Christian Science came to me at a time when the whole world seemed upside down, and indeed it was, as far as I was concerned. I was young, out of high school, and had been in the business world for about five years. I worked for a large oil company, where I was promoted from one boring job to another. I enjoyed whatever I did until I learned how to do it, then felt I had to move on to the next experience, not really feeling fulfilled in anything.

At this same time in my life I started a little business of my own, which I worked at during my free hours. It was a small doll business, and because the company gave me a write-up in our worldwide magazine, I had orders that I knew I would never be able to fill. However, I did try to fill the local orders, and this meant I was kept pretty busy most of my free time.

Unbeknown to me at the time, I was inflicting on myself a state of pressure for deadline orders, since Christmas was coming and I had more than I could handle without pushing my efforts. The result was my family doctor (I was not a student of Christian Science at the time) advised me I was heading toward a nervous breakdown. He told me to stop whatever I was doing immediately for a period of at least six months, since he believed it would take that long for me to come out of the mental depression.

My brother and sister-in-law had been Christian Scientists for about sixteen years. When they heard of my plight, they asked me if I would like to attend a Christian Science lecture with them. It wasn't my first. I had gone to one before and enjoyed it, so I naturally went along. This lecture really hit home. In that one hour, as I listened intently, tears rolled down my cheeks and I felt free. What the doctor had forecast might take place in six months, provided I rested completely, took place in that hour.

Although I was completely free, there was still much to be done to maintain that freedom. For many days and months my thought changed and grew into newness of life as I proceeded to study Science and Health by Mrs. Eddy. My whole outlook on life was altered and my appearance with it. I had found what I was looking for, but there was much ground to cover to obtain the prize. Step by step this was done, and I found my purpose and way in a life that improved and is becoming more fruitful and fulfilling every day.

There have been numerous healings. After the first one I have mentioned, there were those of sinus difficulty, skin rash, sprained wrist, and broken and dislocated bones. I am indeed grateful for all these healings and for Christian Science, which is giving me daily direction. I am also grateful for membership in The Mother Church and a branch church and for class instruction.

(Miss) Ruth Kirkbride Hansen
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

One evening when I was about to retire for the night I felt very ill. I asked a relative to call a Christian Science practitioner. Before she arrived, however, I had lost consciousness. The practitioner called the Christian Science visiting nurse, who came at once and made things comfortable for me. Both the practitioner and the nurse stayed with me for the remainder of the night.

After a few days, the practitioner had to be summoned again, as it appeared the end was near. When she arrived, I was saying good-bye to those around me. The practitioner immediately reversed this thought and bade me repeat with her "the scientific statement of being." One line reads (Science and Health by Mrs. Eddy, p. 468): "All is infinite Mind and its infinite manifestation, for God is All-in-all."

Then the practitioner said, "If the Master, Christ Jesus, were here, he would bid you to 'rise.' You can claim your freedom." I knew this was what I must do, and that the spiritual idea, or Christ, demonstrated by Jesus, is still here. So I did get up and walk across the room to an armchair. I said to the practitioner, "Do you see how easily I am breathing?" Before this I had been fighting for my breath for three days and nights. This was a turning point in my healing.

A few days later I went to a Christian Science House. Whilst there, when I experienced unpleasant symptoms, I sat up and declared aloud, "God is my strength, God is my Life," remembering what Mrs. Eddy has written in Science and Health (p. 512), "Spirit is symbolized by strength, presence, and power, and also by holy thoughts, winged with Love." Thus knowing that God is All-in-all, and that nothing could disturb the harmony that was my birthright, I was able after a few weeks to return to my home completely healed.

I can never express in words my gratitude to God for the protection I've experienced in what might have been serious situations.

I witnessed a healing of a newborn baby. I had called to see a young relative who I knew was expecting her baby that day. I had a chat with her, as I realized she was glad to hear some comforting words. When I telephoned the next morning, Grandma answered in a very distressed voice, saying, "It's just dreadful, dreadful. The baby's head is twice the size it should be and very distorted." I replied, "Stop at once. The baby is not a distorted mortal, but a spiritual idea." This pulled the grandmother out of the fearful illusion, and she thanked me. I then said, "Tell Mummy to stop crying, and remember what she has been taught in the Christian Science Sunday School, and realize the baby is a spiritual idea."

The nurse attending the birth had called the doctor, who said the baby would have to go to hospital for an operation to remove the fluid; but by the time the ambulance arrived there was no distortion. Although there was improvement, the baby had to go to hospital as arranged by the doctor and stay for twenty-four hours. When the hospital doctor saw the child he said, "We have never had such a perfect baby brought here before." Next morning the baby was returned home. Robert (the baby) is now a lively four-year-old, full of joy and mischief, and both he and his elder sister are enrolled in the Christian Science Sunday School, where their mother had been before them.

I have witnessed many lovely healings through the ministrations of Christian Science for over forty years. It has met all my needs, and I am most grateful to God for Christ Jesus, the Way-shower, and for Mrs. Eddy, who so listened to God in writing Science and Health that we have been able to prove God's love for all mankind.

(Mrs.) Martha J. Holme
Liverpool, Lancashire, England

It gives me joy to confirm Robert's healing. When our son was born we were greatly distressed at the picture he presented. When the message came to stop crying at once, our son was a spiritual idea, perfect, not a distorted mortal, I thought of the good prayerful work derived from my years in the Christian Science Sunday School, which had helped me in the past. Later in the morning the child appeared much better to the doctor. When he reached hospital, they said, "What was the matter? He is perfect!" He is a very healthy child in every way.

(Mrs.) Barbara Jackson