Article May 31, 1919 Issue

Extracts from Letters

[From a War Relief worker]

"The committee have many times received inspiration from the talks with the boys, who are so brave and uncomplaining of their hardships, and withal so humble when reciting their experiences at the front. We have talked with hundreds of wounded soldiers in the hospitals and find them as brave and loyal on their beds of pain and afflication as we know they were when facing the terrors of the battle field. It was the exception to hear a groan or a murmur, but always one was greeted with a smile, or a cheerful nod, and invariably one would hear the question from some quarter of the ward, 'What is the latest news from the States?' and a welcome hand would be reached out for the Monitor. The Monitor is recognized, with but few exceptions from generals down to buck privates, as the disseminator of interesting and authoritative news, and the demand has far exceeded the supply at this station. The committee has been told many instances where those familiar with The Christian Science Monitor would rebuke others who entertained the wrong concept of it. In every case cited, the Monitor was referred to as a nonsectarian international newspaper and the best in the world.

"Many requests by telegram and letter to look up soldiers in certain camps or hospitals have been received by the committee. Almost without exception these soldiers have either been located or information regarding their addresses forwarded to our Paris office. It has been a particular pleasure to write to the relatives letters of good cheer about their loved ones over here, thus giving the joy of serving those who are waiting and loving at home. It has been interesting to learn how divine Love has led the soldiers to find the reading rooms or to write for help. One boy who had been in a near-by hospital for several weeks, told of his demonstration. As he lay on his cot he took up the thought of the vine and its branches, using the fifteenth chapter of St. John. He said he likened the vine to The Mother Church. Being a member of this church, he knew he was also one with its branches and with all its branch activities and could not be separated from them; that divine Mind would reveal to him the way to find a practitioner. For several days nothing unfolded, but he continued faithful in his metaphysical work. Then one day his nurse brought him a Paris edition of the New York Herald. Therein he found the card giving the list of Christian Science War Relief depots in France. He immediately got in touch with the committee at the nearest point to his hospital. He is now with the Army of Occupation in Germany.

"Another soldier earnestly prayed to be brought in touch with a Christian Scientist, and his prayer was answered in a similar way. He found the address of the reading rooms stamped on the front page of the Monitor, copies of which had been distributed throughout the ward."

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