Testimony of Healing August 6, 1927 Issue

In the year 1917 I took part in two battles in the Ypres...

C. Bassett Burke

In the year 1917 I took part in two battles in the Ypres salient and came out a physical wreck, hungering for the opposite of war and mud. It is just to state that I realized then that only God could preserve one in such a conflict. I was invalided to England, and during convalescence was attracted to, and became the friend of, a fellow soldier who was interested in Christian Science. We were "marked out" on leave together, and at his invitation I attended a Christian Science service. That service made a tremendous impression on me, for I left the church speaking a new tongue: I was healed of profanity! I am grateful beyond expression for the spiritual love that was reflected by the members of that church. In the words of our Master, "I was a stranger, and ye took me in: naked, and ye clothed me."

Clothed with right thoughts which, when our brigade—South African—went over the top at Messines, were a protection both to me and to my team mates! In this engagement a condition called "trench feet" attacked me. I did not report sick,—that would not be playing the game,—but kept knowing, with the very slight knowledge I had of Christian Science, that the truth would be revealed and the condition eliminated. Two weeks later we went out of the line for a few days' rest, and one morning I pulled off my boots and showed my feet to my friend, who, turning away, said, "It's only matter." At first I thought, "How callous!" and then the light broke. "Why," I exclaimed, "there is no intelligence in matter!" The healing was instantaneous, for as I was putting on my boots the order came to "fall in," and I no longer hobbled, but ran to the call of duty.

Christian Science has taught me how to pray. When I was wounded and in the hospital thought was often with those who were bearing the heat and the burden of the day, and I used to pray quite earnestly that our soldiers should be blessed with fine weather. This thought was confided to an older student, who said very lovingly, "What we want to work for is one atmosphere." It did not take me long to realize that if we worked for one atmosphere the enemy would breathe it too, and in an atmosphere of Love there would be nothing to fight about. Away went resentment, as the vastness and grandeur of Christian Science became apparent. My constant desire is to keep in step with our "mighty army" moving forward in obedience to the Manual of The Mother Church.

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Testimony of Healing

My first knowledge of Christian Science was gained some...