Christian Science came to me at a time when I had almost given up hope of receiving answers to many questions I had asked myself ever since I was a small child.

I had been brought up in very strict Protestant surroundings and had read and studied the Bible both at home and at school. Although I loved its beauty and promise, I was disappointed not to find in it any answer to my inquiries, so I looked into various "ologies" and was still more disappointed in them. Then I went to stay with some relations in a village where the clergyman had left his church to become a Christian Scientist. They spoke bitterly about the clergyman's leaving his former religion, and seemed strongly opposed to Christian Science. This aroused my curiosity. I wanted to know what this new religion was which provoked so much opposition. A few days later I made the acquaintance of one who was studying Christian Science, and I went to see her to learn something about it.

Indeed, I can say that "the wrath of man shall praise thee." for from the very first explanation given me, I knew I had found an answer to the questions I had asked myself as to the nature and origion of man and his relation to God.

All this took place twenty-six years ago, and since that time Christian Science has been my only help in the solving of all moral, physical, and financial problems. It has brought great unity into my family by giving us a common interest.

As soon as I had realized that Christian Science healed, I benefited by this realization and was much encouraged by seeing ailments to which I had grown accustomed disappear. Violent neuralgic pains in the head, which completely disabled me while they lasted, and from which I had suffered for a number of years, disappeared without any special treatment. I was liable to gatherings on my hands, and very soon after I had heard of Christian Science one appeared on my thumb. I remember looking at it and saying to myself, "If Mind is all and matter is error, then this is an error on error and therefore doubly erroneous." The gathering disappeared and I have never had another. Later I was instantaneously healed of Spanish influenza, when my husband feared I was passing on.

These quick healings encouraged me to continue and persevere in the study of Christian Science in times of stress, when healings seemed slow, for I had felt the result of the application of the law of divine healing, and was sure that if it could heal in one case, it could in another.

Christian Science has taught me something of true brotherly love. Great financial difficulties have been overcome by an ever-growing understanding of God's loving-kindness to His children, so that I can now say with a grateful heart, "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want." I daily receive abundant blessings, even in the face of seeming restrictions and limitations of all kinds.

I had the proof that "Spirit, God, gathers unformed thoughts into their proper channels, and unfolds these thoughts, even as He opens the petals of a holy purpose in order that the purpose may appear," as our Leader says (Science and Health,p. 506), when, in June, 1940, the German troops were approaching Paris. I had no will to go or to stay, but did pray that I might not be separated from Church. Yielding to my children's desire, I tried to leave Paris, but there were no trains, no cars, no apparent means of transportation. I turned to my books and was studying a section of the Lesson-Sermon in the Christian Science Quarterly, of which the leading thought was "angels," and was pondering this, when an angel thought arrived in the shape of a telegram, inviting me and my youngest daughter to go to a town in southwest France. The telegram arrived when presumably all post offices were closed. The invitation seemed a leading, but the question was how to get there. I waited quietly, knowing that thoughts would be gathered by God "into their proper channels." Within two hours the needed help appeared in the form of a conveyance, which would take us a part of the way to our destination, and there we might be able to take a train.

We were wonderfully cared for during the entire journey. We caught the last train leaving the town to which the car had taken us, before the place was bombarded, and although other trains on that line had previously been bombed, our train was convoyed by French planes. We were many hours on the way, but we were much helped by an article in The Herald of Christian Science (French Edition) which we had taken with us, entitled "Elimination of Time and Space." Nobody in the train seemed to express any sign of fear or impatience, although there were numbers of children and very little food or water. On arriving at our destination, I immediately found much work to do. The friends with whom we were staying were obliged to leave the country a few days after our arrival, and left me the house, and to my great joy we were able to hold services there. During the four months I spent there, many beautiful demonstrations were realized, for ourselves and others, and abundant supply was manifested. After I left, the work was carried on and more firmly established by another member of my family. Thus the unfolding of thoughts revealed Mind's holy purpose in the eternal realization of Church in consciousness and its manifestation to mankind.

Through the striving to understand that there are no frontiers in the universal kingdom of Love, the way opened up for me to cross a border line and visit a country which, without this understanding, would have been impossible for me to enter. These visits were for the purpose of healing, and therefore the gates of hell could not prevail against their accomplishment, for the movement of Love is irresistible. In the same way there has been provided the opportunity to send this testimony of gratitude to the periodicals.

I could never express in words my gratitude to Mary Baker Eddy for the revelation to the world, through her unselfed lifework, of the truth about God and man. I am grateful for the true concept of Church, founded upon the rock of Christ-healing, as practiced by the Master, and am deeply grateful for the privilege of working in and for that Church. I am grateful for having had the privilege of visiting Boston on two occasions, and for the joy of increased enthusiasm through these visits. I shall never forget the gratitude I felt towards our beloved Leader at the first testimony meeting I attended in The Mother Church.

I am especially grateful for the Manual of The Mother Church by Mrs. Eddy, with its revelation of perfect government, and to The Christian Science Board of Directors for their untiring vigilance in the application of its By-laws. In the Armageddon of today, Christian Scientists stand in the front rank of the battle for the freedom of mankind from human despotism and the establishment of the kingdom of heaven on earth.—(Mrs.) Edith de Rougemont, France.