and the rear wheel of the carriage passed over my left leg midway between the knee and ankle and squarely over the right foot. It was a large open barouche, containing four people and a driver, so that the weight was quite a heavy one. I did not attempt to rise at once but lay in the road, trying to realize the ever-presence and healing power of Truth and Love, and to be conscious of nothing but my relationship to God. Naturally the people gathered around me, but I paid no attention to their remarks and suggestions until I heard one man say, evidently in response to another, "Broken? of course his leg is broken,—do you suppose a team like that could go over his leg and not break it?" Upon hearing that, I got up and, mindful of Paul's injunction to "speak with boldness," declared to them that, "of course, it is not broken," and walked over to the side of the road, each step causing intense pain, and sat down on a stone wall. As different ones kept offering all kinds of advice and suggestions as to the application of material remedies, and as I was but an infant in the understanding and application of Christian Science, I quickly decided that the only thing for me to do was to get home as soon as possible and send for a practitioner, and, although it proved a tedious and painful journey, this I did.

Fortunately, when I finally reached my home I there found a member of the family who is a practitioner, and immediately asked her for help. I tried first of all to take off the shoe from the right foot, but because of the pain and the swelling found it impossible to do so. Then for the first time fear assailed me, and I voiced the thought as to whether I had not better send for a surgeon at least to see how bad the injury might be. The practitioner, however, with that wisdom which comes instinctively to one who is daily striving to live in the atmosphere of Truth and Love, suggested that I lie down for a short time and she would work for me. This I did, and in a few minutes I fell asleep. When I awoke, over two hours later, all sense of pain had left me and with it was forgotten any thought of sending for a surgeon.

She told me afterward that when she saw that I had fallen asleep, she took up our text-book and found these words, "He [Christ] met and mastered, on the basis of Christian Science; namely, the power of Mind over matter, all the claims of medicine, surgery, and hygiene. . . . He required not the skill of a surgeon to heal the torn palms, and bind up the wounded side and lacerated feet, that he might use those hands to remove the napkin and winding sheet, and employ his feet as aforetime" (Science and Health, p. 44). Through the clear realization of the practitioner the cure was effected by the healing power of Truth. We then took off the shoe from the right foot and on examination found two of the bones broken, one on the outside and one on the inside of the foot, and on removing the clothing from the other leg, to which it had become attached on account of the coagulated blood, there was disclosed a deep gash about three inches in length. Both injuries were washed and the cut bandged up, and I again lay down and the work was resumed with such good effect that when it was time for supper I went down, not without difficulty indeed and much to the surprise of the family.

The work was continued that evening with such good results that the next morning I decided to go to business. A carriage was suggested, but I declined, and putting on a pair of overshoes, I was able to hobble to the car with the aid of two canes, and proceed to my office in town. I returned home that night ever so much better than when I left. In three days I was able to leave off using the canes, and to put on a pair of extra large shoes, and within a week I was able to move along without any perceptible limp, although, of course, careful as to where I stepped. I had no further pain of inconvenience from the wound, although the scar is apparent to this day. Two hard lumps appeared on each side of the foot where the broken bones knitted together. These remained for several months, but gradually dissolved as the leaven of Truth performed its work. Neither during this time nor since have I suffered any serious inconvenience from the injury, and to-day the foot is practically as good as ever, although not altogether as straight as before.

To end where I began, I would repeat the worthy editor's question, "Whence comes authority to affirm that the great Healer cannot set a fractured limb, . . . and whence the authority to declare that He will not, if the sufferer lives the Christian life and puts his faith absolutely in God?"

WILLIAM C. PREE, BOSTON, MASS.