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Be it slow or fast,
Up to Thee.
Page 401
CHAPTER
XII
TESTIMONIALS
LETTERS FROM THOSE HEALED BY
READING "SCIENCE
AND HEALTH WITH KEY TO THE
SCRIPTURES"
The Editor of The Christian Science
Journal (Falmouth and St.
Paul Streets, Boston, Mass.) holds the
original of most of the letters
that authenticate these.
IT is something more than a year and a half
since I was
cured of a complication of diseases through reading
"Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures."
Becoming at an early age disgusted with drugs, I
learned
hygiene, and practised it faithfully for over twenty years;
then I began to lose all faith in its efficacy, became
greatly discouraged,
and, as I had never been cured of
a single ailment, I rapidly grew worse in
health. Hear-
ing of this, a dear sister brought me Science and Health.
Her admonition was, "Now read it, E - ; I have heard
that just the reading
of that book has been known to heal
the sick."
I had read to, and through, the chapter on
Healing and
Teaching,(1) and was so deeply interested that I began
reading that blessed chapter over again, - when I found
I was cured of my
dyspepsia, that I could use my strength
in lifting without feeling the old
distressing pain in my
side, and also that the pain in the kidneys only
came on
(1) Page 292 of the revised edition of 1890.
Page 402
at night, waking me out of sleep. Then I began
my first
conscious treatments: of course I followed no formula,
and I
needed none. A cry for help, knowing it would
be answered; precious texts
from the Bible, which had
already become like a new book to me; sweet
assurance
of faith by the witnessing Spirit; strong logical conclu-
sions, learned from Science and Health: what a wealth
of material! Before
finishing the book, all tendency to
my old aches and pains had left me,
and I have been a
strong, healthy woman ever since.
My first
demonstration with another than myself was
also before I had finished my
first reading. My husband
was cured of the belief of bilious fever by not
over ten
minutes' treatment; the fever and pain in head and limbs
disappearing in that instantaneous way as soon as I
could summon
sufficient courage to offer my services in
this, to us, new but glorious
work. He slept soundly
that night (the treatment was given about 10 A.
M.), and
ate and worked as usual the next day, with no symptoms
of a
relapse then or afterward. That was in March, 1888;
in the following
August I met in one of our Rocky Moun-
tain berry patches a lady who
complained so bitterly that
I felt compelled to offer her treatment. Her
words, when
I visited her at her home during Christmas week, will
give some idea of the result: -
"Yes, I am doing three women's work, -
attending to
my own and my son's housework, and caring for his wife
and new-born babe; but I am equal to it, when I think
of all the Lord has
done for me! Why, Mrs. S., I was
cured with that first treatment you gave
me, I know;
because I went out to gather berries that day and was
caught in a drenching shower, - and for ten years before
Page 403
I could not bear the least exposure
without suffering
from those dreadful headaches I told you about, and
from dysentery, - but that day I had neither. I had
once been laid out for
dead, - lying there perfectly con-
scious, hearing my friends grieving
over me, - but I did
not want to come to, I suffered so. No, I never have
any
of those ailments. I am a well, hearty woman, - and
that is not
all. I had been seeking religion for more than
twenty years, but I never
knew how Christians felt till I
told you I was cured that day on the
camp-ground."
On the first of this year I was so blessed as to
receive
a course of lessons from one of our teacher's students.
Now I
am only trusting that the time will come when I
may be enabled to teach
others the way of Truth, as well
as to add to the many demonstrations God
has given
me. - E. D. S.
A student of Christian Science was
employed in the
Massachusetts State Prison at Charlestown, to teach the
prisoners to make shoes. He carried his copy of "Science
and Health
with Key to the Scriptures" and the Journal
with him, and as he had
the opportunity would tell the
men what this wonderful truth could do for
them, set-
ting them free in a larger and higher sense than they had
dreamed of.
We make extracts from a number of letters that one
of
the prisoners has written to those who are interesting
themselves in this
work.
"Editor of The Christian Science Journal: - At the
prison, once a week, there are Christian papers given
to the inmates. But
none of those papers point out so
Page 404
clearly the fallibility of the mortal or carnal mind, and
the
infallibility of the divine Mind, as does the teaching
of Christian
Science.
"I was strangely blind and stupid. I loved sin, and
it
seemed as though I never would be able to forsake it.
I did everything
that would be expected of one entirely
ignorant of God.
"I also
had a complication of diseases. I could not
begin to describe the
medicines I have taken.
"I no longer look for material treatment, but
hum-
bly seek for the divine assistance of Jesus, through the
way
Christian Science has taught me. I am, indeed,
an altered man. I now have
no more doubt of the
way of salvation than I have of the way to the prison
workshop.
"I am very grateful to the students of Christian
Science,
for the interest they have taken in me and my fellow-
prisoners. Their letters and books have been of great
profit, and in
accordance with their wish I have done what
I could for the others.
"I gave the Journal to every man who would accept
it, and
related my experience to those who would listen.
I told them they need go
no farther than myself to see
what the demonstration was; for not only
have my eyes
been healed, but many other ailments have disappeared.
"Some of the fellows told me I was becoming reli-
giously insane, but
acting upon your advice, I did not stop
to argue with those opposed; and I
am glad to be able to
tell you that those who expressed interest were more
than
those who opposed.
"The chaplain told me I could keep
Science and
Health until I got through with it. I never should
Page 405
get through with that book, but, as
others were waiting
for it, I did not like to keep it too long. God bless
the
author!
"I need have no fear after leaving here; I feel that
I can make an honest living. I can honestly add, that
my bad
reputation is largely due to my lack of educa-
tion. What little I do
know, I learned here and in the
House of Correction. I tell you this, for
I feel that I
must be honest with the kind friends who have done so
much for me.
"Providing I should not be paroled, I shall remain
here until the 24th of next December. God bless you
all. - J. C."
I am glad to tell how I was healed. Beliefs of con-
sumption, dyspepsia,
neuralgia, piles, tobacco, and bad
language held me in bondage for many
years. Doctors
that were consulted did nothing to relieve me, and I
constantly grew worse. Nearly two years ago a lady
told me that if I would
read a book called "Science and
Health with Key to the Scriptures" I would
be healed.
I told her I would "go into it for all it is worth," and
I
have found that it is worth all. I got the book, and
read day and night. I
saw that it must be true, and be-
lieved that what I could not then
understand would be
made clear later.
After some days' reading I
was affected with drowsi-
ness, followed by vomiting. This lasted several
hours;
when I fell into a sleep, and awoke healed. The good I
have
received, and that I have been able to do in healing
others, has all come
from Science and Health. I received
some instructions from teachers; but
they did me more
Page 406
harm than
good: I asked for bread, but they gave me a
stone. I held to what I could
understand of Science and
Health; and the truth does not forsake me, but
enables
me to heal others.
Last February, I was called to treat a
child that the
M. D.'s said was dying from lung fever; after the third
treatment the child got up and ran about, completely
healed. Another
child was brought to me, with rupture;
after the second treatment the
truss was thrown away.
An aged lady was healed of heart disease and
chills, in
one treatment. These cases brought me many more, that
were
also healed.
The husband of a lady in the State Lunatic Asylum
asked me to treat her; she had been for two years and
a half in the
asylum, and though taken home in this time
once or twice, she had had to
be taken back. After two
weeks of absent treatment, the husband visited
her, and
the doctor reported great improvement during the pre-
ceding
two weeks. At the end of another two weeks I
went with the husband to the
asylum, and the doctor told
us that she was well enough to go home. The
husband
asked the doctor how it was that she had improved so
rapidly,
and he said that he could not account for it. We
said nothing about the
Christian Science treatment, and
took the lady home. This was about a year
ago, and she
has remained perfectly well.
Many cases as striking
as this can be referred to in
this town, as evidence that Truth is the
healer of sickness
as well as of sin. - J. B. H.
No. 1. A lady
friend, who was found to have a severe
attack of dysentery, was assured
that such attacks could
Page 407
be
cured without medicine, and advised to take no more.
She was more than
astonished at the result; for in less
than an hour all pain and other
symptoms of the trouble
ceased, and she felt perfectly well the next
day.
No. 2. While she was visiting relatives in the country,
an
infant of theirs was attacked severely with croup,
and appeared to be on
the verge of suffocation, giving
its parents much alarm. The infant was
taken in
the arms of the lady, in thirty minutes was completely
relieved, went to sleep, and awoke in good health the
next morning.
No. 3. The mother of this child was subsequently
attacked with a
scrofulous swelling on the neck, just
under the ear, which was very
painful and disfiguring;
the side of the face, also, being badly swollen.
It was
feared that this would develop into and undergo the
usual
phenomenon of abscess, as other similar swellings
had done previously. She
had great faith in the meta-
physical treatment, because of the experience
which she
had had with her baby, and wrote a letter describing her
case. This was immediately answered, and absent
treatment was begun. In
twenty-four hours after receipt
of the letter, to the astonishment of
herself and family,
the tumor had entirely disappeared: there was not a
trace of it left; although the day before it was fully as
large as a
hen's egg; red, and tender to the touch.
These instances are only a
few of the many cures which
have been performed in this way, and they are
mentioned
simply to show what good work may be done by any
earnest,
conscientious person who has gained by reading
my works the proper
understanding of the Principle of
Christian Science.
Page 408
What a wonderful field for
enlightenment and profit
lies open to those who seek after Truth. Alas,
that the
feet of so few enter it!
Rev. M. B. G. Eddy: -
Will you kindly spare me a few
moments for the perusal of these lines from
a stranger, -
one who feels under a debt of gratitude to you, - for,
through the divine Science brought to light by you, I have
been "made
whole." I have been cured of a malignant
cancer since I began to study
Christian Science, and have
demonstrated the truth of it in a
number of cases. I have
only studied your good books, having been
unable to take
the lectures for want of means. I dare not think of
these,
for there is no prospect that I shall be in a position to
take
the course at all. I do not allow myself to com-
plain, but cheerfully
take up my books and study, and
feel thankful for this light.
M. E.
W., Canon City, Col.
Dear Madam: - May I thank you for your
book,
"Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," and
say how
much I owe to it - almost my very life - at a
most critical time . . .
.
If it were not for the heat of your American summers
(I had
nine attacks of dysentery in the last one), and the
expense, I should
dearly like to learn from you person-
ally; but I must forego this, - at
any rate, for the pres-
ent. If you would write me what the cost would be
for a
course on divine metaphysics, I would try to manage it
later
on.
Page 409
Meanwhile, I should be
grateful if you would refer me
to any one in this country who is
interested similarly,
for I get more kicks than halfpence in discussing
it.
Your obliged friend, (REV.) I. G. W. BISHOP,
Bovington
Vicarage, Hemel Hempstead,
Herts, England
Extract
from a letter to Rev. M. B. G. Eddy
A gentleman here had hired
all the most skilled doctors
in the United States - nothing helped him. He
was a
ghost to look upon. I told him just to read my copies
of your
books. I talked to him, told him what he could
do for himself if he but
tried. He laughed at me. I was
willing he should laugh, for it was very
unusual for him
to do this. He had your books two months, and last Sun-
day he returned them. I wish you could see him: he is
well. He is happy, and told me he was going to write to
you for the
books for himself this week. - E. E. B.
Dear Madam: - I have
been a sickly person all my
life, until a few months ago, and was confined
to my
bed every little while. It was during one of many attacks
that
your book, "Science and Health with Key to the
Scriptures," was handed me.
I read it only a very short
time, when I arose, well, went out into the
kitchen, pre-
pared a large dinner, and ate heartily of it.
I
have been up and well ever since, - a marvel to my
friends and family, and
sometimes they can hardly be-
lieve it is I; and feeling so grateful, I
must tell you of
Page 410
it. I wish
everybody in the world would read your book,
for all would be benefited by
it.
Gratefully yours, ANNA M. SMITH
Dear Madam: - About
seven years ago I was com-
pelled to go to an oculist and have an
operation performed
upon my eyes. He fitted me with glasses, which I wore
for a considerable time, and then removed; but the pain
and
difficulty returned, and I was obliged to go again to
the oculist, who
advised me never to take my glasses off
again.
I continued
wearing them for fully five years longer,
until some time in last January,
when, upon reading your
book, "Science and Health with Key to the
Scriptures,"
I again took them off. Since that time, though I have been
in the courts reporting, and reading fine notes frequently,
I have
experienced no difficulty with my eyes.
Very respectfully,
WILLIAM A.
SMITH, Wilmington, Del.
Dear Mrs. Eddy: - We have been studying
"Science
and Health with Key to the Scriptures" for a year, and
I
cannot tell you how much it has done for us; giving us
health instead of
sickness, and giving us such an under-
standing of God as we never had
before. Christian
Science was our only help two weeks ago, when our baby
was born. My husband and myself were alone. I dressed
myself the next
day; commenced doing my work the
third day, and am well and strong. It
must be pleasing
to you to know how much good your work is doing.
KITTIE BECK, Elmwood, Cass Co., Neb.
Page 411
I was a helpless sufferer in August, 1883, and had been
so for many
years. The physicians said I had cancer
of the uterus. I heard of your
book, "Science and Health
with Key to the Scriptures," bought a copy,
began read-
ing it, and a great light seemed to break through the
darkness. I cried aloud in joy, "This is what I have
been hungering for,
these many years!" I studied it
closely, and healed myself and several of
my friends be-
fore I had taken instruction of any teacher.
MRS. S.
A. McMAHON, Wyandotte, Kans.
I was healed thoroughly of the belief of
chronic hepati-
tis and kidney disease, by reading "Science and Health
with Key to the Scriptures." I have never, to this day,
had the
slightest return of it.
J. P. FILBERT, Council Bluffs, Iowa
You,
dear Mrs. Eddy, have saved my life, through
Science and Health; and I feel
that the patients healed
through me should give the first thanks to God
and to
you. - MRS. D. S. HARRIMAN, Kansas City, Mo.
How grand
your book, "Science and Health with Key
to the Scriptures," is! It is a
translation of Truth. No
amount of money could buy the book of me, if I
could not
get another. No matter what suffering comes, physical
or
mental, I have only to take Science and Health, and
almost invariably the
first sentence brings relief. It
Page 412
seems to steady the thought. I do not think any student
old enough
to neglect reading it. When we think we are
advanced far enough to let
that book alone, then are
we in danger.
MRS. ELLEN P. CLARK,
Dorchester, Mass.
Many thanks for the good received from your books.
When I commenced reading them, I was carrying about
a very sick body.
Your books have healed me. I am
now in perfect health. People look at me
with surprise,
and say they do not understand it; but when they see
the sick ones made well, they are not always willing to
believe it.
MRS. JOSEPH TILLSON, South Hanson, Mass.
Rev. M. B. G. Eddy: -
I add one more testimony of
a cure from reading your book, "Science and
Health
with Key to the Scriptures." Five years ago I lay pros-
trate
with piles and inflammation of the bowels. All
the coating came off,
apparently. A stricture was formed,
beyond medical reach. I then lived in
Chicago; one
of the best physicians, who made a specialty of treating
piles, attended me. The pain was relieved, but my
bowels were inactive,
and remained so until New Year's
eve.
I determined to trust all
to God, or die before I would
take any more medicine, as I never had an
action unless
I took a free dose of some laxative. If I forgot to take
the medicine one night, or allowed myself to be without
it, I had a
terrible sick headache for two or three days,
and terrible backache. I
never had backache at any
Page 413
other time, and the piles would be so much inflamed, in
two days'
time, that I could hardly tell where I suffered
the worst.
Since
I have learned to trust all to God, I have not
had the least trouble with
the piles, nor one twinge of
the backache. I have an easy action of the
bowels each
morning. It was five days after I resolved to leave medi-
cine alone, before a natural movement took place; and
ever since I have
been perfectly regular. It was a great
effort for me to take that step,
for I knew I was running
the risk of throwing myself back into all misery,
and
perhaps into a worse state than before. By reading
Science and
Health, I learned that God was able to save
the body as well as the soul,
and I believed His promises
were for me.
MATTIE E. MAYFIELD, Des
Moines, Iowa
For the Cause of Truth, I submit the following testi-
monial for publication; may it bring one more, at least,
into
the fold of divine Science ! The truth, as it is stated
in "Science and
Health with Key to the Scriptures,"
has done much towards making our home
the abiding-
place of peace and harmony. I now write of the wonder-
ful demonstration of Truth over the birth of my baby
boy, two weeks ago.
Sunday, September 23, we went
for a long drive of three hours; at night I
retired at the
usual hour; toward morning I was given a little warn-
ing; when I awoke at seven o'clock, the birth took place.
Not more than
ten minutes after, I ate a hearty break-
fast, and then had a refreshing
sleep; at ten o'clock
walked across the room while my bed was dressed;
at
Page 414
twelve took a substantial
dinner; most of the afternoon
sat up in bed, without any support but
Truth; at six
in the evening dressed myself and walked to the dining-
room, and remained up for two hours. Next morning
I arose at the usual
hour, and have kept it up ever since,
- was not confined to my bed one
whole day. The
second day was out walking in the yard, and the third
day went for a drive in the morning and received callers
in the afternoon.
If it had not been for the presence of
my young hopeful, it would have
been hard to believe
that there had so recently been a belief of a birth
in the
house; but then, I was sustained by Love, and had no
belief of
suffering to take my strength away. Before
baby was two weeks old, I
cooked, swept, ran the sew-
ing machine, etc., assisting with the
housework gen-
erally. How grateful I am for the obstetrics of this
grand Science! Mothers need no longer listen to the
whispering lies of the
old serpent, for the law of mortal
mind is broken by Truth.
MRS. DORA
HOSSICK, Carrolton, Mo.
My wife and I have been healed by reading your
book,
"Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures." We
both feel
very grateful to you.
Five months ago my wife gave birth to a child,
with-
out pain or inconvenience, has done all the housework
since,
and has been every minute perfectly well. Neither
she nor the child have
been ill, - as was constantly the
case with former children, - so we have
thought it right
to name the child Glover Eddy.
We have been
reading Science and Health nearly
Page 415
two years, and have sold several copies to others. We
are reading
the Journal also this year.
Yours respectfully, JOHN B. HOUSEL,
Lincoln, Neb.
Dear Mother: - The most blessed of women! Oh,
how I long to sit within range of your voice and hear the
truth that
comes to you from on high! for none could
speak such wondrous thoughts as
have come from your
pen, except it be the Spirit that speaketh in you.
Two years ago last October, while laboring under a
great strain
of care and anxiety in regard to financial
affairs, I heard of Christian
Science. I borrowed "Sci-
ence and Health with Key to the Scriptures," and
began
to read. I bless God that I was driven to it by such an
extremity. After reading some one hundred and fifty
pages, I was convinced
that it was the truth for which
I had searched during twenty years. While
I was read-
ing the chapter on Imposition and Demonstration, (1) I
was healed of endometritis and prolapsus uteri of over
twenty years'
standing, pronounced incurable by emi-
nent physicians. Professor Ludlam,
the dean of Hahne-
mann Medical College, of Chicago, Ill., was one of my
doctors.
Before I was healed, to walk seven or eight blocks
would so fatigue me that it would take me a week to
recover. I now started
out and walked, and was on my
feet all day and for several succeeding
days, but felt no
weariness from my labors.
I felt, after being
healed, I must have a Science and
Health of my own. I had no money to buy
it, so earned
(1) Page 234, revised edition of 1890.
Page 416
it by getting subscribers for the
Journal. It has gone
with me everywhere I have been. I have been
well ever
since.
I had suffered from bodily ailments, but they
were
nothing compared to my mental trials. Grief, hatred,
jealousy,
and revenge had well-nigh bereft me of reason.
I had lost a home of
plenty, been reduced to almost abject
poverty, and had become a cheerless
woman, - could
not smile without feeling I had sinned.
All my
griefs and sorrows are now turned to joy, and
my hatred is changed to
love. "Glory to God in the
highest, and on earth peace, good will toward
men." I
read Science and Health, and all your other books, to-
gether
with the New Testament, every minute I can
get. - E. B. C., Omaha,
Neb.
I must add one more to your great pile of letters, to
tell
you what your book, "Science and Health with Key
to the Scriptures," has
done for me and my family. More
than a year ago, my husband was suffering
from an injury
received about a year previous, and he went to Mrs. B. for
treatment. His shoulder had been fractured, his collar-
bone broken,
and he had sustained internal injuries. Sev-
eral M. D.'s had attended
him, but had given him very
little relief. Mrs. B. treated him a short
time, and he
received much benefit. He bought Science and Health.
From reading it, I was cured of a belief of chronic liver
complaint. I
suffered so much from headaches and con-
stipation, and other beliefs,
that I seldom ever saw a well
day; but, thanks to you and divine
Principle, I now
seldom ever have a belief of feeling badly.
Page 417
November 4th, last, I was confined. I
was alone,
because I knew no one whose thought was in harmony
with
Science. I thought I could get along without help,
and I did. My little
girl was sleeping in the same room
with me, and after the birth she called
a woman who
was asleep upstairs, to take care of the baby. This
woman
was much frightened; but, on seeing how com-
posed I was, she got over her
fright. I was sitting up
in bed, holding the child, and feeling as well as
I ever
did in my life. I never had seen a Scientist nor been
treated,
but got all my ideas from Science and Health.
My baby was born on Sunday
morning, and I got up
Monday at noon, and stayed up. I never got along so
well with a baby as I did with this one.
I am very thankful for
the knowledge of Science I
have gained through your book. I want so much
to be
a Scientist; but we are very poor. My husband is a
brakeman on
the railroad; and I have very little educa-
tion. There is comfort in the
thought that, if I can't be
a Scientist, my children may be.
Yours
with much love,
C. A. W., Lexington, Mo.
In the February
Journal it appears there is some one
who says that "Science and
Health with Key to the
Scriptures" is hard to understand, and who thinks
she
can explain it. Perhaps my experience with Science
and Health may
help some one who might otherwise
take up this thought, and so be led away
from the truth.
After reading and studying it for some time, and talking
to the Scientists I met in my travels, the thought came
to me, "Why
not try these truths on yourself ?" I did
Page 418
so, and to my surprise and great joy I found immediate
relief.
Dyspepsia (the trouble of most commercial travel-
lers), catarrh, and many
lesser beliefs, left me, so that in
a short time I was a well man,
and by no other means
than trusting to the Saviour's promises as explained
in
Science and Health. This took place while I was travel-
ling about
the country.
On my return home, I gave my wife treatments. In
many instances the blessing came before the treatment
was finished, and
often we proved that only a thought
of the power of Truth was sufficient
to give relief.
One Sunday morning, soon after my return, a friend
called and asked if I could give him anything to relieve
his wife,
who, he said, had been suffering for some days
with rheumatism in her
shoulder, so severely that she
could neither dress alone nor comb her
hair. I told him
that the only medicine we had in the house was Chris-
tian Science. He laughed at the idea; but before he
left, he asked if
I would give his wife a treatment. I
told him I was very young in Science,
but if she wished
it, I would. He went home, but returned immediately,
saying she wished me to come. Then I asked help from
the fountain of
Truth, and started for my first treatment
to be given away from home. When
I left their room
fifteen minutes later, she was shaking her hand high
above her head, and exclaiming, "I am all right; I am
well!" That was
in November, 1887, and she has had
no return of the belief since.
A friend told me that his son, twelve years old, had
catarrh so badly that
his breath was very offensive, his
throat troubled him all the time, and
that he had been
deaf since he had the measles. In less than three
weeks
Page 419
both beliefs vanished.
This was a case of absent treat-
ment. I could give you other cases, but I
think I have
said enough to prove that Science and Health is not
hard to understand, for my work has all been done with-
out my
ever attending class.
H. H. B., New York City
A lady, with no
other instructor than "Science and
Health with Key to the Scriptures," has
demonstrated
beyond many who have taken numerous lessons. Per-
suaded, through her reading, of the allness of God, -
and the perfectness
of idea, - she would know nothing
else. A daughter, so badly affected by
poison oak (ivy)
that for weeks death was feared from blood-poisoning,
had recovered with a terrible dread of that plant. As
the next
season's picnic time drew near, she was regret-
ting that she dared not go
again. The mother, with her
new-born faith in the Science of being, said,
"Certainly
you can go, for nothing can harm you." Assured by
these
words, the daughter went, and in her rambles fell
into a mass of the
dreaded plant; but trusting to the
word of Truth, she thought nothing of
it till one who
knew of her previous trouble said, in her mother's pres-
ence, "See, her face is showing red already." But the
mother was
prompt in denial and assurance. Next morn-
ing, old symptoms were out in
force, but they yielded
at once and finally to the positive and
uncompromising
hold on Truth. Another daughter, that was thought
too
delicate to raise, from bronchial and nervous troubles,
always dosed with
medicine and wrapped in flannels,
now runs free and well without either of
these, winter
Page 420
and summer. The
mother was recently attacked by
mesmerism from the church that believed
she was in-
fluencing her daughter to leave. She overcame by the
same
unwavering trust in God, seeing Truth clearer than
ever before. Her
demonstrations come through no form
of treatment, but by letting the
Spirit bear witness, -
by the positive recognition and realization of no
reality
but ever-present good.
The other night her husband was
attacked with an
old belief, similar to one that some time before had
ended
in a congestive chill which the doctor thought very seri-
ous,
and from which he had been a long time in recover-
ing. The wife simply
recognized no reality in the belief,
and, seeing only perfect being, felt
no fear. She did
nothing, - no "treating" in the usual sense. There is
nothing to do but to understand that all is harmony,
always. He felt
the presence that destroys the sense of
evil, and next morning - there was
nothing left to re-
cover from.
A lady, while doing some
starching, thoughtlessly put
her hand into the scalding starch to wring
out a collar.
Recalled to mortal sense by the stinging pain, she imme-
diately realized the all-power of God. At once the pain
began to
subside; and as she brushed off the scalding
starch, she could see the
blister-swelling go down till
there was but a little redness to show for
the accident;
absorbed in her thankfulness, she mechanically wrung
out the collar with the same hand, and with no sense of
pain, thus
verifying the demonstration. This woman
(not reading English) only knows
Science as she has re-
ceived it from her practitioner during the
treatments
received within the last month. So much has come to
Page 421
her from Spirit through her
loyalty to Christ, in so far
as she could understand.
A case of
ulcerated tooth and neuralgic belief would
only partially yield after
repeated treatments, till it was
discovered that the patient was
antagonizing Truth by
holding the thought that her old remedy, laudanum,
would give relief; treated from this standpoint, relief was
immediate
and final.
One morning after Rev.- had been preaching to
thousands for several days, he told them that he had
never felt such a
sense of depression nor had so little
showing of results. Some Scientists
hearing this, at once
saw his trouble. He had been fearlessly exposing and
denouncing evil; and it had turned on him, till the mes-
merism was
likely to overcome him entirely, for he did
not understand the seeming
power. The effect of the
silent word to uplift and sustain, was very
manifest that
evening in his preaching, and was a beautiful demon-
stration of Science. He probably only felt Spirit-inspira-
tion as he had
not before, without a thought as to what
had broken the evil spell; but we
never know the what,
or when, or where, of the harvest we can sow - "God
giveth the increase." - E. H. B., Sacramento
I had two
German patients who were anxious to have
you publish "Science and Health
with Key to the Scrip-
tures" in their language. I advised them to buy it
and
try to read it. They commenced reading, and now can
Page 422
read all of Science and Health, but do
not read well any
other book or paper, and they do not need to. With
great love. - M. H. P.
I sold three copies of "Science and Health
with Key
to the Scriptures" to friends, not long ago. One of them,
fifty years of age, said to me, "I never had one day's
sickness in my
life; but after reading Science and Health
I found that I was bruised and
mangled, from the crown
of my head to the soles of my feet. I have been
reach-
ing after something that, before reading Science and
Health,
seemed to me unattainable;" and with tears
in her eyes, she rejoiced in
the God of her salvation.
Did not Jesus say, "If these should hold their
peace, the
stones would immediately cry out"?
P. L., Lexington,
Ky.
For eight years I suffered terribly with my eyes; I
could not read fifteen minutes without the most agoniz-
ing sick headache.
Oculists called it a case of double
vision, and said that the only chance
for a cure lay in
cutting the muscles of the eyes. This was done, but the
pain was worse than before. One of the most famous
oculists of New
York said I would simply have to endure
it for life, as it was a case of
severe astigmatism.
I suffered so that my health gave way. A friend
spoke
to me of Christian Science, but I scoffed at the idea.
Later
on, in desperation, I asked her to lend me "Science
and Health with Key to
the Scriptures," thinking I might
be able to read five minutes a day in
it. I opened the
Page 423
book at the
chapter on Physiology, and began. Time
passed unnoticed: every page seemed
illuminated. I
said, "This is everything or nothing; if everything, then
you need no glasses." I took off the heavy ground glasses,
and went
on. What a terrible headache I had the next
morning! but I fought it with
the truth laid down in the
book. I said again, "This is everything or
nothing,"
and the truth triumphed. The headache ceased, but I
felt
miserably. I recalled what was said about chemicali-
zation, and
persevered.
In four days my eyes were well; I read as many hours
a day as I pleased; my strength returned. I conquered
one belief after
another, until now, strong and well, I
meet every belief with confidence.
"I will fear no evil:
for Thou art with me." For two years I
have realized
the peace and confidence which the knowledge that God
is all-powerful and always present alone can give. Feel-
ing a great
desire to spread Christian Science, that it
may do the good to others that
it has to me, not only
physically but spiritually, I ask if you have any
mission-
aries in the work. Being a member of the Episcopal
Church, I
have always sent what I could to help foreign
missions through that
church. Will it do the most good
to continue so doing, as our foreign
missionaries are de-
voted men, or have you Christian Science missionaries
who devote their lives to the work?
An answer addressed to me, or
published in the Journal,
would help one who is seeking to do
right.
Yours sincerely, K. L. T.
I do wish to add my testimony of
being healed by
reading "Science and Health with Key to the Scrip-
Page 424
tures." I had been an invalid for
over twenty years,
and had given up all hope of ever being well again. I
had read the book about six weeks, when it seemed
I was made all over
new, and I could "run, and not be
weary; and . . . walk, and not faint." I
did not under-
stand it, but it was the savior from death unto life with
me; I have remained well ever since I was healed, -
more than five
years ago. I commenced to treat others
as soon as I was born anew into the
kingdom of Truth.
My patients were healed right along, before I had taken
lessons in a class, and they have remained well to this
day.
Christian Science has made me as young as a girl of
sixteen. If this
should meet the eye of any sufferers
who may be led to go and do as I did,
they will be
healed. - N. A. E.
Language is inadequate when
bearing grateful testi-
mony to the book "Science and Health with Key to
the
Scriptures." By its simple reading, I was healed of ills
which
baffled the skill of specialists and all curatives
that love and money
could command. After eighteen
years of invalidism, and eight years of
scepticism, with-
out hope, with no God, - except a First Cause, - I was
given up to die.
A loving friend told me of this book, which was
soon
brought; and thirty-five pages of the first chapter were
read to
me that evening. The next morning I got up,
walked, and read the book for
myself.
I mention the chapter, for the reason that nearly two
years have passed since those wonderful words of Life
Page 425
were first read to me, and still their
sacred sweetness is
ever the same. Now I exclaim, God is
All!
MRS. MARY A. R.
It is impossible for me to keep still any
longer. In
1885, when I had not known a well day in five years,
"Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" was
placed in my hands by
a dear lady who insisted upon
my reading it, saying she believed it would
heal me. Like
many, I was afraid of it, - until I learned what it really
was. The friend's words were verified. I was healed
by the
reading of the book, and for one year continued
to read nothing whatever
but the Bible and Science
and Health. They were my constant study. Through
the
understanding gained, that God is All, I came to demon-
strate with great success, and with but one thought, -
for I knew
nothing about giving a "treatment;" I wish
I knew as little now, for I
believe that healing in Christian
Science is to be done in a moment. I
became anxious to
learn more, to study with the teacher, but funds would
not allow, - and I thought to substitute a course in
Chicago,
perhaps. Every time I would speak of it, how-
ever, my dear mother would
say, "You have Science and
Health and the Bible, and God for your teacher
- what
more do you need? If I could not go to the teacher, I
would
not go to any one."
If I had only heeded the blessed counsel of
Truth!
I went to Chicago, however, so full of confidence in
Christian Science that I supposed every one who had
studied with Mrs. Eddy
must be right. Unfortunately,
I took my course with a spiritualist who had
been through
Page 426
two of her
classes; discovered my mistake, and went to
a mind-cure, - only to find
the mistake repeated. Being
an earnest seeker for Truth, I tried again to
go to the
Massachusetts Metaphysical College; but it was un-
certain
when there would be a class, so I took a course
with one of Mrs. Eddy's
students in Boston. The dark-
ness now rolled away. Science and Health
once more
revealed the light to me as of old.
All this time, the
mind-curers had me in view, and
were sending me reading-matter; but,
praise the Lord!
Truth is victorious.
My dear brothers and
sisters, let us be safely guided
by the counsels of our Mother, in Science
and Health!
I, for one, am astounded that I was so led astray; but I
did it all through ignorance, - and the sincere desire to
know the
truth and to do it, saved me.
Your sister in truth, R. D.
I have been reading Science and Health for one year
and a half, and have
had some wonderful demonstra-
tions. People here are antagonistic to the
Science, and
tell me that I am a "fit subject for the asylum." Physi-
cians threaten me with arrest, also, but I walk straight
on, knowing
well in whom I trust.
E. I. R., Wauseon, Ohio
A little
over two years ago, while living in Pittsburgh,
my wife and I had
Christian Science brought to our at-
tention. We were at once interested,
and bought a copy
of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures."
Page 427
At the time, Mrs. A- was suffering
with severe belief
of astigmatism of the eyes. She had been treated by a
number of specialists, during seven years, the last being
the late
Dr. Agnew of New York, who prescribed two
sets of glasses. He said that he
could do nothing more
for her, as the trouble was organic; that she must
wear
glasses constantly; that if she attempted to go without,
she
would become either blind or insane. The glasses
were in operation, and
still life had become a burden
from constant pain, when Christian Science
came to our
relief. Mrs. A- had not in years read for two con-
secutive minutes, and could not use her eyes in sewing
at all. The lady
that told us of the Science, insisted that
she could read Science
and Health, which she actually
did, - reading it through twice, and
studying it carefully
each time. After the second reading, there came the
thought that she did not need the glasses, and she at once
abandoned
them, and went about her usual duties. In
about two weeks from that day
the eyes were perfectly
healed, and are well and strong to-day.
E. G.
A., New York City
My Dear Teacher: - Yours without date is at
hand.
Could you know out of what depths of material débris
the first reading of the first volume of Science and Health,
six
years ago last December, lifted me, you would be-
lieve it had always been
"all I could ask." It was only
words from the pen of
uninspired writers that gave me
pain. As the revelation of the
All-good appeared to
me, all other books, all forms of religion, all
methods
of healing, to my sense became void. Chronic beliefs of
Page 428
disease of twenty years' standing,
dimness of sight from
the belief of age, all disappeared instantly;
indeed,
material life seemed a blank. The why? I could not
explain, but this I did know, in this realm of the real I
found joy,
peace, rest, love to all, unbounded, unspeak-
able. Human language had
lost its power of expression,
for no words came to me; and in all this six
years of bliss
I still have found no words to tell my new-found life in
God. The most chronic forms of disease have some-
times been healed
instantly and without argument. With
great love and gratitude. - M. H.
P.
I take great comfort in reading "Science and Health
with Key
to the Scriptures," and will cling firmly to
the light I have, knowing
that more will be given me.
While in Salt Lake City, I met at the hotel a
lady who
had been an invalid all her life. I talked with her about
Christian Science, and loaned her Science and Health,
together with the
Journals I had with me. She had
become very much discouraged,
having lost all faith
in doctors and medicine, and did not know where to
turn next. She became very much absorbed in the book,
feeling she had
found salvation. She at once laid aside
the glasses she was wearing, and
now reads readily with-
out them. She and her husband have accepted this
truth
beautifully. - MRS. G. A. G., Ogden, Utah
On a trip
through Mexico I met a woman who told me
that, although she did not
believe in Christian Science,
on her way from Wisconsin, her home, she had
bought
Page 429
a copy of Science and
Health. When she reached M-,
she met a minister from the North, whom the
M. D.'s
had sent there because of consumption, - they had given
him
two months to live. She gave him Science and
Health, and while doing so,
felt it was all absurd. The
minister read it, and was healed
immediately. Was not
this a beautiful demonstration of the power of
Truth,
and good evidence that Science and Health is the word
of
God?
I had while in Mexico a glorious conquest over the
fear of
smallpox. There were hundreds of cases in some
small towns where we were.
After the fear was cast
out, never a thought of it as real came to me or
my hus-
band, or troubled us in any way. On the street I met
three
men who were being taken to the pest-house with
that loathsome disease. -
F. W. C.
A lady to whom I sold "Science and Health with Key
to
the Scriptures," writes me: "My longing to know
God has been answered in
this book; and with the answer
has come the healing." She is an intimate
friend of
Will Carleton, the poet. This is doing much good in
the
social circles. He has for a long time been interested,
but his wife has
declared it could not heal, and was not
Christian. She will now be obliged
to acknowledge this
healing, for the lady above referred to has been, to
sense,
a great sufferer. - P. J. L.
Some of the experiences given
in the Journal have
been so helpful to me, I have been moved to
give to its
Page 430
readers a little
experience of my own, which occurred
when I first began the study of
"Science and Health with
Key to the Scriptures."
I had already
been healed of sick headache, almost
instantly, by declaring that I was
God's child, and, as
God is perfect, His child must be perfect also. This
had
given me great happiness, and a quiet, peaceful state of
mind I
never had known before. My family did not
seem to see anything good in
Christian Science, but to
me it was sacred.
One Monday morning, I
awoke feeling very ill indeed.
The morning was warm and sultry. I thought
I cer-
tainly could not wash that day; but when I went down-
stairs,
I found my daughter had made preparations for
such work. I thought, "Well,
if she feels like washing,
I will not say anything; perhaps I shall get
over this."
After breakfast I went about my work, thinking I could
lean against the tub and wash with more ease than I
could do up the
morning work. I tried to treat myself
as I had done before, - tried to
realize that "all is Mind,
there is no matter;" that "God is All, there is
nothing
beside Him," but all to no purpose. I seemed to grow
worse
all the time. I did not want my family to know
how badly I was feeling,
and it was very humiliating to
think that I must give up and go to bed.
All at once these questions came to me, as though
spoken by some
one, taking me away from my line of
thought entirely: How is God an
ever-present help?
How does He know our earnest desires? Then, with-
out waiting for me to think how, the answer came in
the same way, God is
conscious Mind. Instantly the
thoughts came: Is God conscious of me? Can I
be
Page 431
conscious of Him? I was
healed instantly: every bad
feeling was destroyed. I could see that the
morning
had not changed a particle, but I was oblivious of the
weather. It did not seem that I had anything more to
do with that washing.
It was finished in good season,
while I was "absent from the body, and
present with the
Lord."
That was the beginning of the battle with
sin and
self, but at the same time it was the dawning of the resur-
rection. Since then (over four years) I have had many
experiences, some of
which seem too sacred to give to the
world. False literature has caused me
much suffering;
sorrow has visited my home; but, through all this, the
light that came to me on that Monday morning - that
new and precious
sense of omnipresent Life, Truth,
and Love - has never left me one moment.
It was the
light that cannot be hid.
MRS. H. B. J., Cambridge,
Ill.
HEALING
Four years ago I learned for the first time that
there
was a way to be healed through Christ. I had always
been sick,
but found no relief in drugs; still, I thought
that if the Bible was true,
God could heal me. So, when
my attention was called to Christian Science,
I at once
bought "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures,"
studied it, and began to improve in health. I seemed
to see God so near
and so dear, - so different from
the God I had been taught to fear. I
studied alone night
and day, until I found I was healed, both physically
and
mentally.
Page 432
Then came a
desire to tell every one of this wonder-
ful truth. I expected all to feel
just as pleased as
I did; but to my sorrow none would believe. Some,
it is true, took treatment and were helped, but went
on in the old way,
without a word of thanks. But still
I could not give up. I seemed to know
that this was
the way, and I had rather live it alone than to follow
the crowd the other way. But as time passed, I had
some good
demonstrations of this Love that is our
Life.
I am the only
Scientist in Le Roy, as yet, but the good
seed has been sown, and where
the people once scoffed
at this "silly new idea," they are becoming
interested,
and many have been healed, and some are asking about
it.
One dear old lady and I study the Bible Lessons
every Tuesday afternoon.
She came to call, and as we
talked, she told me of her sickness of years'
standing;
and was healed during our talk, so that she has never felt
a touch of the old trouble since.
One lady, whom I had never seen, was
healed of con-
sumption in six weeks' treatment. She had not left
her
bed in four months, and had been given up by many
physicians.
MRS.
FLORENCE WILLIAMS, Le Roy, Mich.
I like the Journal and
Quarterly, and have many of
Rev. Mary B. G. Eddy's works, which
make my little
world. I have a great desire to learn more of this Love
that casts out all fear, and to work in this Science. It is
the
greatest pleasure I have, to talk this truth, as far as
I understand it,
to any who will listen; and am waiting
for others to learn of this blessed
Science.
Page 433
I give my experience
in reading "Science and Health
with Key to the Scriptures" aloud to a
little child. A
letter published in the Journal, written by a lady
who
had relieved a two-year-old child by reading to her, first
suggested this course to me. At the time, my little one
was a trifle over
a year old. I was trying to overcome
for him a claim which, though not one
of serious illness,
was no small trial to me, because of its frequent
occur-
rence and its seeming ability to baffle my efforts. One
day as
I sat near and treated him, it occurred to me to
read aloud. I took up one
of the older editions of Science
and Health lying near, began at the
words, "Brains
can give no idea of God's man," and read on for two
or
three paragraphs, endeavoring - as the writer suggested
- to understand it
myself; yet thinking, perchance,
the purer thought of the babe might grasp
the underlying
meaning sooner than I. So it proved. Before the dis-
turbance felt by me had been calmed, the weary expres-
sion on the face of
the child was replaced by one of evident
relief.
When putting him
to sleep, I had often repeated the
spiritual interpretation of the Lord's
Prayer. One night
he was very restless, fretful, and cried a great deal,
while I seemed unable to soothe him. At last I per-
ceived that he
was asking for something, and it dawned
upon me that the Prayer might be
his desire. I began
repeating it aloud, endeavoring to mean it
also. He
turned over quietly, and in a few minutes was sweetly
sleeping.
The last time my attention was specially called to
this
subject, was about a year after the first experience.
Various hindrances
had been allowed to keep me from
Page 434
Science and Health all day; and it was toward even-
ing when I
recognized that material sense had been
given predominance, and must be
put down. I soon felt
drawn to read the book. The little boy had seemed
restless and somewhat disturbed all day; but without
thinking
specially of him, rather to assist in holding my
own thought, I began to
read aloud, "Consciousness
constructs a better body, when it has conquered
our
fear of matter." In a minute or two a little hand had
touched
mine, and I looked down into a sweet face fairly
radiant with smiles. I
read it over. The child was evi-
dently delighted, and was restful and
happy all the rest
of the day. - A. H. W., Deland, Florida
A week
ago a friend wrote to me on business, and in
the letter stated that his
wife had been very ill for six
weeks. At once the thought came, "Tell her
to read the
chapter on Healing, in Science and Health." In my
answer
to his letter I obeyed the thought. A few days
after, I had occasion to
call; found her much better, and
reading Science and Health. They
had done as directed,
and had received the promise. - R., New York
The first allusion to Christian Science reached me in
an article I
read on that subject. Later, a friend came
to visit me, bringing a copy of
"Science and Health with
Key to the Scriptures." For two weeks I read it
eagerly;
then I sent for a copy for myself. When it came, I
began to
study it. The Bible, of which I had had but
a dim understanding, began to
grow clearer. The light
Page 435
grew
brighter each day. Finally, I began to treat my-
self against ills that
had bound me for twenty-eight
years. At the end of six weeks I was
healed, much to the
amazement of all who knew me. From that time,
my
desire was to help others out of their suffering, and to
talk this
wonderful truth. After a while I took the class
lectures, and am doing
what I can to spread this healing
gospel. - A. M. G.
Rev. Mary B.
G. Eddy
My Dear Leader: - I will try to tell you how I was
led
to Christian Science. Heretofore I have not tried to
lead a Christian
life, but have always firmly believed
that if one truly desired and needed
help, he would get
it from God by asking for it. I suffered, as I think
but
very few have, for fourteen years; yet I did not think it
sufficient to warrant me in asking God to help me, until
I gave up all
hope elsewhere, - and this occurred in the
spring of 1891. I then thought
that the time had come
to commit myself to God. Being at home alone, after
going to bed I prayed God to deliver me from my tor-
ments, this
sentence being the substance of my prayer,
"What shall I do to be saved?"
I repeated that sentence, I suppose, until I fell asleep.
About
twelve o'clock at night, I saw a vision in the form
of a man with wings,
standing at the foot of my bed, -
wings partly spread, - one arm hanging
loosely at his
side, and one extended above his head. At the same
time there was a bright light shining in my room, which
made all objects
shine like fire. I knew where I was,
and was not afraid. The vision (for
such it was), after
Page 436
looking
directly at me for some time, spoke this one sen-
tence, and then
disappeared: "Do right, and thou shalt
be saved."
I immediately
tried to live according to that precept,
and found relief in proportion to
my understanding.
I soon after learned of Christian Science. One of my
brothers in Kansas, having been healed by it, persuaded
me to buy
"Science and Health with Key to the Scrip-
tures," wherein I learned that
the above precept was the
key to Christian Science; that it is Christian
Science to
do right, and that nothing short of right living has any
claim to the name.
I have been learning my way in Christian Science
about one year, and have been successful in healing. I
have all of
your books, and am a subscriber for the Jour-
nal and
Quarterly Bible Lessons. Some of the cases
I have treated have
yielded almost instantly. I am a
stranger to you, but I have told you the
truth, just as it
occurred. Yours in truth,
SAM SCHROYER, Oklahoma
City, Okla.
I desire to make known the great good I have re-
ceived by reading the blessed book "Science and Health
with Key to the
Scriptures." Four years have now
passed since I began to read it. It has
been my only
healer and teacher, as I never have had an opportunity
to go through a class; but I find that the "Spirit of truth"
will teach us
all things if we will but practise well what
we know. After two years and
a half of study, I thought,
as many beginners think, that I had travelled
over the
worst part of this narrow path.
Page
437
Soon after, it came about that I was separated from
every one who had ever heard of Christian Science; and,
as I lived in the
country, no one came to visit me for
about eight months. At first, I
thought the Lord had
wrought a great evil. I had no one to talk to, but
would
take my Science and Health every morning, before go-
ing about
my work, and read; yet mortal mind would
say, "You can do no good, with no
one to talk with."
At last, one morning after listening to the serpent's
voice,
I looked out at the little wild flowers as they waved to
and
fro; they seemed to be a living voice, and this is what
they said: "On
earth peace, good will toward men."
There was also a mocking-bird that
would sit on the
house and sing. For the first time, I realized that
divine
Love was the only friend I needed. Soon after, I sent
the
Journal to my nearest neighbor, by her little son
who came to play
with my children. Afterward she
told me that when she began to read it she
said to the
family, "God has sent this book to me." Calling to see
her one evening, I found her suffering from heart dis-
ease. I began
talking to her about Christian Science,
and in less than an hour she
declared herself healed.
She is to-day a happy woman. I would say to all
suf-
fering ones, that if you will buy a copy of this wonderful
book,
"Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures,"
by the Rev. Mary Baker G.
Eddy, and study it, and
practise its teachings, you will find it a pearl
of great
price.
MRS. FANNIE MEEKS, Bells, Grayson Co., Texas
On my arrival in New York, last July, my brother
spoke to me of "Science
and Health with Key to the
Page 438
Scriptures;" and, coming in contact with a number of
Scientists,
all wishing me to procure the book, I did so.
I read it through in the
same manner in which I would
read any other book, to find out the
contents.
Before I got to the end, having partly understood its
meaning, I began to demonstrate over old physical trou-
bles, and they
disappeared. A belt that I had worn for
over twelve years, I took off, and
threw overboard (being
a seafaring man).
Up to that time I had
been a constant smoker, and
chewed tobacco; but I gradually lost all
pleasure in it,
and now look upon it with disgust.
I was brought
up in the Lutheran doctrine, and when
a boy received a good knowledge of
Scripture; but I
never understood it until explained to me in Science and
Health. H. F. WITKOV,
27 Needham Road, Liverpool, England
In a letter received a few days ago from one of my
absent patients,
there was such a glorious testimonial
for Science and Health that I feel
as if I ought to send
it in for the pages of our Journal, trusting
it may be the
means of helping many others to turn for help and com-
fort, in every emergency, to this book.
In her letter, this lady says:
"A few days since, I had
quite a serious claim attack me. I left my
mending, took
Science and Health and read all the afternoon and even-
ing; when all trace of the claim was gone, and I have
felt nothing of it
since."
When this dear woman applied to Truth, she was a
great
sufferer. Her gratitude knows no bounds. Many
Page
439
chronic ailments, which have bound her with heavy
chains for many years, are being removed one by one.
It is such a sweet
privilege to lead her out of this bond-
age of flesh, for she turns with
such childlike trust and
obedience to the book, and looks to that for aid
in every
trial and affliction. It is beautiful to see, and is a rebuke
to some of us older in the thought, who depend so much
on
personality.
She is far away, in a little country town where Science
has hardly been heard of; but she is so happy with her
book that she
has no desire for other reading.
I have always tried to show her that
God was with her
there as well as with us here; that in Him she possesses
all; and that with her Bible and Science and Health no
harm can
befall her, for the remedy for every ill she has
at hand. - MRS. C. H. S.,
Woburn, Mass.
I have been an interested reader of the Journal
for
some time, and thought I would contribute my mite by
giving one
of my latest demonstrations in Christian
Science.
An accident
occurred as follows: Officers, while hunt-
ing for a criminal in thick
underbrush, fired upon each
other through mistake, and it was found that
one was
shot six times; two of the bullets passing through the
abdomen, and one through the hips.
Two physicians who examined him had
no hope. He
asked me to help him. I took the case. Relief came
almost
instantly. I treated him for eight days; the
fifth, I heard one of three
physicians, who held a private
consultation over my patient, ask him this
question:
Page 440
"Mr. F- , have you
not got one bit of pain?" I was
rewarded by hearing him answer, "No, sir;
not the least
bit." No one else seemed to have any hope for him; but
I held firmly to the thought that God is an ever-present
help, never
doubting, and Christian Science has again
won a victory. Many people call
it a miracle, and it
has set them to thinking.
The harvest is now
ripe and ready for the reaper. I
wish some good Christian Science teacher
would come
and help us. I can help in my own way, but am not
advanced
enough to lead and teach others. I have only
studied Science and Health a
little over a year, and have
not been through a class yet.
S. G.
SCHROYER, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
I became interested in Christian
Science through be-
ing healed. I had no faith in doctors, therefore would
not consult any; but felt that something must be done,
or I would
soon follow a brother and sister who had
passed on with the same claim. In
my extremity I thought
of the "great Physician," and took my case to Him,
and
realized that He alone could help me.
A relative, finding I
would not consult a doctor or
take any drug, gave me "Science and Health
with Key
to the Scriptures" to read; saying that, although a dear
friend thought she was greatly helped by a Christian
Scientist, he himself
had no faith in that kind of treat-
ment, and had no use for the book.
I had heard of the people called Christian Scientists,
and of their
textbook, Science and Health, but knew
nothing about either; yet I wanted
to know, and took
Page 441
the book
gladly, and was soon deeply interested in it.
It was a revelation to me.
Although I could only under-
stand it in part, I knew it was the truth,
and the truth
was making me free. I felt that I had been bound and
in
prison; and that now, one after another, the bonds
were being broken, and
I was lifted into the pure air
and light of heaven. I was healed before I
had read
half-way through the precious volume; for I was obliged
to
read slowly, and some passages over and over again.
When I came to page
304, line 10 (47th edition), I then
and there felt that I must add my
testimony, though
already there were "heaps upon heaps;" but since then,
I have tried to put the thought of those dark days away
from me, and
only refer to them now in the hope that
some one who is bound may be
released and brought
into the light of divine Love, which alone can heal,
and
make us "every whit whole."
L. M. C., Brooklyn, N. Y.
I
have been thinking for a long time that I would give
my experience in
coming out of sickness into the knowl-
edge of health by reading "Science
and Health with Key
to the Scriptures."
I was sixty years old (as
we mortals count time) be-
fore I ever read one word of Christian Science.
On July
2, 1890, I met a Scientist who gave me a pamphlet called
"Christian Healing," by the Rev. Mary B. G. Eddy.
At that time I was
almost helpless. This lady advised
me to buy Science and Health. I did so,
and tried to
read it; but my hands were so lame I could not hold it,
and I let it fall to the floor so often that it became un-
bound, and I
laid it away and resumed my medicine.
Page 442
The following May, the Scientist visited in this city
again. She
advised me to burn all my medicines and to
lean unreservedly on the
promises of God. I took her
advice; had my book rebound in three volumes,
so I
could hold it more easily, and now read it constantly,
reading
nothing else. Sometimes I would suffer intensely,
then I would get a
little better; then more suffering, and
so on, until August, 1891, when
all pain left me. I have
had no return of it, and no disagreeable
sensations of any
kind, and am perfectly well in all respects.
Surely, if we will but trust our heavenly Father, He is
sufficient for us.
I hope some one of, or near, my age,
who is afflicted, may read this and
take courage; for I
have demonstrated the fact that, by reading
Science and
Health, in connection with the Bible, and trying to follow
the teaching therein, one in the autumn of life may be
made over new.
I am so thankful to God for my great
recovery!
That remark of
Sojourner Truth helps me to a better
understanding of Life in God: "God is
the great house
that holds all His children; we dwell in Him as the fishes
dwell in the seas." - P. T. P.
Until about one year ago, I had no
thought of investi-
gating Christian Science. Previous to that time it had
been presented to me in such a way that I condemned it
as
unreasonable and absurd. At that time it was pre-
sented to me in a more
reasonable light. I determined
to divest myself of prejudice (as far as
was possible)
and investigate it, thinking that if there was anything
in it, it was for me as well as others; that I surely needed
Page 443
it, and if I found no good in it, I
could then with some
show of reason condemn it.
I had been
reading Science and Health about two
weeks, when one morning I wanted my
cane. It had
been misplaced; and while looking for it the thought
came to me, If all is Mind, I need no cane. I went out
without it, have
not used it at all since, and do not need
it as a support; but for a time
I did miss it from my
hand. I had used it for years as a support to a very
lame back.
I before went much stooped, because it pained me to
straighten up; but from the time I laid my cane aside I
straightened
up, free from pain. Occasionally I have a
slight pain in my back, but it
is nothing to compare with
what it had been.
In a short time
after laying my cane aside, my pipe
and tobacco went out into the street
and have not re-
turned. I had smoked for sixty-five years, and chewed
for fifty. I have no desire for either of them; in fact,
the smoke is
offensive to me.
Many times before I had tried to quit, but the desire
for it was so strong that I would go back to it; and when
I tried to
"taper off," I would make the taper end the
longest.
Many other
physical claims have disappeared, and it
is a common thing for
acquaintances to say when they
meet me, "You look better than I have seen
you for
years; what have you been doing?" My reply is, I not
only
look better, but feel better, and am better; and
Christian Science has
done it.
With all this, I seem to have very little spiritual under-
standing of the truth; am endeavoring to get more, but
Page 444
it seems slow. If there is a shorter
road to it than I have
found, I should like to be directed to it.
J.
S. M., Joplin, Mo.
Four years ago I was healed by reading "Science and
Health with Key to the Scriptures." The third day,
one of my worst
claims gave way. The book was full of
light, and disease vanished as
naturally as darkness gives
place to light, although it was about six
months before
I was entirely healed.
Seeing this truth in its
purity, showed me where to
take my stand; and in defending it I have the
prince of
this world to meet. Mortal mind has even called me
crazy;
but what a blessing to know the nothingness of
that mind, and that divine
Principle governs all its ideas,
and will place each where it belongs!
If our Master was persecuted, can his servants hope to
escape? I know
in some degree what Paul meant when
he said he rejoiced in tribulations,
"for when I am weak,
then am I strong."
Many claims that have
baffled the skill of the physi-
cians have disappeared through my
understanding of
Truth. What a blessing that we can break the bread of
Life to others, and so add to our crown of rejoicing!
S. E. R.,
Kansas City, Mo.
A dear little six-year old boy of my acquaintance was
invited by his teacher, with the rest of his class in kinder-
garten
school, to attend a picnic one afternoon. He did
not feel that he wanted
to go; seemed dumpish, and
Page 445
according to mortal belief was not well; at noon, he said
he wanted
to go to sleep.
His mother took him in her lap and began to read to
him from "Science and Health with Key to the Scrip-
tures." Very soon
he expressed a wish to go to the
picnic, and did go. His father, happening
to pass the
place where the little ones were spending the afternoon,
and somewhat surprised to see him playing, as happy
and active as any
there, called to him and asked, "How
long did you sleep?" The little
fellow replied, "I did
not sleep at all; mamma read to me from Science and
Health, and I was well in a minute." - K. L. H.
One evening I was
calling on a neighbor, and some-
how the subject of Christian Science came
up. I asked
her what it was, and what they believed.
She then
told me of a friend of hers who had become
a Christian Scientist. This
friend had passed through
great sorrow and disappointment; her health had
failed
her, and her cheerful disposition had entirely changed;
she
could talk of nothing but her troubles, and was a
most unhappy woman. A
few years ago she visited my
neighbor, who, greatly surprised at her
changed appear-
ance, - for she was happy and well, - asked where her
troubles were. The reply was, "I have no troubles. I
have found true
happiness; for I have become a Chris-
tian Scientist."
I became
deeply interested, and asked if the students
in Clinton had public
meetings on Sundays. She replied
that they had, and told me where they
were.
The next Sunday, I went. All was quiet when I en-
Page 446
tered, for they were engaged in silent
prayer. Soon they
repeated the spiritual interpretation of the Lord's
Prayer.
I shall never forget the impression that made on me; all
the
next week I heard the leader's voice repeating the
first sentence.
I was invited to come again, and did so. One of the
ladies loaned me
"Science and Health with Key to the
Scriptures," and offered to get me
one; which she did
the next week. I have studied it in connection with the
Bible. I have greatly improved in health, having had
only one attack
of a physical trouble which caused great
suffering, since that time, and
that was a year ago.
At first, I did not think anything about being
healed,
or of my physical infirmity. I only loved the sacred teach-
ing. How true, that God's word does not return unto
Him void! The words of
truth that my neighbor's
friend spoke to her, were what first awakened me.
If
the one who first hears it does not receive it, it goes to
some
one who is ready, and it takes root and bears fruit.
MRS. G. H. I.,
Clinton, N. Y.
About three years ago I was near death's door with
various troubles; also, was seventy years old. I had a
desire to know
something of Christian Science.
I procured the textbook, and studied
it with a desire
to know the truth. At first all was dark; but light began
slowly to come, and at the end of three months I found
my physical
claims all gone and my eyesight restored.
At the end of three months more,
I had gained thirty-
five pounds in weight.
I had been an
infidel, and the change from that came
more slowly; but now I know that my
Redeemer lives,
Page 447
and I am able
by divine grace to make very convincing
demonstrations. - J. S., Rudd,
Iowa
For a long time I have felt that I must in some way
express
my great debt of gratitude for Christian Science.
I know no better way to
do so than to give an account,
through the Journal, of some of the
many blessings I
have received as a result of our Leader's untiring toil
and self-sacrificing love for suffering mortals, in giving
to us the
wonderful book, "Science and Health with
Key to the Scriptures."
When I first heard of Christian Science, about six
years ago, I was
satisfied that it was the religion of Christ
Jesus, because Jesus had so
plainly said, "And these
signs shall follow them that believe; In my name
shall
they cast out devils; . . . they shall lay hands on the
sick,
and they shall recover."
I had been a church-member since my girlhood,
but
was not satisfied that my belief would take me to
heaven, as I
did not have these "signs following" - and
this had always troubled me;
so, when I heard that an
old acquaintance living at a distance had not
only been
raised from a dying condition to health, but her life had
been changed and purified through Christian Science, I
could hardly wait
to know more of this Christlike religion
which was casting out evils and
healing the sick. I
searched every bookstore in the city for Science and
Health, at last found a copy, and was delighted to get hold
of it,
but little realized what a treasure it was to be to me
and my
household.
At first it was like Greek to me, and I could not un-
Page 448
derstand much of it, but gleaned
enough to keep on
reading, and longed for some one to talk to me of
it.
After I had been reading it about a year's time, I
suddenly
became almost blind. I knew no Scientist to go
to, so went to physicians;
they told me that my case was
hopeless, that it was certain my sight never
could be
restored, and the probabilities were that I would soon be
totally blind.
I felt sure that Christian Science would help me if I
could only fully understand it; but there was no one
from whom I
could ask help, that I knew of. I gave all
the time that I could use my
eyes to studying Science
and Health, - which at first was not more than
five
minutes two, and sometimes three, times a day; gradu-
ally my
sight returned, until it was fully restored.
During this time God and
the "little book" were my
only help. My understanding was very limited;
but like
the prodigal son, I had turned away from the husks,
towards
my Father's house, and while I "was yet a great
way off" my Father came to
meet me. When this great
cloud of darkness was banished by the light of
Truth,
could I doubt that Christian Science was indeed the
"Comforter" that would lead us "into all truth"?
Again I lay at the
point of death; but holding stead-
fastly to the truth, knowing, from the
teaching of this
precious book, that God is Life and there is no death, I
was raised up to health, - restored to my husband and
little
children, all of whom I am thankful to say are now
with me in Science.
I had no one to talk with on this subject, knew no one
of whose
understanding I felt sure enough to ask for
help; but I was careful from
the first not to read or
Page 449
inquire into anything except genuine Christian Science,
and how
thankful I am for it! Since then, I have been
through a class.
I
cannot express in words what Christian Science has
done for my children,
or my gratitude that the light of
Truth has come to them in their innocent
childhood, -
healing all claims of sickness, and showing us how to over-
come the more stubborn claims of sin. - L. F. B.
It is a little
over one year since a very esteemed friend,
of this city, invited me to
partake of the heavenly manna
contained in the revelation of "Science and
Health with
Key to the Scriptures." I had, up to that time, been
for
fifteen years a victim of hip-joint disease; this even-
tually confining
me to my bed, where I had been ten
months when the "book of prophecy" was
opened for
me. I was not long in finding the light I needed, - that
gave "feet to the lame," enabling me now to go, move,
and walk, where I
will, without crutch or support of any
description, save the staff of
divine Science.
In proportion as my thoughts are occupied with the
work in Science, does the peace and joy come inwardly
that transforms
the blight of error externally.
T. G. K., Tacoma, Wash.
I wish to
acknowledge the blessings which Christian
Science has brought to me
through reading "Science and
Health with Key to the Scriptures." My first
demon-
stration was over the tobacco habit; I had smoked for
at least
fifteen years: I have now no desire for tobacco.
Page
450
I was then healed of two claims which had bound me
for
ten years. My prayer is that I may be so filled with the
truth that I can
carry the message to my brother man.
F. W. K., Angelica, N. Y.
I
take advantage of the great privilege granted us,
to give my testimony for
Christian Science through the
pages of our much loved Journal. The
blessing has
been so bountiful that words can but poorly express my
gratitude.
A little over six years ago, a relative came from Den-
ver, Colorado, to visit us. She was a Christian Scientist,
having herself
been healed of a severe claim that M. D.'s,
drugs, and climate could not
relieve; and her husband
having been in the drug business, she had had a
chance
to give them a fair trial.
My sister-in-law did not talk
much on the subject, as
I remember; but what was better, lived the truth
before
us as she realized it.
One day (a blessed day to me), I
ventured to open
Science and Health, and read the first sentence in the
Preface. I closed the book, wondering what more it could
contain,
this seeming to cover the whole ground. When
my sister-in-law returned to
the room, I asked her if I
might read it. Her reply was, "Yes; but begin
at the
first."
That night, after all had retired, I began to
read;
within forty-eight hours I destroyed all drugs, appli-
cations,
etc., notwithstanding the fact that my husband
had just paid fifty dollars
to a travelling specialist for
part of a treatment. With the drugs
disappeared ail-
Page 451
ments of nine
years' standing, which M. D.'s had failed
to relieve.
I now
understand that my sudden healing was due to
my turning completely away
from material methods;
for I was convinced I should never use them again.
I
realized that God was my health, my strength, my Life,
therefore
All. As I read Science and Health, I won-
dered why others had not
discerned this truth, - physi-
cians, ministers, and others who had
devoted their lives
to benefit mankind. Yes! why? Because they had
been seeking in the opposite direction to Truth, namely,
for cause and
effect in matter, when all cause and effect
are mental.
I mention
physicians and ministers, because one class
claims to heal disease, the
other claims to heal sin; but
Christian Science heals physically and
morally, - it con-
tains all; "its leaves are for the healing of the
nations."
L. B. A., Memphis, Tenn.
I was for years a great
sufferer. I called doctor after
doctor, getting no help. The last one,
after treating me
for one year, told me he would give me one year more
to live.
One evening a near neighbor came in and asked me
to
go home with her; and as it was only a few steps, I
did so.
She
took up a new book, Science and Health, read me
a few chapters, and then
gave me some Christian Science
tracts, which I read, and one of them I
almost committed
to memory.
I bought a copy of "Science and
Health with Key to
Page 452
the
Scriptures," and studied it carefully. I am healed
of all those claims
which troubled me so long. I was
lifted out of darkness into light.
M. J. P., Burns, Oregon
Chicago, March 19, 1894
Rev. Mary
B. G. Eddy, Boston, Mass.: - I wish to
thank you for the true light
that was revealed to me by
reading your book, "Science and Health with Key
to the
Scriptures," and at once adopting its teaching. It was
one
year ago to-day that I put on the armor, determined
never to surrender to
the enemy; and you may know I
have looked forward to this day with a great
deal of
pleasure, to show my friends that the Lord is constantly
with
me to help overcome all evil.
Some said, when I first started in this
new path, "Wait
until you get one of your stomach attacks, and you will
change your mind." For months they have waited, and
are beginning to
see the truth in my actions, that speak
for themselves, and show that all
is Mind.
For nearly thirty years I had been a sufferer from
throat and stomach troubles; bronchitis, dyspepsia, gas-
tralgia, and
gastritis, etc., were the terms applied by
my physicians. About eighteen
years of that time I was
engaged in the drug business, had constant
opportunities
for consulting the best physicians, and took such medicine
as I felt assured would cure me; but only to be disap-
pointed each
time.
The last few years I had been living on oatmeal crackers
and hot water; suffering more or less all the time, and
could not eat
anything else without suffering intense
Page 453
pain. I felt as though I could not live many months
more, and
was getting ready to give up the fight
when a dear friend and neighbor,
Mrs. Corning, left
a copy of Science and Health at our home. At first I
did not care to read it; having been educated, for many
years, in the
belief that medicine can cure all diseases, I
could not conceive of
anything else to cure the sick.
One Sunday I had the curiosity to know
something
about this Christian Science, and read Science and Health.
The more I read, the more interested I became, and
finally said to myself,
"I will try it." I took a large
porous plaster and four thicknesses of
flannel off my
stomach, and threw them in the corner, saying, "Now
it
shall be Mind over matter; no more matter over Mind."
I filled a large
basket full of bottles containing medicine,
and put it in the shed (where
all medicine should be).
From that day I have eaten of everything on the
table,
and all I wished. Coffee was my worst enemy, and I
had not
tasted it for years without suffering untold agony.
Several days passed
before I cared to drink it; then, one
morning, I told my family I would
commence to use it;
I did, and have used it every day since, and don't
know
that I have a stomach, as it never has caused me any
trouble
since that morning.
I am happy to say I have not used a drop of any
kind
of medicine, internally or externally, from that day, and
I
know that all is Mind. I read the Bible and Science
and Health nearly
every day, thanking the Lord for the
years of suffering which have led me
to the truth as taught
by our Saviour; for I feel it was only through its
victory
over the suffering that the truth could have been revealed
in
my case.
Page 454
I have had some
demonstrations to make over error,
but each time it becomes easier. God is
ever present
and ready to help me, and I trust in Him; my faith is
planted on a rock that is immovable.
Yours truly, FRANK S. EBERHART
P. S. If you think this letter, or any part of it, will help
some one
out of darkness into the light of Truth, you
are at liberty to have it
published.
Having so many occupations and interruptions, I have
not found time to read "Science and Health with Key to
the Scriptures"
sufficiently, but will not on that account
delay thanking you for its
excellence.
HENRY W. LONGFELLOW, Cambridge, Mass.
I am an
old-school practitioner; have served as surgeon
in two European wars;
practised medicine for about
ten years in New York city and Brooklyn,
until my health
compelled me to relinquish my profession. I became
a
victim of the morphia habit, taking daily thirty grains
of that drug. My
physicians declared me consumptive,
and abandoned all hopes of recovery.
Shortly after
this I made the acquaintance of a student of the author
of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures,"
who presented me with
her works; and as drugs did me
no good, I stopped taking any whatever,
save morphia,
without which I thought it impossible to get along, and
to my astonishment began to gain in flesh, and my am-
bition returning in
proportion. I finally felt that I would
stop my loathsome habit of
morphia-eating, and did so
Page 455
in
one week, without any discomfort worth mentioning.
For a test I
administered one fourth of a grain of morphia
to the aforesaid Scientist,
hypodermically, without the
slightest physiological effect, clearly
proving the existence
of metaphysical laws. I have read Science and Health
carefully, and consider my present improved health solely
due to
mental influence.
OTTO ANDERSON, M. D., Cincinnati, Ohio
The
profound truths which you announce, sustained
by facts of the immortal
life, give to your work the seal
of inspiration - reaffirm in modern
phrase the Christian
revelations. In times like these, so sunk in
sensualism,
I hail with joy your voice, speaking an assured word for
God and immortality, and my joy is heightened that these
words are of
woman's divinings.
A. BRONSON ALCOTT, Concord, Mass.
I was sick
six years; tried many physicians and reme-
dies, but received no lasting
benefit from any of them,
and concluded I must remain sick the rest of my
life.
In this condition, I purchased the book "Science and
Health
with Key to the Scriptures," read it, was deeply
interested, and noticed
that my health began to improve;
and the more I read the book, the better
I became in
health. This I can say truly: it did more for my health
than all the physicians and remedies that I had ever
tried. - DR. S. G.
TODD, 11 School St., Newburyport
I had been a nervous sufferer for
nine years; had a
belief of incurable disease of the heart, and was
subject
Page 456
to severe nervous
prostration if I became the least weary.
I was told that if I should read
your books they would
cure me. I commenced reading them: in ten days I was
surprised to find myself overcoming my nervous spasms
without the aid
of medicine; and ever since then I have
been improving, and I now can walk
twenty miles without
fatigue, and have been able to rise above all
ailments.
MRS. JULIA A. B. DAVIS,
Central Village, Westport,
Mass.
I would inform my friends and the public, that after
twelve
years of sickness I am restored to health; and,
with renewed vigor and
keen enjoyment, take up the
pleasures and duties of life once more; all
labor now
seems less arduous, and all happiness more perfect. To
Christian Science, as taught in "Science and Health with
Key to the
Scriptures," I am indebted for my restoration.
I can cordially recommend
this book to all.
ROSE A. WIGGLESWORTH, Lowell, Mass.
When I
commenced reading "Science and Health with
Key to the Scriptures," I could
sit up but a very short
time, and could not eat the most simple food
without
great distress. In a few days there was a great change,
and I
have been growing better ever since.
E. D. RICHARDSON, Merrimac, Mass.
I have not been as well for years as I have been since
reading
"Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures,"
all of which I impute to
its teaching.
(MRS.) MARY A. WILLIAMS, Freeport, Ill.
Page 457
Had been in ill-health for several
years; had been
confined to my bed three months, when I got your book
and read it. At first I was unable to read it myself, and
others read it
to me, and the truth revealed in your book
restored me to health.
(COL.) E. J. SMITH, Washington, D. C.
I have been perusing with great
interest your work
on metaphysical Science, for the last four months, and
to great advantage; you make the path to health so plain,
that a
wayfaring man, though a fool, cannot err therein.
R. I. BARKER, Bethel,
Me.
"Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" "is
a lamp
unto my feet, and a light unto my path;" your
missiles of Mind have
battered down the illusions of sense,
allowing Life to appear an eternal
monument, whose
spirited hieroglyphics, Truth and Love, unlike those cut
in marble, shall grow more luminous to consciousness as
sickness, sin
and death fade out of belief.
ARTHUR T. BUSWELL,
Office of
Associated Charities, Cincinnati, O.
"Science and Health with Key
to the Scriptures" is
beautiful in its form of thought and expression. I
have
perused it with interest. Your book tends to lead us to
new
thoughts and practices in the healing art, and for
many maladies I have no
doubt the treatment your ex-
cellent work introduces will be the only
remedy.
(COL.) ROB'T B. CAVERLY, Centralville, Mass.
Page 458
Undoubtedly "Science and Health with
Key to the
Scriptures" is the greatest and grandest book ever pub-
lished; and that by pulpit and press it will be so ac-
knowledged, is only
a question of time. Yours has,
indeed, been a pioneer work, and will be;
and I believe
that you, of all the millions, are selected and chosen be-
cause of your peculiar fitness for this great work - this
grand work
of opening the gates and leading the way,
that fallen humanity may follow
step by step; reach up
to Christ, and be made whole! That all this should
be
systematized and proven with mathematical precision, -
that there
can be no guesswork or quackery, - is simply
astounding. Science and
Health has given me a new
impetus heavenward.
M. A. HINKLEY,
Williamsport, Pa.
The book "Science and Health with Key to the Scrip-
tures" is the most wonderful work that has been written
in the past
five thousand years. I wish you could get
ten dollars per copy. I am of
the opinion that I can heal
the sick on its basis, from reading the work.
H. D. DEXTER, M. D., Dundee, N. Y.
Rev. Mary B. G. Eddy's book,
"Science and Health
with Key to the Scriptures," has been duly catalogued
and placed on our shelves for use. In behalf of the trus-
tees, let
me convey cordial thanks to the earnest-minded
author for this interesting
contribution. My own idea
is, that the power of Mind or Spirit is supreme
in char-
acter, and destined to supremacy over all that is adverse
to
divine order. WILLIAM H. KIMBALL,
Librarian New Hampshire State Library
Page 459
I am reading the work,
"Science and Health with
Key to the Scriptures," for the third time; and I
am
convinced of the truth of the Science of which it treats,
-
instructing us how to attain holiness of heart, purity
of life, and the
sublime ascendency of soul over body.
C. CLEMENT, McMinnville, Warren Co.,
Tenn.
I was sick for a number of years with what some of
the
most skilful physicians pronounced an incurable
disease. The more I tried
to get help, the worse I be-
came, until a life of pain and helplessness
seemed un-
avoidable. Two years ago I heard of "Science and
Health
with Key to the Scriptures," began reading it
and trying to live up to its
teachings. At first, my be-
liefs were so strong I made but little
progress; but grad-
ually my disease gave way, and finally disappeared,
and
to-day I am a well woman. I cannot express the grati-
tude I feel
for what the light shining through the teachings
of that book did for me.
(MRS.) EMILY T. HOWE, Norway, Me.
I have been reading "Science
and Health with Key
to the Scriptures," and feasting-like a starving,
ship-
wrecked mariner, on the food that was to sustain him
- on
truths which ages to come will appreciate, under-
stand, and accept. Many
of the theories which at first
appear abstruse and obscure, at length
become clear and
lucid. The candle of intellect requires occasional snuff-
ing to throw the clear light of penetration on the page.
(MRS.) S. A.
ORNE, Malden, Mass.
Page 460
The mother
of a little girl about eight years old told
me her child was having a
severe attack of cold, and
was delicate and easy to take cold. I told her
the little
girl would be all right; not to give her any medicine, but
read Science and Health to her. When I next saw the
mother, she told me
the little girl was entirely well; that
the cold had all disappeared, and
with it a claim of night-
sweats that the child had been under for more
than a
year. The little girl had been out sliding down-hill in
the
snow a number of times; had her feet very wet, but
it did not affect her
at all. They were all pleased, -
especially the child; her face was
beaming with hap-
piness and smiles. This is just one little instance of
the
good that comes from reading Science and Health.
T. W. H.
OPINIONS OF THE PRESS
This is, perhaps, the most remarkable book
on health,
in some respects, which has appeared in this country.
The
author evidently discards physiology, hygiene, mes-
merism, magnetism, and
every form of medication, bath-
ing, dieting, etc., - all go by the board;
no medicine,
manipulation, or external applications are permitted;
everything is done through the mind. Applied to cer-
tain conditions, this
method has great value: even the
reading of the author's book has cured
hopeless cases.
The author claims that her methods are those used by
Christ and his apostles, and she has established a church
and school to
propagate them. - Herald of Health, N. Y.
(M. L. HOLBROOK,
Publisher)
Page 461
The
Christian Scientists claim that the power of heal-
ing is not lost, and
have supported that claim by induc-
ing cures astonishingly like those
quoted from the New
Testament. And even more good they hope to achieve,
as this power which they possess is better understood
and the new
light gains strength in the world. Experi-
ence has taught us that the
nearer we approach to the
source of a report of miraculous power, the
smaller does
the wonder grow. In the instance of the Christian Sci-
entists, the result has been rather the reverse; if third
parties have
related a remarkable circumstance, the person
of whom the fact was alleged
has been found to make
the assertion still stronger. - Boston Sunday
Globe
"Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," by
Mary Baker G. Eddy, President of the Massachusetts
Metaphysical College,
is a remarkable publication,
claiming to elucidate the influence of
mentality over
matter. Mrs. Eddy announces herself as the discoverer
of this metaphysical Science, and receives students, to
whom she imparts
so much of her metaphysics as their
minds are capable of receiving. The
volumes are a
vigorous protest against the materialism of our modern
scientists, Darwin, Huxley, Tyndall, etc. Her Science
of Mind was first
self-applied: having been ill and treated
by doctors of the various
schools without benefit, she
discovered the grand Principle of all healing
to be God,
or Mind. Relying on this Principle alone, she regained
her
health, and for the last sixteen years has taught
this theory to others,
and has healed the sick in all cases
where the patient's mentality was
sufficiently strong to
Page 462
understand her teachings and act upon them. - Brooklyn
Eagle
The book "Science and Health with Key to the Scrip-
tures" is
certainly original, and contains much that
will do good. The reader will
find this work not influ-
enced by superstition or pride, but striking out
boldly,
- full of self-sacrifice and love towards God and man. -
Christian Advocate, Buffalo, N. Y.
The doctrines of "Science
and Health with Key to
the Scriptures" are high and pure, wholly free from
those vile theories about love and marriage which have
been so
prevalent among the spiritualists. This new
sect devotes itself to a study
of the Bible, and a practice
of curing disease without mesmerism or
spiritualism. It
treats Darwin and materialists with a lofty scorn. -
Springfield Republican
"Science and Health with Key to the
Scriptures" is
indisputably a wonderful work. It has no equal. No
one
can read the book and not be benefited by it in mind
and body. The work is
endorsed by some of the best
men of the age. - Star-Spangled Banner
We shall watch with keen interest the promised results
of
"Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures."
The work shows how the
body can be cured, and how
Page 463
a
better state of Christianity can be introduced (which
is certainly very
desirable) . It likewise has a hard thrust
at spiritualism; and, taken
altogether, it is a very rare
book. - Boston Investigator
The author of "Science and Health with Key to the
Scriptures," which
is attracting much attention, shows
her ability to defend her cause with
vigor. - Boston
Weekly Journal
(By
permission)
HOW TO UNDERSTAND SCIENCE AND
HEALTH
My Dear Friend H.: - Your good
letter of the 26th
ult. came duly to hand several days ago, and I am not
greatly surprised at its contents. You say, in substance,
that you
procured the book, "Science and Health with
Key to the Scriptures," which
I recommended, and
that to your surprise and disgust you found it to be a
work on faith-cure, and ask by what process of reason-
ing I could
possibly bring myself to adopt or accept
such visionary theories. In
answer to your very nat-
ural question, I will try, in my own way, to give
you
what appears to me to be a reason for the hope that is
in me.
My religious views of fifteen years ago are too famil-
iar to you to
need any exposition at my hands at this
time. Suffice it to say that the
religion of the Bible,
as taught by the churches, to my mind appeared to
be
Page 464
self-contradictory and
confusing, and their explanations
failed to explain. During the next
eleven years my
convictions underwent little change. I read everything
that came in my way that had any bearing upon, or
pretended in any
degree to explain, the problem of life;
and while I gained some knowledge
of a general nature,
I was no nearer the solution of life's problem than
when
I began my investigations years ago, and I had given
up all hope
of ever being able to come to a knowledge
of the truth, or a satisfactory
explanation of the enigma
of life.
In all my intellectual
wanderings I had never lost my
belief in a great First Cause, which I was
as well satis-
fied to call God as anything else; but the orthodox ex-
planations of His or its nature and power were to my
mind such a
mixture of truth and error, that I could not
tell where fact left off and
fancy began. The whole ef-
fort of the pulpit being put forth, seemed
directed to the im-
possible task of harmonizing the teachings of Jesus
Christ
with the wisdom of the world; and the whole tendency
of our
religious education was to befog the intellect and
produce scepticism in a
mind that presumed to think
for itself and to inquire into the why and the
wherefore.
I fully believe that the agnosticism of yourself and my-
self was produced by the futile attempt to mix and har-
monize the wisdom
of the world with the philosophy of
the Christ.
In my
investigations into the researches of the savants
and philosophers I found
neither any satisfactory expla-
nation of things as they seemed to exist,
nor any solu-
tion of the great and all-absorbing question, "What is
Truth?" Their premises appeared to be sound, and
Page
465
their reasonings faultless; but in the nature of things,
no final conclusion of the whole matter could be reached
from
premises based wholly on material knowledge.
They could explain "matter"
and its properties to their
own satisfaction, but the intelligence that
lay behind or
beyond it, and which was manifested in and through it,
was to them as much of a mystery as it was to the hum-
blest of God's
creatures. They could prove pretty con-
clusively that many of the
generally accepted theories
had no basis in fact; but they left us as much
in the
dark regarding Life and its governing Principle as had
the
divines before them.
About four years ago, while still in the mental
condi-
tion above indicated, my attention was called to what at
that
time appeared to me to be a new phase of spiritism,
and which was called
by those who professed to believe
in it, Christian Science. I
thought that I had given some
attention to about all the isms that
ever existed, and that
this was only another phantasm of some religionist
lost
in the labyrinths of mental hallucination.
In my
reflections at that time it seemed to me that
life was an incomprehensible
enigma; that the creator
had placed us on this earth, and left us entirely
in the
dark as to His purpose in so doing. We seemed to be
cast upon
the ocean of time, and left to drift aimlessly
about, with no exact
knowledge of what was required of
us or how to attain unto the truth,
which must certainly
have an existence somewhere. It seemed to me that in
the very nature of things there must be a great error
somewhere in
our understanding, or that the creator
Himself had slipped a cog when He
fitted all things into
their proper spheres. That there had been a grand
mis-
Page 466
take somewhere I had no
doubt; but I still had doubt
enough of my own capabilities and
understanding to be-
lieve that the mistake, whatever it was, was in me
and
not in the creator. I knew that, in a fair measure at
least, I
had an honest desire to live aright, as it was given
me to see the right,
and to strive to some extent to do the
will of God, if I could only know
certainly just what it
was.
While in this frame of mind, I
inwardly appealed to
the great unseen power to enlighten my understanding,
and to lead me into a knowledge of the truth, promising
mentally to
follow wherever it might lead, if I could only
do so understandingly.
My wife had been investigating Christian Science to
some extent, but
knowing my natural antipathy to such
vagaries, as I then thought them, had
said very little to
me about it; but one day, while discussing the
mysteries
of life with a judge of one of our courts, he asked me
whether I had ever looked into the teachings of the Chris-
tian
Scientists. I told him that I had not, and he urged
me very strongly to do
so. He claimed to have investi-
gated their teachings, and said that he
had become a
thorough believer in them. This aroused my curiosity,
and I procured the book called "Science and Health
with Key to the
Scriptures," and read it. Before read-
ing very far in it, I became pretty
thoroughly nauseated
with what I thought the chimerical ideas of the
author,
but kept on reading, - more because I had promised to
read
the book than because of interest in its teachings;
but before I had
gotten through with it, I did become
interested in the Principle that I
thought I discovered
the author was striving to elucidate; and when I
got
Page 467
through it, I began again
and reread it very carefully.
When I had finished reading this book the
second time,
I had become thoroughly convinced that her explana-
tion
of the religion taught by Jesus Christ, and what
he did teach, afforded
the only explanation which, to
my mind, came anywhere near harmonizing and
making
cohesive what had always seemed contradictory and
inexplicable
in the Bible. I became satisfied that I had
found the truth for which I
had long been seeking, and
I arose from the reading of the book a changed
man;
doubt and uncertainty had fled, and my mind has never
been
troubled with a serious doubt upon the subject from
that day to this.
I do not pretend to have acquired the power it is claimed
we may
attain to; but I am satisfied that the fault is in
me, and not in the
Principle. I think I can almost hear
you ask, What! do you believe in
miracles? I answer
unhesitatingly, Yes; I believe in the manifestations of
the power of Mind which the world calls miraculous;
but which those
who claim to understand the Principle
through which the works are done,
seem to think not
unnatural, but only the logical result of the
application
of a known Principle.
It always did seem to me that
Truth should be self-
evident, or at least susceptible of unmistakable
proof, -
which all religions seemed to lack, at least in so far as I
had known them. I now remember that Jesus furnished
unmistakable proofs of
the truth of his teachings, by his
manifestations of the power of Mind,
or, as some might
call it, Spirit; which power he plainly taught would be
acquired by those who believed in the Principle which he
taught, and
which manifestations would follow as signs
Page 468
that an understanding of his philosophy had been reached.
It
does seem to me, that where the signs do not follow
professing Christians
which Christ said should follow
them, there must be something wrong,
either in his teach-
ings or their understanding of them; and to say the
least, the foundations of their faith require a careful re-
examination, with a view to harmonizing them with the
plain teachings of
the Christ in whose footsteps they
profess to follow.
I never
could understand how God could be ever-pres-
ent as a personal Being, but
I think I can and do under-
stand how divine Principle can pervade every
thing and
place.
I never could understand how heaven could be a
place
with gorgeous fittings, but I think I can and do under-
stand
how it might be a spiritual (or if you please mental)
condition. Jesus
said, "The kingdom of God cometh
not with observation: neither shall they
say, Lo here!
or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within
you."
"Knowledge (or understanding) is power." Since
adopting the
views of life as set forth in "Science and
Health with Key to the
Scriptures," I have seen proofs
of what can be accomplished through a
knowledge of the
truth, which to my mind amount to demonstrations, and
which no longer seem incredible, but which I do not ask
another to
accept upon my statements. Every one must
see or feel for himself in order
to be convinced; but I
am satisfied that any who will lay aside their
preconceived
notions, and deal honestly with themselves and the light
they have, will come to a knowledge of the truth as illus-
trated in the
teachings and life of Jesus Christ; that is,
Page
469
that Mind, or Soul, or whatever you may be pleased to
call it, is the real Ego, or self, and that mortal mind with
its body is
the unreal and vanishing, and eventually goes
back to its native
nothingness.
Truth is, and ever has been, simple; and because of
its utter simplicity, we in our pride and selfishness have
been looking
right over it. We have been keeping our
eyes turned toward the sky,
scanning the heavens with
a far-off gaze in search of light, expecting to
see the
truth blaze forth like some great comet, or in some ex-
traordinary manner; and when, instead of coming in
great pomp and
splendor, it appears in the simpleness
of demonstration, we are staggered
at it, and refuse to
accept it; our intellectual pride is shocked, and we
are
sure that there has been some mistake. Human nature
is ever the
same. The Jews were looking for something
transcendently wonderful, and
the absence of it made
the Christ, Truth, to them a stumbling-block. It
was
foolishness to the Greeks, who excelled in the worldly
wisdom of
that day; but in all ages of the world it has
ever been the power of God
to them that believe, not
blindly, but because of an enlightened
understanding.
I always did think that there was something beautiful
in the philosophy of life as taught by Jesus Christ, but
that it was
impracticable and not susceptible of applica-
tion to the affairs of life
in a world constituted as this
appeared to be. As I now view it, that
belief was the
result of ignorance of the real power that "moves the
universe," - too much faith in matter or effect, and not
enough in Mind or
cause, which is God.
To one who can accept the truth that all
causation is
in Mind, and who therefore begins to look away from
Page 470
matter and into Mind, or Spirit, for
all that is real and
eternal, and for all that produces anything that is
last-
ing, the doubts and petty annoyances of life become
dissolved
in the light of a better understanding, which
has been refined in the
crucible of charity and love; and
they fade away into the nothingness from
whence they
came, never having had any existence in fact, being only
the inventions of erring human belief.
Read the teachings of the
Christ from a Christian Science
standpoint, and they no longer appear
vague and mysti-
cal, but become luminous and powerful, - and, let me
say, intelligible.
It is true, as you intimate, that this theory of
life is
much more generally accepted by women than by men,
and it may
be true that as a rule their reasoning is much
less rigid in its nature
than that of the sterner sex, and
that they may be liable to scan their
premises less keenly;
but may it not also be true, that they are of finer
texture
and more spiritual in their natures, and that they may
be
just as likely to arrive at the truth through their in-
tuitions, in
connection with their logic, as we are through
the more rugged courses? If
it be true that man is the
more logical, the fallibility of our own
reasonings very
frequently becomes painfully apparent even to ourselves,
and they are therefore not the safest gauge by which to
judge
others.
I believe, myself, that when it comes to standing up
for
Truth in the face of the world, and possibly at the
sacrifice of position
and popularity, women possess the
necessary courage in a much greater
degree than do
men.
I had not intended to weary you with such a
long
Page 471
letter, but after getting
into the subject, I hardly knew
where to stop. As an old and loved friend,
I have given
you a glimpse of my inner life, because I hardly knew
how to explain my mental condition to you in any other
way. . . .
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