Page:Christian Science War Time Activities.djvu/256

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CHRISTIAN SCIENCE IN THE WAR

The Workers in the Paris Rooms had the joy, too, of hearing the experiences of men just back from the front, and many were the grateful expressions of gratitude for the protection afforded through an understanding of Christian Science. One day a lieutenant came in asking for information about Christian Science. He explained that he had become interested while censoring the mail of soldiers who were Scientists, and said:

“They were all such cheerful letters. One boy was an especially cheerful creature in the letters he wrote. I used to read his letters sometimes two or three times. The doctors had given him no hope because of his wound and yet he refused to believe a thing they said. I thought I should like to know what sort of a religion he could possibly have which would make him disbelieve a doctor's verdict. The boy is getting well and I want to know about Christian Science.”

There were a number of interesting appeals for literature from French soldiers. One, upon becoming an earnest student of the textbook, voluntarily and without effort gave up the use of wine and tobacco, in obedience to what he read in Science and Health. He also inquired about the church service, and thereafter conducted his own service, in strict conformity to the Manual, in a French army automobile.

The Paris office was the distributing center for all the Christian Science literature which went to the Allied Armies in France, with the exception of the British army which was supplied by the London office. Great quantities were sent direct from Boston to the various Depots throughout France but a large surplus stock was always kept on hand in Paris to forward to small groups of Scientists who were hold-

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