Article August 10, 1918 Issue

Ever Present Protection

ELOISE BURFORD KNOWLES

"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee," we read in the twenty-sixth chapter of Isaiah. The full significance of this text was brought home to me very forcibly during the last winter, the sacred word being as a lamp unto my feet through a period of seeming tribulation. Early in August of 1917 I went into Alaska for the year; but at Christmas time my work seemed finished there and I, with a young woman companion, made plans to leave by means of dog team, the nearest open seaport being one hundred and twenty-five miles over a winter trail. A sense of fear and resentment seemed to influence a portion of the inhabitants, and thus to hinder our leaving. We were told all manner of wild tales, until it seemed as if the seven plagues of Revelation were to be gone through with before we left. I, however, clung steadfastly to this thought of trust in the one power, as we understand it in Christian Science, and through the steady application of the truth my young companion was led to study the Lesson-Sermon with me daily. Finally after three weeks of waiting we received money enough to leave. Three men were secured to drive us, but through reluctance on their part to start out, I had for nights felt obliged to do much studying, knowing that sleep was not so much needed as right thought, and through the work done in Christian Science we were perfectly well physically for the trip.

On the morning of January 15, 1918, at dawn we left the village. The trails were in good condition and the sun arose to cheer all concerned. The first cabin was twenty-nine miles distant and the men had some fear that we might not reach our destination before dark, but all afternoon I was able to declare in the Master's words, "Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me." The second day the thought of the Israelites leaving Egyptian bondage behind them was very much with me. We made the second stop, twenty-three miles farther on, at a place situated at the head of a large lake, where we were welcomed by two trappers who treated us royally. The third day one of our men had great fear of a gorge where the river often overflowed, and before we reached the last bend we rested the dogs for a time. We held a pleasant conversation with the man, and I soon saw that his fear was gone. We thus passed many other so-called dangerous places—cracks in the ice, also water flowing over the sidehill trails, which froze into small glaciers. We, however, met with no snowstorms or freezing winds. Just as wonderfully as the Red Sea opened and the children of Israel passed through it dry shod, so we reached our seaport in four days and three nights, and the last day with the men and dogs we were able to cover fifty miles.

After an eight days' ocean voyage in midwinter we arrived safely at Seattle, our hearts full of gratitude for another demonstration of God's all-protecting care. As never before I realized what is the reward of close application and study of the truth, while listening for the still, small voice and shutting out all human opinion. On page 556 of Science and Health our revered Leader beautifully describes the thought of the wilderness, and to my young companion this reference to Rebecca's faith meant much during our journey. She had just finished her first reading of "Ivanhoe" and often quoted the opening lines:—

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