Article February 6, 1915 Issue

Testing Times

EMILY J. JEWELL

In the Sentinel of Dec. 20, 1913, there appeared a testimony given by a survivor of the "Titanic" disaster, the reading of which determined me to tell of a similar experience in which divine Love was proved a sure deliverer. The mental processes of the writer of that testimony and myself seemed very much alike, and this to me is fresh proof of the existence of the one Mind.

The experience to which I refer was the passing through the flood of March, 1913, at Dayton, Ohio. The verdict of sense-testimony was that we were surrounded by fourteen feet of surging water, with imprisoned, frightened humanity, drowning animals, wrecked buildings, and fires in all directions, and that there was little chance of escape. We were in this condition from Tuesday until Friday, when we were taken out in boats. Through those terrible days and nights, primitive mortal man was revealed, while habits of civilization fell away like unnecessary and useless garments. Thus mortals stood, crude, naked, stripped of their boasted strength, and one primal cry went up for preservation. Instinctively all turned to a God,—professed believer and unbeliever, black and white, Jew and Gentile, their cry was the same,—"God save us."

The last call that went out over the telephone from our apartment-house, was the connection I was able to get with a Christian Science practitioner who had often helped me. His home was out of the flood districk, and to my request for help his reply came clear, "God is caring for you," and then the line was dead! I sat with the silent instrument in my hand and saw the electric light fade out. I tried the gas, but that would not ignite. I began dimly to realize that so far as human ingenuity was concerned we were helpless, for no one could reach us through the flood outside. I took the Bible and Science and Health and tried to read, but words seemed idle, so I closed the book, and into my seemingly paralyzed thought came automatically the ninety-first psalm, which is so dear to Christian Scientists, and which I knew by heart. I said it over, and the words began to mean something, until the truth it declares was meat and drink and drink following days. I literally lived on it until we were released.

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