First Church of Christ, Scientist, War Relief Committee

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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.” ”

“ Just so far as individual members of the Comforts Forwarding Committee lived and worked in the healing consciousness, so far every garment made carried with it the healing truth—the truth that destroys erroneous concepts of every name and nature, and sets the human understanding free. ”

“ Through men this quick response took arms. What could it do through women? Much. It could say to the enlisting men: “The womanhood of the world is with you; it will provide you warmth and comfort; it will bring you cheer, encouragement, and even joy.” To the widow and the fatherless it could say: “The great mother-heart of the universe embraces you; lean on it; for it will feed you, clothe you, comfort you.” ”

“ 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 ”

“ 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. ”

“ Since serving as a War Relief Worker, I have appreciated more deeply than before, the loving ministry that is being accomplished by the Forwarding Committee. Its work has not been confined merely to caring for human needs, for large numbers of men who have received the ‘comforts’ have earnestly inquired about the spiritual teaching of Christian Science, often saying, ‘I want to know more about God.’ To such our literature has been given, and later these boys have asked for the textbook and for treatment. ”

“ A few feathery wild grasses for desk decoration, a flag on the wall, work everywhere, and bright-faced women, one of whom says with a smile, ‘It is joyful work.’ Somehow you seem to have sensed that ‘comforts forwarding’ must be joyful work—and now you know it. ”

“ From the captain of a ship came this cheering report:
“I wish to express my appreciation of the gift of a lovely comforter which was left on board by the Camp Welfare Worker.
“The Comforts Forwarding Committee have supplied the officers and men of the ‘Bridge’ repeatedly with articles of this design, in addition to helmets, sweaters, knitted socks, and other garments that have added greatly to our comfort and efficiency. The kind thoughts that have come with these gifts have been of particular value to us and we have felt from the first that our ship is a good deal of a Science ship.” ”

“ You, too, must get behind that attractive window, to see what was going on inside. Being a woman, you instantly exclaimed, “What order; what neatness!” There were samples of every garment being made, with women to tell you all about them. Cut garments, all in their proper places, stood ready to be sold to the units. One shelf made you think of those wonderful gardens at Bellaggio, all roses and wistaria and azaleas, and you couldn't think what it contained, until the fascinating cretonnes were shaken out before you, to make your choice for comfort bags. ”

“ A little later it was a dear young boy in khaki who entered. “I have a brother in France; I have just received a letter from him. He says he got his sweater here, and tells me to come here for mine, and to be sure to get a pamphlet. Perhaps you wouldn't give me these things if you knew. This isn't our religion; we're not saying much about it to the folks at home.”
One cheerful summer morning the sun on the gilded sign, and the open door, brought in a crazed, nigh insane man.
“What comfort can you give me? Tell me that! My first son was killed, and now my second is dead, too. ”

“ Not long after, this same doctor requested that The Christian Science Monitor be placed on his desk daily. It was another member of the medical profession in the same camp who said, “You people do make the loveliest things,” and a third, to whom a sweater vest had been given, who, as he was leaving the post to return to his duties as Health Commissioner in one of our large cities, said he would always have a kind feeling for Christian Science and Christian Scientists, and that as Health Officer he knew he could always understand them better. ”

“ The Christian Scientists, with those of every other creed and faith, heard the call and answered, using at first the only available means. Individually they gave their services to existent relief organizations; in groups they purchased wool in quantities, knitting and teaching the use of the needles to others less proficient, made and fitted comfort bags, and distributed the results to individuals in the service. Calls for bags and knitted garments, however, steadily increased, and while they were met with rapidly increasing labor, the lack of an organized clearing house was keenly felt. ”

“ From a Camp Worker:
“We received 313 sweaters, 536 pairs of wristers, 461 helmets, 500 pairs of socks, and 36 scarfs. . . . The issue of these comforts broke down all prejudice against Christian Science and has opened the way for our Committee. In fact, just to hear the name Christian Science brings words of gratitude from every man and opens all doors to us.”
The following letter from a hospital worker might have been addressed to the field in general:
“The Comforts Forwarding Committee has already supplied us with over two hundred of its sweater vests, and is giving us more each week. ”

“ Unpacking the cases of goods that came in daily certainly had its joys and its surprises, for the whole field felt the spirit of the work, with results that expressed not deadening labor, but living activity. And the spirit which pervaded the groups reached even the units of one—individuals living in obscure little hamlets. Cut materials were mailed to them, and the finished garments returned in the same way. ”

“ It was a little difficult, too, always to remember that the French and British hospitals had never agreed as to whether hospital garments should be made with the seams inside or out. However, one fact was clearly recognized, that love meets the other man's need as it is, and not as someone thinks it ought to be. Meanwhile the thousands of sewers were gradually giving up their fixed habits, practicing patience by cheerfully ripping and sewing a second time, or even a third, if necessary to the sending out of a model garment ”

“ This personal contact was a happy part of the activity to the Committees and the recipients. The men already interested in Christian Science enjoyed their visits to the various Committee rooms; for the love expressed there helped them to feel that the whole body of Scientists stood closely behind them. A surprise, a wholly new experience, awaited, however, those who had never before come in immediate contact with Christian Science. Men had only to go to a Comforts Forwarding Room to find quickly the warm garments they so much needed. ”

“ For months after this, and even yet, the boys will tell us how much Christian Science has done for them, and how they feel that these knitted garments saved many of them. To the men in the service here Christian Science has come to stand for that which helps and brings joy and comfort. ”

“ Around one large table sat a group of women sewing on labels; those around the table in the corner were filling comfort bags, and a pleasant time they were having too. Near them could be seen a group of women whose quizzical expressions showed at once that they were looking over the secondhand garments that had been sent in, endeavoring to make sure that each was in perfect repair, and placed where it would be sent to the country most needing it. ”

“ And when our comfort is enhanced by the wearing of the several articles, we shall think much and many times of the loving and useful service being rendered our Cause and the boys upholding that Cause, by the Christian Scientists of the United States of America; for such unselfish and sincere efforts can only tend to bring to us the more speedily a just and lasting peace achieved by a decisive victory.”
“Dear Friends: The two outfits which you sent to my brother and me arrived Saturday. Words are inadequate when it comes to expressing our gratitude for your goodness and kindness. ”

“ I believe that for you good people to realize to the full extent the greatness of the work you are doing, and the good that will come of it, both during and after this war, is im- possible; but we soldiers do, and you can rest assured that we wont forget you. ”

“ With deep thankfulness I have observed that the sweater vests, blanket wrappers, and afghans which have been given to me to dis- tribute have brought much more than human warmth to our noble lads, for they have had part in leading the thoughts of these boys upward to the love of God, there to feel the healing touch of Truth. ”

“ If the various people who knitted these things could only see for themselves the amount of comfort I derive from their use, and could hear the words of appreciation that we say among ourselves, I feel quite sure they would say that their labor had not been in vain. ”

“ Every group seemed just across the hall, and the various labels bearing the names of the cities they represented were simply greetings from the various members of the family. Love unifies, and cooperation is the manifestation of love. ”