Page:Christian Science War Time Activities.djvu/163

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CAMP WELFARE COMMITTEE

“HE SENT HIS WORD”

Probably the greatest service rendered by the Christian Science War Relief Committee was the world-wide distribution of authorized Christian Science literature. Of this literature first of course, is the textbook, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy. In order that men in uniform might have this ever available “Chaplain” always with them, the Trustees under Mrs. Eddy's Will authorized its publication in vest-pocket size in the autumn of 1917. All are now familiar with this beautiful little book, but Christian Science students who have ready access in their homes to the larger editions, can realize but faintly what a joy this compact little volume was to the man in camp, trench, submarine, warship or aeroplane. Says a boy from Honolulu:

“The vest-pocket textbook came at the proper time, yea in due season as Love's gifts ever do. The entire Company is to start on a hundred-mile hike around the island of Oahu and I was just thinking I wouldn't want to be without my Science and Health and yet could not put it into the tight roll with the other necessities—when, as an answer to this prayer of desire, came this handy volume, ‘the little book.’ ”

The Trustees under Mrs. Eddy's Will contributed one-half of the cost of these books and the War Relief Fund of The Mother Church the other half, so that “without money and without price” our textbook was put into the hands of thousands of soldiers. To men in camp and training station, this distribution was effected through the Camp Worker, who endeavored to place the books only where there was a sincere

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