Such wonderful blessings have come to me through the...

Harriet Potter Nourse

Such wonderful blessings have come to me through the understanding of Christian Science that it would be selfish, indeed, if I did not share with others the opportunity to rejoice with me in the demonstration of this wonderful truth. At various times in the past, loving friends had offered to help me in Science; but it did not appeal to me. It seemed cold; and I thought what I needed was "the human touch," not realizing how infinitely tender is the God who is Love.

I have had several instantaneous healings through Christian Science of serious attacks of illness. Once, when I had pneumonia, I tried for several days to heal myself; but I was too ill to read, and had lost my voice when the practitioner was called. He demonstrated the truth so quickly that before an hour passed I had risen from my bed, dressed, breakfasted, and gone to church, it being Sunday morning. It was with deepest gratitude that I was able to take part in the whole service, including the singing, especially of Mrs. Eddy's beautiful hymn, "Shepherd, show me how to go."

Another wonderful healing occurred during the epidemic three years ago. I was taken suddenly and alarmingly ill on the street with a congestive chill; and after a night of high fever and delirium my friends brought in a physician and nurses, who did not expect to save me, especially if pneumonia developed. The bronchial cough seemed to tear me to pieces; but at no time was I afraid; and as soon as I came to myself I dismissed them. I was extremely weak, did not gain strength, and could sit up but a moment at a time. So I lay in bed for several days reading "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mrs. Eddy, and expecting to recuperate quickly.

One night I awoke feeling as though my body were a block of ice. I tried to move, but could not; nor could I detect the act of breathing or the beating of the heart. All was still. I was fully awake, but I was immovable. I was greatly interested, and expected momentarily to pass on; but nothing happened. After waiting some time I decided that it was wrong to be willing to go and make no effort to remain. So I began silently to pray, not being able to speak or even move my lips,—the Lord's Prayer and the twenty-third psalm, with their spiritual interpretation as given in the Christian Science textbook (pp. 16 and 578); also "the scientific statement of being" (p. 468). Still I could not move or speak. So I began to think about Life, and much that I had read about Life in Mrs. Eddy's works. I dwelt upon these statements over and over again continuously, until I was conscious of warmth; and I breathed deeply, and slept. I thought the crisis was past, but the next night I had a repetition of this same experience; and it took me much longer to overcome this condition because fear crept in—but I finally did. The next day I called for a practitioner, who gave me one treatment in the evening. I slept soundly that night, rose at six the next morning and went to my business office with such a tremendously abounding strength as was a marvelous revelation to me, and astonished my friends.

I have also been healed of various weaknesses following a street car accident, including a very weak back, water on the knees, and displacement of the heart for a year and a half. This healing was also, in part, the work of a practitioner. I never can express my gratitude for all that Christian Science has done for me. The spiritual uplift has been my greatest blessing. I am grateful to God, the only creator; to Christ Jesus, the Way-shower; to Mary Baker Eddy for Science and Health and all her other beautiful writings; and for the Christian Science literature, all of which has helped me to a better understanding. I am also deeply grateful to loving friends, practitioner, and teacher, for the spiritual enlightenment to which they have helped me.—(Mrs.) Harriet Potter Nourse, San Francisco, Calif.

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