The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1912-1984, 1916-10-13
Is Bearing Her Cross
Mrs. Johnson In Jail Here, Says She.
Following Her Master

Mrs. J. E. Johnson, of the Way
nesburg section of the county, in jail
here serving a seven day sentence
for failure to send her young chill
dren to school, and thereby violating
the compulsory attendance law of
Kentucky, has written a message to
the people of Stanford and Lincoln
county, which she is DESTROYS of
having the l. ]. publish. Mrs. John
son says that she is an evangelist of
the Church of God. She writes as
follows:
A Trial of Faith
This is the victory that overcomes
the world, even your faith.-I. John,
5:4.
Dear Reader.-While sitting here
in these dark prison walls, | can
realize more fully what Jesus meant
when he said, "My people shall be
tried as by fire." Today 1 am going
through the fiery trials for Jesus
sake. Because l love Jesus and de-
sire to do his will, l am here. Only
we, who have tasted of the cup of
suffering know what Jesus meant
when he said, "If we suffer with Him
we shall also reign with Him." Dear
people, l never knew what suffering
with Him really meant; never knew
just how great was His suffering
when He was paying the great debt
for me, never did l realize how great
the price was that was paid for my
eternal redemption until | took my
precious curly-haired baby in my
arms and pressed his sweet lips to
mine and looked down into his sweet
baby face, perhaps for the last time,
and turned my face from him to fol-
low Jesus. Oh, dear reader, | could
tell then what the great loving Fa-
Their above suffered for me. When
he unbosomed His dear and only Son
and sent Him down here in this cruel
world to be buffetted and spit on
and Knocked and was taken before
the council and even put to death,
no wonder the whole earth shook
and the rocks rent; no wonder the
world was draled in darkness; no
wonder all creation mourned. No, |
don't wonder why my Heavenly Fa-
Their turned His blessed face and re-
fused to look upon it. The scene
was too great, and today, since
have tasted of that great suffering,
my soul is made to cry out, 80, Lord,
how awfully ashamed / am that |
helped to cause that great suffering
on the cross, by transgressing Gods
Holy law. But beneath all my suf-
fering there's a deep settled peace
that | found at the foot of that
cross, when l said, Lord, l am so
sorry | ever sinned and caused you
this suffering" | said, Il will bear
the cross now, Father, the rest of
my days and l have carried it for
eight long years and today l find
myself still under it. l have no de-
sire to lay it down, for when ! lay
down the cross 1 lay down the
crown. l fully realize that the cross
which | am now carrying will ex-
change at the end of the race for a
crown of eternal life. l am not tired
of the way, for it grows brighter
each day l walk in it. Dear reader,
| wish | could see you face to face,
for | have found the pearl of great
price. God said, "Come buy of me
gold that is tried" Praise His dear
name, | have found that gold that
has been tried. 1t will stand the
test of the judgment. So pray for
my babies that are at home without
father or mother. | may see them
again God only knows. God said
they would take us before rulers
and before the council and commit
us to prison, yea, even kill us, and
think they were doing Gods service
but may the Good Lord bless them
for they know not what they do.
am more determined to go on with
Jesus than ever before.
Your loving friend, in Jesus, wait
ing for his coming,
MRS. J. E. JOHNSON.