I owe a debt of boundless gratitude to Mrs. Eddy for...

Madolin Hayes

I owe a debt of boundless gratitude to Mrs. Eddy for what "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" has given me. The Bible is as refreshing and inspiring to me now as a running brook to a thirsty traveler. I was completely buried in mortal débris, until I came humbly to the foot of the cross and through Christian Science was taught the truth about God, Spirit. The Bible is a revelation to me. For twenty years I was a member of a church, converted as I thought; but I realize that I had then only a belief in God. Now I have an understanding of the divine nature. Through close study of the Bible, together with Science and Health, I have had many proofs of God's ever-presence. How my eyes opened up when that thought was first presented to me, for I had seemed to pray to a God afar off.

I am most grateful for all the Christian Science literature. The Monitor is a daily message to me from God; in fact the first spiritual insight I gained was in the summer of 1913, when one day in reading the Christian Science article on the "Home Forum" page the scales fell from my eyes, and for the first time I began to study myself. I praise God, and am grateful to Mrs. Eddy, for the wonderful spiritual insight I am gaining. I have learned to love the Bible; it is the Book of books to me, whereas before it was a dead letter.

My husband is a physician and surgeon, and for fourteen years I assisted in office and sanitarium work until I was filled with medical theories and I had what seemed to be a nervous breakdown. For three years I had suffered from spinal trouble, and no medicine seemed to relieve the pain and suffering; effects were only temporary. I grew worse, until finally I lay in a comatose state, under the influence of an anesthetic, which was the only thing that relieved me. As doctors advised a change, I decided to go to my mother, who is a Christian Scientist and has been for nineteen years, and who has had marvelous healings.

It had never occurred to me that I needed Christian Science. In fact I did not care for it at all, although I would pay my mother the respect due her by attending her church when I visited her, which was once in about three years, and then only for about ten days. This time I went home sick and discouraged. On my arrival my mother advised me to try Christian Science, but I said nothing. On Sunday, sick as I was, almost too sick to be out of bed, I went to church, and I thank God that I did so, for that day at the service I was instantaneoulsy healed during the reading of the Lesson-Sermon. A few days later I returned to the sanitarium, where I resumed my work and duties as before.

A month later I broke down with what seemed worse than the former trouble, and my husband as well as several other physicians said nothing but an operation would make me a well woman. Up to this time I had been continually assisting in the operating room and doing most of the important nursing of the sick. My husband was rapidly failing in health also, and at the end of six months we were obliged to sell our place on account of his health as well as my own. I realized my healing in that Sunday service and could not forget it, but I was not yet ready for which I have since been gaining.

After the sanitarium was disposed of, my husband went to another sanitarium for a cure and I returned to my mother's home. While I knew nothing about the study of God's Word through Science and Health, I took it up in earnest, and as I have sought, trusting, praying, and watching, the Father has opened the way, and I have been made "every whit whole." Severe headache, biliousness, rheumatism, neuralgia, and stomach disorder have gone to their native nothingness. I was irritable most of the time, but this has been overcome as I have gained a higher and better way.

For the physical help I am grateful, but the spiritual blessing I am and have been gaining is more to me than all else. I had lived so many years in materia medica and in drugs that I rejoice I have been made acquainted with a better way, the way to present and full salvation. I am most thankful I have been able to rise above mortal débris into the presence of divine Mind and put into practice what I have learned as the Bible is unfolded to me.

Madolin Hayes, Westfield, Pa.

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