Testimony of Healing October 20, 1945 Issue

I wish to express gratitude for...

Edward H. Anderson

I wish to express gratitude for the help Christian Science has been to me in making the adjustments in the change from civilian life to a military camp, with all the confusion, fear, and feeling of separation which come with life in the service. Christian Science has indeed proved itself a practical religion. As I went through each step of the induction process, a thought given me by a practitioner, "Remember, all our orders come from God," was before me, guiding me harmoniously through an involved maze of canceled orders, threat of misplacement, and finally to a training center where there were extensive Christian Science activities.

A crowded barracks might not be considered an ideal place in which daily to study the Lesson-Sermon, but I have found many men in the company attracted to the light. One was so impressed by The Christian Science Monitor that he asked if it were possible to have a daily subscription sent to the barracks; another, a minister's son, has written for a copy of the Bible and "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy, which are supplied to service men and women through the Camp Welfare Activities. Instead of a limiting experience, reading and living Christian Science in these crowded conditions has proved a joyous opportunity to glorify God. Being in camp also opened the way to serve directly in Christian Science activities.

From the moment one starts recruit training, one is faced with various temptations to be afraid—fear of inoculation, fear of demerits, fear of unjust punishment, fear of lack of time. Each of these has been overcome through the truth revealed in Christian Science. The destruction of the fear of "shots" and their aftereffects was especially helpful. Never having had any medical treatment, I developed quite a fear of what the doctors might do. As I went through the line waiting for shots I kept replacing fear with "the scientific statement of being" (Science and Health, p. 468), realizing that "there is no life, truth, intelligence, nor substance in matter," and that "therefore man is not material; he is spiritual." The constant affirmation of Truth eliminated all fear of the inoculations and of possible aftereffects.

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