Many years have passed since I was introduced to Christian Science by a kind member of The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston. It was during the Second World War. I will always remember my first healing, of what was called an incurable liver condition, and of constipation, for which I was taking medicine almost every day. The complete healing took place in a week's time. At first I was very skeptical of the power that had freed me. I couldn't understand that such a religion existed. But the facts were there and could not be denied. The pain had ceased, normal functions had been reestablished, and the healing proved lasting. What a joy! I started to study and to learn of the divine Principle, God, who had healed me.

Since then I have had many other healings: of a skin disease, of infection from an insect bite, of rheumatism, and of a fear of drafts and weather conditions. One special healing, which occurred several years ago, I shall never forget. I had been like the women in the Bible, who had an issue of blood. After many trials I wasn't any better. Prayerful help from a practitioner had been given, but no permanent healing had come. I thought I was ready to go to a doctor and have an operation, though I didn't really feel this was the answer.

My husband came home and found me lying on the couch, crying bitterly. He picked up an issue of The Christian Science Journal from the table and looked for names of local practitioners. He chose one and telephoned him. The practitioner said that he would pray for me and that I should cling steadfastly to a statement by Mrs. Eddy in Science and Health. He quoted the first seven words of line four on page 283, which reads, "Mind is the source of all movement, and there is no inertia to retard or check its perpetual and harmonious action.

It was two o'clock in the afternoon. Scarcely had my husband hung up the phone when a feeling of joy, confidence, and courage flooded my consciousness. Fear was gone; I knew I was healed. That healing has been permanent.

To bring up our daughter in a home where Christian Science is earnestly practiced has been for us all a source of great joy and security. She grew up with a minimum of discomfort from so-called children's diseases. She understands that God is our Father-Mother and that He effectively cares for His universal creation.

I have demonstrated that divine Mind has no limitation and is the intelligence of all of us. A passage in Psalms was a great help to me (92:4), "For thou, Lord, hast made me glad through thy work: I will triumph in the works of thy hands." I had been offered by two schools a position as a foreign language teacher. At first I was very fearful, for that had not been my line of work in my own country. Through prayerful acknowledgement of God as my helper, and a willingness to give to others what had been given so generously to me by God, I found courage and fearlessness to accept the post, which I held for many years. It was not easy, for I had to be willing to accept, gracefully, help and constructive criticism from a member of my family who was an authority on teaching. As Mrs. Eddy writes of observance of the rules of healing in Science and Health (p. 462), "There is nothing difficult nor toilsome in this task, when the way is pointed out; but self-denial, sincerity, Christianity, and persistence alone win the prize, as they usually do in every department of life."

Words cannot express my gratitude for such a practical religion. It is indeed a blessing to be a member of The Mother Church, of a branch church, and to have had Christian Science class instruction. It is with sincere gratitude that I acknowledge the prayerful help of practitioners, who stand by to aid us in demonstrating the Truth that heals.

(Mrs.) Helene Pike
Eatontown, New Jersey

I am happy to confirm my wife's testimony and gratefully add my deep appreciation for Christian Science. I am a member of The Mother Church in Boston, of a branch church in Red Bank, New Jersey, and I am a class-taught student. For nearly fifty years Christian Science has been a help and source of inspiration to me in the fields of writing and teaching and in my daily life.

Robert E. Pike