About sixteen years ago I was taken with an acute attack...

Wm. E. Bates

About sixteen years ago I was taken with an acute attack of rheumatism which caused me much pain, and each year after that I had a similar experience, up to about ten years ago, when I began to have two or three attacks every year, each one more painful than the preceding and compelling me to remain in bed a week or ten days at a time. Later I was obliged to bend over until my head was on a level with my knees, in which state I remained for about four years. Seeing that medicine was useless, the doctors advised me to go to the springs. I did so, and remained there about eight months, taking hot baths daily, besides receiving massage and electric treatments; but, as I was getting no better, I finally left and went to San Francisco to consult a specialist. After several examinations, which included X-rays, they concluded to send me to a hospital, where I was placed in a plaster cast to get my dimensions for a leather corset, which I subsequently left with a Christian Science practitioner.

While I was in the hospital an arch-shaped cot was placed beside me, and at intervals of four hours each day I would alternate between it and the bed, the pain being so intense that it was impossible to lie longer than four hours at a time. After having the brace adjusted, it was found that it would not hold me erect, and it was then suggested that the muscles be cut. To this I objected, and with that I severed my connection with materia medica. After leaving the hospital I used crutches a good deal of the time, and later the disease appeared to be taking on symptoms of locomotor ataxia.

During different periods of my illness the subject of Christian Science was mentioned to me, but I paid no attention to it until one day I boarded a car and a gentleman who was seated beside me and had noticed the difficulty I had in getting on the car, asked what I was doing for my trouble. I told him. He then asked me if I had ever tried Christian Science, and went on to tell what it had done for him. He gave me a card to a practitioner, which I placed in my pocket, where it remained for a couple of months, until one day I came across it and made up my mind that I would go and see the practitioner; which I did. Treatment was continued for sixteen months, when my healing was accomplished. During that time the desire for intoxicating liquors and tobacco left me. I obtained a copy of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mrs. Eddy, and read it mechanically for several months without being able to understand it (the Bible and I were strangers); but I may say that it is now indispensable to me and an every-day companion.

After receiving treatment in Christian Science for about one year, a neighbor suggested that I try another kind of treatment, stating that he thought it had helped him of an eye trouble. (He has since taken up Christian Science.) I told my practitioner that I would like to pay this man a visit. He made no objection, but on the contrary told me I was at liberty to choose for myself. I took a physical examination and was told that mine was a very difficult case. The man would not say that he could cure me, but that he would take the case and do what he could for me. (Prior to my visit, my friend had told him that I was taking Christian Science treatment.) He also informed me that Christian Science would never cure me. I thanked him, and then took my departure. His positive statement forced me right back into Christian Science, where I was healed in about three months from that time.

About six weeks after this healing, I was stricken one morning suddenly with an acute attack, which caused me to bend forward as formerly. The attack was accompanied by severe pains in my back and both of my limbs. With great difficulty I crawled into the house, refusing assistance. I then took the Bible and Science and Health and went to work, remaining at it for about two hours, when I got up from where I was sitting and crawled over to a lounge, where I lay for an hour and a half, declaring the truth on the lines of Christian Science, as our text-book teaches us. I finally had a desire to get up, but found that I was unable to do so. With some difficulty I rolled off the lounge to the floor and crawled to a table, then raised myself up and walked, all stooped over, very slowly into the next room and from there out to the back porch. Then the thought came to me, Transfer your reliance from the material to the spiritual, and lean on the "sustaining infinite" (Science and Health Preface, p. vii.). Almost instantly I straightened up, and walked back into the house as though nothing had happened to me, to the great astonishment of one of the members of the household, who had seen me a moment before all bent over and suffering great pain. All had disappeared, and I have not had a return of it since.

I thank God for this great blessing, and for this beautiful truth that has enabled me to lean with understanding on the "sustaining infinite," and to know that God is an ever-present help in trouble. I am also thankful for having been shown this illumined path which has been so clearly pointed out to us through the untiring and ceaseless effortsa of our dear Leader, in which path I am earnestly and sincerely endeavoring to walk.—Wm. E. Bates, Alameda, Cal.

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