A Victory Behind the Lines

HERBERT M. GEORGE

Not all of the battles in France were fought in the front line trenches during the recent war. There were many mental battles waged behind the lines, of which the world is hearing through the Wednesday evening testimony meetings and the Christian Science periodicals. The soldiers fought some of these battles alone with God, some with the aid of their comrades, and others with the assistance rendered by the Christian Science War Relief workers. The workers, too, had their battles.

The Lesson-Sermon on the subject of "Unreality" reminded the writer of a very interesting engagement with the common enemy, called by Paul "the carnal mind." One of the Bible references in this lesson was from the tenth chapter of Matthew. The Master was giving instructions to his disciples preparatory to sending them forth to preach the gospel and heal the sick. He told them that they would be delivered up to councils and scourged in the synagogues and brought before governors and kings for his sake; but they should take no thought as to how or what they should speak, because God would give them what they should speak.

The writer was engaged in Christian Science War Relief work in one of the hospital centers in France, and accepted an invitation one noon to mess with the officers, who were all doctors. It was an exceedingly busy hour for the worker. Material sense found some very willing mouthpieces in the group seated at the mess table. A malicious attack was made upon what they conceived to be Christian Science. If Christian Science had really been what they thought, the attack would have been justified and their objective attained,—that of stopping all Christian Science activities. While the grenades and bombs of the carnal mind were exploding all about the immediate vicinity of the worker, he withdrew mentally into "the secret place of the most High." Thus abiding "under the shadow of the Almighty," angels ministered unto him. He knew that divine Love would give him "a mouth and wisdom" which adversaries would "not be able to gainsay nor resist." When the barrage of error lifted, the truth was spoken. The effect was to let loose the batteries of mortal mind in a controversy against the truth.

The officers were informed, however, that the purpose of the Christian Science War Relief workers was primarily to serve those boys who were Christian Scientists and any others who desired Christian Science treatment; that in response to a request from the head of the Red Cross organization (who had charge of all the reading matter for the boys in the hospitals), The Christian Science Monitor was being distributed free to all those desiring to read this daily, international newspaper. It was made clear that no propaganda was being conducted; that the general commanding that section had given his permission to carry on this work of helping to maintain the morale of his men. The splendid work being performed by the doctors and nurses was acknowledged, as was the spirit of cooperation among all the various branches of welfare work.

The attack subsided, the officers one by one withdrew to their respective wards, and the worker became conscious that a victory had been won,—not that the doctors had been converted to Christian Science, but the worker had won a victory over self. There was no anger or resentment in his thought toward those who held differing opinions regarding the efficacy of prayer in healing the sick. He had experienced the truth of Mrs. Eddy's words in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 571), "Clad in the panoply of Love, human hatred cannot reach you." The worker let the officers keep their concept and he kept his. He realized that his last words to them would come true; namely, that some day they would recall the statements made and find them to be demonstrably true. In the chapter of Matthew before referred to, the Master told his disciples that if there were any that did not receive them, nor hear their words, they should depart, shake off the dust from their feet, and let their peace return unto them. So the worker did not let the dust of false concepts settle or find lodgment in his thought. He continued his work in peace and was not again interrupted. In fact this was the only instance of its kind that occurred during his seven months' work in France.

On the return trip to the Christian Science War Relief rooms, some thirty miles distant, a serpentine suggestion tried to fasten itself in his thought. Its argument was something like this, "If you had been a better metaphysician, you would have avoided this encounter." Distinctly in reply "the still small voice" came, "Did the metaphysical understanding of Shadrach, Meshach, or Abednego prevent them from being cast into the fiery furnace, or Daniel from being thrown into the lions' den, or Peter and Silas from being imprisoned? Did it prevent Paul from being stoned, or the viper from fastening itself upon his hand? No; but their understanding of God and of their relationship to Him and to each other, freed them from their persecutors." With this conviction, the worker shook off the viperous belief into the fire of mortal mind, and it was destroyed. He went on his way rejoicing in another conquest over material selfhood, praising God who had supplied him with "the wisdom and the occasion for a victory over evil" (Science and Health, p. 571). The writer is indeed grateful for the practical religion taught and demonstrated by Christ Jesus and made plain to this age by Mary Baker Eddy, who endured unto the end all persecutions that she might deliver her spiritual revelation to mankind, viewing them (Science and Health, p. 570) as "millions of unprejudiced minds—simple seekers for Truth, weary wanderers, athirst in the desert ... waiting and watching for rest and drink."

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