When first I heard of Christian Science, I had begun to...

J. M. Hewitt with contributions from T. H. Hewitt

When first I heard of Christian Science, I had begun to think that in time I should be a chronic invalid. I had been for weeks in a "home," and on account of heart trouble fainted nearly every day. I also had distressing attacks of earache with abscesses, from which I had suffered since childhood. I dreaded the winter, as I used to be in bed for weeks with bronchial and throat trouble, surrounded by medicine bottles, inhalers, doctors, and nurses. Everything that mortal mind could suggest was done to help me, but I always felt tired and nervous and only seemed to recover from illness for a little time to get something else or to have a return of an old attack. At last, after long continued illness, the doctors said that I must have an operation as soon as possible. The day was fixed and everything arranged, but I felt very miserable and only agreed to it because a specialist said that the illness was acute and that I might pass away in the next attack before an operation could be performed. They had quite decided that I was to have another attack, and so had all my friends, also myself.

I did not know what Christian Science was at that time, but during the few days of waiting for the operation I came across an article on Christian Science and concluded that it was the spiritual healing taught and practised by Christ Jesus. Even then a kind of buoyant hope filled me; I could not rest, and begged my husband to go out and get Mrs. Eddy's book, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" for me, but he came back without it, having been to most of the large booksellers in London without success, and they were not able to tell him where to get a copy.

We knew nothing about the reading-rooms where all Christian Science literature may be bought, but eventually we got a copy which I read with the conviction that God, good, omnipotent power, who had made a perfect creation, could never have made such a miserable, imperfect specimen as I seemed to be. I wondered how I had reached such a condition of perverted thought. Man is made in the image and likeness of Spirit, therefore perfect, and was I going to allow myself to be made into a drudge for mortal mind? I decided at once, with great relief, that after realizing such a great truth, no operation could take place, and that unless I could respond to "the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus," which makes "free from the law of sin and death," it was useless for me to expect to get health and happiness from material means.

I was practically healed then, as I did not see the doctors again. My husband told me that they were very kind and interested about it, but I came under the guidance of a dear Christian Science practitioner at Reading, who had been treating me, and she gave me another of Mrs. Eddy's books, "Unity of Good," which was the greatest comfort and help to me, as was also the steadfast Christian Science work and services at both Reading and London. These have helped me to realize how much a faithful worker can do to help others to the understanding of the power of divine Love and Truth. A river of plenty flows down all our streets, and the pool of Bethesda is at our feet. If we are willing to be "absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord," the healing follows naturally; as we grow more spiritual, the body responds. Spirit cannot be sick, ill, or deformed, and Christ Jesus gives us the command, "Be ye therefore perfect."

I have had no return of these attacks since I became a Christian Scientist, nearly three years ago. I have had great help from a practitioner when fear presented itself,—once about the earache, but with Truth's guidance I realized at once the powerlessness of error, and the pain stopped instantaneously and has never returned since. We must come into an understanding of the laws of being, of divine Principle, in the same way that a little child knows he is under the guiding protection of loving parents, shielded from harm and free from fear. Our love goes out in gratitude to our dear Leader, Mrs. Eddy.

Mrs. J. M. Hewitt, Hampstead, England.

I wish to confirm all that is said in the above testimony. I am not myself a Christian Scientist, but having seen my wife suffer in the way she did, I can only join with her in heartfelt thankfulness for the freedom from pain and the health which through Christian Science she now enjoys after such a long and trying period of illness.

T. H. Hewitt, Hampstead, England.

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Testimony of Healing

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December 10, 1910

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