I feel today like availing myself of the general invitation you gave the class to write to you.Editorial Note: Ursula N. Gestefeld was a member of the class Mary Baker Eddy taught in Chicago in May 1884. I should like so much to speak with you but as that is at present impossible, I want to tell you as briefly as I can so as not to take up too much of your time, about my own experience since you left usEditorial Note: Mary Baker Eddy taught a class in Chicago in May 1884, and then returned to Boston, Massachusetts..

I find sometimes when I attempt to heal the sick, that the argument is an afterthought, and not my first impulse. I have a feeling which seems to be entirely distinct from, and independent of, argument. I always close my eyes when healing for it is natural for me to do so always when I want to think earnestly. Then I seem to lose sight entirely of the material world and gradually I see a form with the face of my patient, radiant, shining, “ clothed with light as with a garmentPs 104:1 Bless the Lord, O my soul. O Lord my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty. Ps 104:2 Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain: ”

In sickness, and death seem to me to be only a darkness out of which something emerges and grows brighter and brighter, more dazzling and radiant till the darkness is all gone and this form of light fills all space and then I feel as if I am the perfect Spiritual man, the image and likeness of the living God. Then later I take up the argument more as something that needs to be done in order to make my work successful, than from any desire to argue, In-as-much as you impressed it upon the minds of the class not to formulate in any way, not to see any form, but treat the thought, I have felt a little uncertain as to what course I ought to take and I would be very thankful for a word of advice from you; also in regard to the advisability of “resting patients”, I gathered from your instruction that treatments should be given continuously until the patient was healed, but others of the classEditorial Note: This is a reference to the class that Mary Baker Eddy taught in Chicago in May 1884. understood differently. If a rest should be given first, and how long should the rest continue. I feel such an intense desire to succeed in my demonstrations, not for my own sake alone, but for the sake of the causeEditorial Note: The cause of Christian Science..

I try to so order my life that I can be in constant accord with the divine Principle, and can go to my work each day with “ clean hands and a pure heartPs 24:3 Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place? Ps 24:4 He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. Ps 24:5 He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. ” Whether I ever become a successful practitioner or not, I feel a happiness in the study of this scienceEditorial Note: Christian Science which I never felt before in my life; I have always been vaguely seeking for something I lacked and wanted, and now I feel as if I had that which makes life full and sound.

I am glad to be able to tell you that I have succeeded in three quite serious cases. Dropsy that was inherited (according to belief) rheumatism that As Written: than had made the right arm nearly useless, and dyspepsia of two years standing: but another case of disease of the genital organs and one of lameness resulting from a severe attack of the gout I do not yet see much of any change in and the first of the two I have worked with between five and six weeks.

I wish I could find out why I have healed in those three cases in less than two weeks and have not succeeded in this other one in six. But if I fail in this case which I do not mean to, if I can only keep hold of my patient, I shall know it is not the scienceEditorial Note: Christian Science that is at fault but I myself, somehow.

Now Mrs Eddy; I shall be very grateful for a few lines from you telling me if I am making any mistakes, as far as you can judge from what I have told you. I should be glad to write you something of interest but at present I am confining myself so closely to study and wrote that I really know very little of what is going on outside of my duties.

If however I can at any time be of service to you hereEditorial Note: Chicago, Illinois in any way, do not hesitate to command me at any time. I should esteem it a pleasure to be useful to you. With pleasant remembrance and best wishes