My testimony is long overdue,...

S. Leslie G. Beaufoy

My testimony is long overdue, for I have received countless blessings from the study of Christian Science since it was brought to my attention by what appeared to be a chance invitation to attend a Wednesday evening testimony meeting. At that time, some fourteen years after the First World War, I was suffering from recurring fevers, which caused great weakness, and I had a chronic cough. Numerous doctors, both military and civil, had kindly done their best to heal these conditions, but had failed even fully to diagnose them. Other troubles lay heavily upon me, and thoughts of suicide as the best way out of my many difficulties were not infrequent. The friend who took me to that first testimony meeting and introduced me to a Christian Science practitioner was indeed God's messenger!

When next attacked by fever I sought this practitioner's help, more in despair than from a conscious expectation of good, and proceeded to outline my physical difficulties and the time which must elapse before I should be well enough to get in touch with her again. The surprise I felt at her apparent lack of interest in my bodily ailments was nothing compared to my astonishment on discovering when I reached my home that I was healed. The cough disappeared shortly afterwards. These healings were permanent. At this time, too, all desire for smoking left me. I had been a heavy smoker of both cigarettes and a pipe since the age of eighteen. Many were the attempts to break this habit by human will power, and many the heart-breaking failures. So quick and complete was the healing through Christian Science that of a packet of ten cigarettes which previously would have been consumed in half a day, seven were discarded as unwanted.

Two years later, when I was attacked by what seemed to be scarlet fever, Christian Science treatment proved so efficacious that doctors called in, in compliance with state law and the conditions of my employment, could not agree upon the symptoms. They were not, however, prepared to run any risk and ordered quarantine for six weeks. So abundant was the sense of health that a strong feeling of rebellion at this verdict had to be overcome. However, many were the spiritual blessings which resulted from the understanding of Christian Science gained by study during this enforced segregation.

I have also experienced the efficacy of Christian Science as a surgeon. A few years ago a painful swelling of the neck finally prevented my taking any solid food. Treatment was given, but for a few days the condition appeared to be even more aggravated. The temptation came to stay away from business until the pain abated, but this suggested that the healing had to take time, and Mrs. Eddy's words came to mind (Science and Health, p. 385): "Whatever it is your duty to do, you can do without harm to yourself." While attending a conference that morning, I suddenly became aware that all pain had ceased and that a hard object was in my mouth. This proved to be a stone about the size of a small plum stone. With joy I notified the practitioner and then ate my first good meal for many days. On my return to the office, a second stone, smaller than the first, appeared in the same mysterious way. Some months later a dentist said that from my description the stones were evidently salivary calculi, the removal of which, apart from Christian Science treatment, would inevitably have involved a serious surgical operation.

My testimony would be incomplete without an expression of heartfelt thanks for the work of the consecrated practitioner whose efficacious prayers brought about the healings above recorded. I am grateful for all that our great Leader did to establish her discovery of the Christ Science, for membership in The Mother Church and in a branch church, and for class instruction.—S. Leslie G. Beaufoy, London, England.

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