Testimony of Healing February 1, 1919 Issue

In response to the loving invitation in the editorial, "Living...

Johanna Dreghorn

In response to the loving invitation in the editorial, "Living Witnesses," to "consider the opportunity of the hour," given in the Sentinel for June 15, I take pleasure in trying to express my gratitude for Christian Science, in the hope that it may encourage some one seeking the light of Truth. Several years ago I left the religion in which I was brought up, for even as a child it had faild to satisfy my longings, and as I grew older I found no comfort in it. For a few years I drifted without any definite religious purpose.

Shortly after coming to the Canal Zone in 1912, I came into possession for the first time of a copy of the Bible. This was the beginning of my mental awakening. I became deeply absorbed in the book, particularly the psalms, and found much encouragement in the words of Jesus in the seventeenth chapter of John, "Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word." After studying the Bible diligently for about three years, I began to experience a strong desire to unite with some church. As going back to the old religion was impossible, my thought was turned toward the churches founded on the teachings of the Bible, which had become my one treasure. I began a study of the religious denominations from all the books I could get and even wrote to a gentleman in the United States who is well versed on this subject, asking him to map out a course of reading to help me select a church with which to unite, as I was very much in earnest. He granted my request, but after wading through another mass of literature I was more at sea than ever and could come to no decision.

About this time a religious congress was to be held in Panama, and I decided to wait until then before coming to a conclusion, as several sermons were to be delivered from which I felt sure I would gain some light. When the congress met, however, each night during the first part of the week some circumstance arose which prevented me from going to hear the speakers, and reading the reports of the sermons in the daily paper did not have the effect I had oulined beforehand. During the latter part of the week a friend called one evening and during conversation mentioned that she had been to church. I do not know what made me ask her where, as I knew she was in the habit of attending the Episcopal church. When she answered that the had been to the Christian Science church, an unusual stirring took place in my consciousness. I knew nothing of this religion. In all my reading I had not come across a line relative to it, and the name awoke a new interest in me. This friend told me she had just been saved from an operation for an ear trouble which had been so painful she had feared for her reason.

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