Testimony of Healing September 29, 1917 Issue

This testimony is gratefully given in recognition of the...

J. J. Dirks

This testimony is gratefully given in recognition of the power of Truth. In early manhood I became addicted to the excessive use of intoxicating liquors, and when the necessity of quitting the habit was realized I found human will-power to be futile and impotent. This fact was demonstrated repeatedly, until its availability was necessarily denied. Following this, the power of God was invoked through the orthodox church, but again failure was the result. Not once, but several times, was this remedy tried. Then I resorted to material remedies, but after the fear of nausea (which was the only basis of the "cure") had been dissipated, the craving for strong drink overcame me. Then I again turned to the orthodox church and again tried to understand God, but could not, in spite of the fact that I had been practically reared in the Sunday school and church of an evangelical religious organization, and had served in every elective and appointive office, even at times filling the pulpit.

For thirty years the irresistible craving for strong drink was ever present, even during periods of temporary abstinence. I at last found myself in the position of a man who could no longer resist the habit even for a little while, and was in debt to the point of hopelessness, with a wife and two children who had never ceased to pray that the power of God might intervene and save me. It was under these circumstances that my dear wife and daughters, having heard of Christian Science and its wonderful results, prevailed on me to investigate it. Through the reading of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mrs. Eddy I was healed. I read the textbook from cover to cover over and over again, but still continued to drink, until there came a day when my liking for liquor turned to aversion and I had no satisfaction in it. The desire and craving for it had left me, and has not returned. Tobacco in its strongest forms was used during all these years of intemperance, but when the liking for strong drink left me the pleasure in using tobacco also vanished, and since then I have had no desire for it.

Since acquiring a small understanding of divine Principle through Christian Science, the passions of mortal mind, hate, revenge, selfishness, and the like, have given way to love, and our home life has been transformed. Many demonstrations have been made over physical inharmonies. We have found unvaryingly that "divine Love always has met and always will meet every human need" (Science and Health, p. 494). Glory be to God, and gratitude from the fullness of the heart to the Discoverer of the Principle of primitive Christianity. J. J. Dirks, St. Louis, Mo.

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