First Church of Christ, Scientist, War Relief Committee

“ The war drew from civil life into the British army and navy countless men who had to face undreamt-of hardships and dangers for which they were quite unprepared. From north, south, east and west there came to British shores men ready to sacrifice their all for the freedom of the world. ”

“ Both city and Red Cross hurried to The Mother Church officials.
On schedule time that train pulled away from Boston loaded with the workers, supplies and money of the Church of Christ, Scientist, with doctors and medicines from the city of Boston and with nurses and supplies from the Red Cross.
Where has there been a more splendid sinking of human belief and opinion, of religious and personal prejudice, the forgetting of all revilings and enmities, in the bigger, nobler, holier faith in a common humanity? ”

“ It was that cheerful response to the call for help that placed in the basement a splendid corps of workers, where all garments, both new and secondhand, were assorted and packed in great cases for shipping. It was not the easiest part of the work, or the most decorative, but the same neatness and exactness were demanded; and the murmur of happy voices punctuated with occasional ripples of laughter, which reached the workers on the floor above, gave evidence of the joy below. What a happy sense of cooperation it all gave rise to. ”

“ To lift the sense of fear for such as these and so enable them to perceive the ever-presence of God's care, was the aim of the War Relief Fund. In proportion as it was seen that the love which prompted the gifts of Christian Scientists to the fund was the real substance of the help extended, fear was cast out, and individuals were able to dispense with further aid from the fund. Not only so but they were put in a position to help others, thus proving again the spiritual fact that “whatever blesses one blesses all” (Science and Health, page 206) . ”

“ Old men and women, young soldiers' widows with tiny babes, whose pensions, pitifully meager at the best, had not even as yet been allotted, discharged soldiers who had contracted diseases in the army, mothers of large families seeking even trifling aid, were each in turn seen and comforted and sent away rejoicing, giving voluble expressions of gratitude. ”

“ Sometimes on a Worker's couch a physical difficulty was mastered and a visit to the camp hospital made unnecessary. The rooms often echoed with the voices of strong young manhood raised in hymns of praise at our Sunday services or in grateful testimony at the midweek meetings. What these rooms meant to the men can probably best be told in their own words. A sergeant Q. M. C. writes:
“To be able to visit the rooms (at Newport News, Virginia) almost daily has been a privilege that I have more than enjoyed. ”

“ Never did we realize the priceless gift of Christian Science more than in these days of war, when it has carried us in the silent watches of the night through seeming danger of fog, mine, and submarine, and has been an ever-present Comforter assuring us of a complete and certain safety. ”

“ It is all so wonderful that I can hardly realize that I have been cured and I often stop and think, ‘Have I been healed?’ And then I remember that man is the spiritual image and likeness of God, and recognizing this, my true selfhood, I could not be sick.”
The signing of the armistice brought no diminution of visitors to the Paris Rooms but rather an increase, at least during the first months of demobilization, for many lads were then able to secure the much-desired permission to visit the famous capital city of France. To these the Christian Science War Relief Rooms meant much. ”

“ If you looked beyond that pile of knitted wear which seemed to envelop you, your eyes rested upon a group of young girls who belonged to no unit, but who spent their spare moments making and filling comfort bags, sewing on labels, etc.; and then your gaze was drawn irresistibly over the intervening space, filled with desks for the clerical part of the movement, to a platform where the knitting machines were running to full capacity, and socks, those “Christian Science socks,” as the boys called them, because they were “so soft,” and “didn't shrink,” were issuing in hundreds. ”

“ It has been a genuine pleasure to work with you, particularly since your interpretation of service has been one, not alone of service to Christian Scientists, but to all men in khaki. This feeling I know is shared by the various agencies in camp and it is no longer a question that the work you are doing is a decided contribution to all welfare work. Your building is popular, your interest in the men genuine and your personality—the reason for it all. ”

“ He does not forsake us. Since I have turned to Christian Science I have peace and quiet. Every day I see the good, for which I am thankful to God. And I am also thankful that He led me to Christian Science. Our Leader, Mrs. Eddy, must have been a pious and God-fearing woman, whom God had appointed to bring, through her great love, blessings and peace to so many people. What a noble and rich heritage she has left us!”
“I consider it my duty to convey to you my sincerest thanks for the loving gifts from The Mother Church in Boston extended to me through your Relief Committee. ”

“ The rapidity with which the organization of the Camp Welfare Committee was perfected, the unity of thought and action expressed by Scientists everywhere, the astonishing results that immediately and continuously rewarded the ministrations of the Workers in camp and hospital, all testify to the readiness of the Christian Science movement to respond wholeheartedly to every proper call made upon it and give evidence of its efficiency in hours of emergency. ”

“ From different parts of the country evidence has come in to show that the War Relief work has greatly strengthened the churches in the different localities. In some instances Christian Science Societies have been formed in towns where the War Relief activities have drawn the Scientists together and encouraged them to go forward. And not only have groups of Christian Scientists been drawn together in this service to their fellow men, but there has grown up a clearer consciousness of the unity of the whole Christian Science movement and of its great mission for the salvation of mankind. ”

“ And with the war comes tolerance of other men's ideals, the love that grows from common cause. With back to wall, with heads held high in righteousness, we all must face the foe that threatens liberty. ”

“ The Welfare House was truly an oasis in the desert—where one found refuge and succor from the many doubts and fears of mortal existence. ‘Divine Love always has met and always will meet every human need’ (Science and Health, page 494) . Many times did I go to the Welfare House depressed and with a heavy heart and came away refreshed and in a buoyant mood.”
Sometimes the boys' enjoyment of the rooms took an amusing turn as shown by the following from our Worker at Camp Cody, New Mexico:
“Within two hours after I had placed our sign in the window four new men came in. ”

“ If we were acting “in His name” we could say so. Quickly appeared the little label “Comforts Forwarding Committee. Christian Scientists.” The locks swung open at its touch, and the liberated stream poured out uninterruptedly to the end. The question of knitting was settled, but other needs were now arising. What of the soft, warm garments and other accessories so necessary to the comfort of the men in the hospitals and resting camps? What, too, of the refugees? “I was . . . naked, and ye clothed me.” A moment saved is a moment earned, and a needed, kindly deed no waste. ”

“ A Los Angeles man, at present in one of the hospitals, comes regularly to fetch the latest Monitor. He is so grateful and declares that the Monitor is the best paper in the world, and that he always finds news of home. It is a great joy to realize what these War Relief Rooms have done in extending help to many who are lonely and in need of kindness.”
The Workers were in close touch with the hospitals from the beginning, and were called on several occasions to cases of men wishing Christian Science treatment, particularly in the American hospitals. ”

“ When I seemed to be despondent, the War Relief Worker was there with his word of cheer and was ready with his car to take me to and from the services on Sundays and Wednesdays. For all these blessings I will ever give thanks to God, and be grateful for our beloved Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, who gave to the world this blessed truth through which I have been saved. ”

“ With all its horror and terrific toll, the world war brings its good, its softer tones and better aims.
When the explosion occurred at Halifax with its tremendous loss of life and havoc wrought about the city, the Christian Science society at Boston jumped into the breach with practical aid.
Its directors chartered a special train to Halifax, took along $10,000 in cash raised from their members, and loaded it down with clothing, food and necessary supplies. The Red Cross and some charitable organizations had desired to take the same steps but were unable to secure transportation. ”

“ Here is more ignorance than viciousness; more thoughtlessness than deliberate disobedience. The effect of a prison sentence upon this type of undisciplined, independent American young manhood, without a knowledge of real obedience and right government, and a true understanding of freedom, was distressing in the extreme, to put the case mildly. ”

“ It was this effort to do their best which resulted in the query from another relief organization handling their goods:
“Are all your workers trained sewers?”
“No.”
“Then how do you account for your work being so exceptional? I had always thought that Christian Science was an idealistic religion.”
“So it is,—a practical idealism; a religion which governs every act of our lives even to the sewing on of buttons. There is a perfect standard of sewing, and Christian Scientists having that before them when making these garments, do all to the glory of God.” ”

“ Thanks to this teaching we understand God better and are very grateful for this.”
“Will you thank the Christian Science Committee for all the good that we have received spiritually and financially? Science has revealed to us a God to whom we can turn at all times and never in vain. . . . I do not know what we would have done without this help, as my mother has been bedridden since 1914, which obliges me to work at home so that I can earn very little.”
“I want to express to you and the War Relief Fund my profound gratitude for the help you extended to me in my distress. ”

“ In a very short time Great Britain was turned into a vast training camp filled with men removed from all home influences and often dreading the experiences in front of them, and there seemed very little to alleviate the situation and give any real comfort and support.
Between the last months of 1914, when it was recognized that the war would not be of short duration, and the summer of 1915, many Christian Scientists had asked themselves if something special could not be done to make Christian Science available to the numbers of newly made soldiers whose needs seemed to be so desperate. ”

“ They must tell the passer-by not, primarily, what garments were being fashioned, but what qualities of thought were multiplying for the encouragement of the soldier and the solace of the refugee. They must talk of life itself, speak forth comfort, warmth and affluence. One window, lined with yellow, displaying every kind of knitted wear in blue, gray and khaki, and piled up high with bales of wool, was in itself an invitation to the uniformed men to bask in its sunshine ”

“ Therefore the soldier Scientist must be shown that he need not lean upon civilians or any civilian organization in order to attain the spiritual comfort and sustenance which the Christian Science service would mean to him. He must be educated to grasp the fact of his sole dependence upon God and his independence of material surroundings. Therefore, the Camp Welfare Workers were sent forth with instructions to train the young Scientists to stand on their own feet where services were concerned, to prepare them for possibly greater isolation later across the Atlantic. ”

“ In July, 1918, First Church of Christ, Scientist, Edinburgh, Scotland, opened a War Relief Room to serve the needs both of the military forces stationed in the town and of the fleet operating from Rosyth naval base in the Firth of Forth. Large numbers of men from the British Colonies came to spend their leave in this old historic town and some found their way to the Rooms. Many interesting experiences are on record of conversations with men from different parts of the world, with whom the Workers had the opportunity of breaking the bread of Life. ”

“ Right in the midst of the city's business interests, on an attractive corner of an attractive street, they were to open a place which in every detail should manifest to the world just how Christian Science is operative in human affairs. Still mindful of the object for which they were working, they could make the scene of their activities a gladsome spot to the heavily burdened business men, to the sobered women shoppers, to the workers in other relief organizations and even to the students, all of whom were passing it in hundreds every day. ”

“ In this deprivation of church services many of the Science boys sought the quiet of the woods or camp libraries to read the lesson-sermons by themselves, or if, perchance, they were fortunate enough to meet other Science boys, two or three would gather together in His name and hold informal meetings. This was possible of course, because, as the notice in our Quarterly puts it, “The Bible and the Christian Science textbook are our only preachers.” With these books in their hands, earnest Christian Scientists never need miss a church service. ”

“ The good work of a small group of local Christian Scientists culminated in the appointment of the first and only Christian Science Welfare Worker officially permitted to live and work inside a military camp in Great Britain. The advent of the Worker was warmly welcomed by the General in command, who placed a large vacant hut on one of the main roads inside the camp at the disposal of the Committee for Great Britain and Ireland, and offered every facility in the way of labor and materials towards converting the hut into a suitable Reading Room. ”

“ Before disbanding, this was practically the attitude of every organization handling the work. Generosity, bigness of conception, responsibility, reliability became indissolubly connected with the Scientists as a body, in the minds of other war workers. Nor was this all; opportunities for doing little kindnesses for other organizations; helping them fill some order too large for their unaided accomplishment; assisting in the establishment of some organization just struggling into existence, by a loan, a gift, or a friendly word of encouragement, became a recognized function. ”

“ From here a call was made at the base hospital to see a young man who, materia medica had said, ‘had slim chances.’ The Worker had been directed to this young man a few days before by someone who had been interested in him. The patient was not a Scientist and said he did not think he cared to have Science treatment, but that he would like the Worker to call again. Today he met the Worker with a beaming face and said, ‘I feel like a different man. Your talk the other day almost healed me, and so I want a copy of Science and Health and a testament. ”

“ It is estimated that within two months of the opening of the Rooms, over a thousand men had made use of them.
The Worker writes :
“There seem to be a great many new men in Buxton, and they find their way down here the first night. This week the attendance has been over three hundred. There are a number of men studying in the quiet room, and several have had talks with me, and say they want to begin at the rock bottom of Christian Science, so of course they have been referred to the textbook. The work gets more and more interesting and the men seem to be growing more and more receptive. ”

“ This account of overseas distribution is but a salesman's sample. Over one hundred and forty thousand new garments were sent through the Boston headquarters to the Committee in France, and placed with phenomenal care. The letters of acknowledgment which have been received from the beneficiaries are many and sincere. To read them is to obtain the truest definition of war. Though they tell of destruction, suffering and gaunt want, they are so appreciative, so redolent with gratitude, that the tear of grief is almost dissolved in that of joy. ”

“ When one realizes that an army cantonment sometimes covered thousands of acres of ground it will readily be seen that the Camp Workers had to be provided with automobiles in order to cover this large territory, to distribute literature and to locate men in various parts of the camp. At one time the Committee owned as many as sixty-nine cars. These all bore in gold letters on each side the words, “Christian Science Camp Welfare Committee.” The wisdom of marking the cars in this way was proved again and again. In one instance our Worker drove past a group of men who were drilling. ”

“ Very early in the establishment of the Camp Welfare work it became evident that some sort of building was needed in each camp as a headquarters for the Christian Scientists. The men felt the need of a quiet retreat to which they could come for study and spiritual refreshment and where they could meet the Worker to talk over the problems which military life presented. Moreover, it was necessary to provide a room where our services could be held regularly and where the literature could be obtained and sent forth for distribution. ”