People who know nothing of Christian Science sometimes...

Marie Elspeth Winch

People who know nothing of Christian Science sometimes ask, "If I have no faith in Christian Science, how can it heal me?" Because of that question I am particularly glad that my first experience proved to me that Christian Science has nothing in common with what is commonly called faith healing.

I had been ill for more than seven years with an internal displacement following childbirth, a complaint which caused me constant pain and which prevented my walking or even standing with comfort. The doctors were very kind and patient, but they held that only a surgical operation could help me. Finally they urged me to have the operation.

At that time there were various reasons, financial and personal, why I wanted to avoid an operation, and I was feeling desperate when the healing of a member of my family brought Christian Science to my notice. I had heard much of Christian Science and had disliked all that I heard ; it seemed utter nonsense to me, and I had often argued violently against it. I had read "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy and had put it aside after annotating the copy with criticisms. Therefore, when it was suggested to me that I try Christian Science, I was very reluctant and consented only because it seemed unfair to put my husband to the expense of an operation while any system of healing remained untried.

I went to a Christian Science practitioner not only without faith but longing to go back to tell my husband that the treatment had failed. In that spirit I did not tell the practitioner what was the matter, but merely said that I felt nervous and had a cold. I left her house half an hour later still planning how I should tell my husband that Christian Science had done me no good; but a bus passed me, going in the direction of my home, and without thinking I ran and jumped on to it. Only when I stood inside did I realize that the pain was gone, and that I was healed. I remember that I got off that bus some way from the house and walked for the sheer joy of walking; I felt as if the earth were elastic under my feet. I need hardly say that at once I took up the study of Christian Science.

That occurred about nine years ago. The discordant condition has not returned. The doctor who saw me previous to the birth of twins told me that no trace of an internal displacement remained, although the doctors who had seen me before my healing had all agreed as to my condition.

During the years we have studied Christian Science my family and I have had many proofs of its healing power and of the happiness it brings.

I should also like to express my gratitude for a thought which has helped me recently. Like many people, when trouble came I felt resentful and distressed, but returning from a Wednesday evening testimony meeting I remembered a night when I had gone up to say goodnight to a child and found her crying because she believed that there was a lion under her bed. I had taken her hand and, comforting her, had let her look under the bed and into all the dark corners of the room until she was satisfied that there was nothing to fear, when she went happily to sleep again. It occurred to me that Christian Science does for us is to cause us to see that in the dark places of mortal fear there is nothing of which we need feel afraid.

I feel very grateful to the practitioners who during nine years, with great patience and love, helped me, and who are still helping me to understand more of Christian Science and to overcome faults and stubborn mortal beliefs. Like all who have been helped or healed by Christian Science, I feel deeply grateful to Mrs. Eddy for the selfless love she showed, winning the right to give this great truth to the world.

(Mrs.) Marie Elspeth Winch, London, England.

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Testimony of Healing

I first heard of Christian Science in the year 1925

September 20, 1930

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