My gratitude for Christian Science is unbounded

Charles W. Townsend

My gratitude for Christian Science is unbounded. For many years I suffered from chronic indigestion and constipation, rheumatism, chronic inflammation of the eyes, the inner ear, the lining of the throat and mouth and the nasal passages, and the tendency to recurrences of colds, influenza, and grippe, as well as many other complications.

Specialists tried their skill on me, but the best they could do was temporarily to alleviate my suffering a little. Indeed, they declared that I should probably never be free from these troubles. Nearly every remedy I heard of was tried, but to no avail. My medicine cabinet always contained a dozen so-called remedies, and I constantly employed specialists of several schools of medicine.

A neighbor recommended Christian Science, but the idea struck me as ridiculous. I had heard all sorts of ecclesiastical personages say that it was neither Christian nor scientific. Cases of healing came to my notice at that time. One was that of a relative, who had been afflicted with epileptic fits for many years, attacks of which were becoming more frequent and severe, physicians declaring that she could not survive many more; she was completely healed in one treatment by a Christian Science practitioner.

I told my neighbor, however, that I did not believe in her Science, and am ashamed to admit I said some very mean things about it and its Discoverer. I said I had read Science and Health and thought it a jumble of incoherent and contradicting nonsense. I really thought so, though how anyone could read it and not be convinced that it was free from contradictions, I cannot now understand.

Bravely she declared that I knew nothing about Christian Science, judging from what I had said, and she made me promise to borrow her copy, and read it until I saw what Mrs. Eddy stood for. I read prayerfully, for I thought I was a sincere Christian and needed divine guidance in the study of this impossible Science. I had hardly started the chapter on Prayer before I began to respect its author; and as I went along I realized that it required divine inspiration to write such a book. I saw then that it was the most Christian, the most humble, the most sensible religious volume I had ever read, and my interest in and love for the Bible increased greatly at once; for I compared Mrs. Eddy's book with the Bible as I read, and never once did I find a thing in the one book that did not harmonize with the other. I reviewed the first six hundred pages several times, and came to the conclusion that, even if it had never healed anyone, it would still be, next to the Bible, the most valuable book which any Christian could read.

I decided to try its teachings on myself; but, strange to say, all the diseases which my doctors had declared I should never be rid of, had vanished, and I was physically and mentally free. Then I made the acquaintance of Scientists, some of whom had been healed of cancer, tumors, paralysis, tuberculosis, and nearly every other ailment known to mortal man. I learned to live free from fear for the first time since I was a child.

Since 1912, I have not employed a physician except for insurance examination, and such doctors have always reported me to be in perfect health. Since that date I have not even been bothered by a cold, any slight manifestation of trouble yielding immediately to the application of Christian Science.

Deep waters of sorrow have passed over me several times; but the consolation which our beloved Leader has left for us in her wonderful writings has kept me from an overwhelming sense of loss. I look upon Christian Science as the source of peace, joy, and supply, as a panacea for all bodily and mental ills, as a refuge from temptaion and anger, as a guide to Christian living, and as the best instruction for serving God and man.

For membership in The Mother Church and in a branch church, and for class instruction, I am truly grateful. I regard Mary Baker Eddy as the truest exponent of Christianity since the days of Christ Jesus.

Charles W. Townsend, Brooklyn, New York.

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