Newfoundland

In the course of a year Christian Science Activities for the Armed Services, 107 Falmouth Street, Boston, Massachusetts, receives many requests to assist Christian Scientists in the Armed Forces. Although most of these requests concern people stationed in the United States, some relate to individuals in various parts of the world.

When emergencies arise, relatives, friends, or service personnel communicate with our office and acquaint us with the need, and then we refer the matter for solution to the nearest Christian Science Chaplain, Minister, or Representative. By following this practical course, we have in recent years been able to help people in England, France, Germany, Italy, Turkey, North Africa, Australia, Alaska, Canada, Hawaii, Guam, Okinawa, Japan, Korea, and the Philippine Islands.

Recently we received a call from an Air Force base in Newfoundland, where we do not have a Christian Science worker. An officer who was stationed at this base became ill with what was diagnosed as streptococcic throat. After lying in bed and making no progress with this difficulty and after hearing alarming predictions from his friends if he did not take medication, he decided, that he should seek the help of a Christian Science practitioner.

Looking through The Christian Science Journal, the officer selected the names of two practitioners in Boston, Massachusetts, and asked a Protestant Chaplain stationed at his Air Force base to telegraph one of these men for help. Instead of doing as he was requested, the Chaplain thought it better to telegraph The Mother Church, stating the need of the Christian Scientist and asking that he be given treatment. The telegram was referred to our department, and we asked a Christian Science Minister for the Armed Services in Boston to undertake treatment. Immediately the officer began to improve, and in a very short time he was back at work.

The Protestant Chaplain, who sent the telegram for the officer, was a man who had lived for many years in Boston near The Mother Church. Having attended services in The Mother Church, he was familiar with the basic teachings of Christian Science and held them in high respect. While friends of the Christian Scientist were telling him that he should have medical treatment or he would suffer dire results, the Chaplain did not talk of such matters but confined his conversation to pleasant and constructive subjects. On one of his visits he discussed several features of the services in The Mother Church that had impressed him and thus helped to turn the officer's thought in right directions. During the time that the officer was confined to his quarters, the Chaplain sent to him an airman who was a Christian Scientist and who wanted to meet other Christian Scientists. While at the air base, the airman had drifted away from studying the weekly Lesson-Sermon, found in the Christian Science Quarterly. The officer loaned this airman copies of the Bible and "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy and so helped to satisfy the airman's desire to resume his study of Christian Science.

When commenting upon his healing, the officer wrote: "As a result of this experience I realized that I must take a more definite stand for Truth and not indulge in overdoses of parties, and that, as a legal officer, I must adhere more strictly to divine Principle in all matters which concern human rights. In short, the healing awakened me from a mental status quo and made me want to rise higher in my understanding and demonstration of Christian Science. For that realization, I am as grateful as I am for the physical healing. Also, I am very thankful for the prompt, effective work of the Christian Science Minister and for the wise, friendly assistance of the Protestant Chaplain."

Australia

We have received a report that twelve Australian branch churches of The Mother Church have Christian Science Armed Services Committees and that six other branch churches have arranged for their clerk, their Sunday School superintendent, or their Sunday School secretary to act in the capacity of an Armed Services committee until an appointment is made.

Besides explaining to young people going into military service about Christian Science Activities for the Armed Services in Australia, these committees send to the Supervisor of our activities in Australia the names of the Christian Scientists who are entering upon or have entered upon National Service Training, or who are entering the Civilian Military Forces annual camps. The Supervisor of Armed Services Activities in Australia is then able to send Christian Science Ministers to visit these individuals.

A further function that Armed Services committees are performing is to send the Supervisor the names and addresses of veterans in military hospitals who are interested in Christian Science and who are in need of help.

As a result of the assistance of Armed Services committees and of the co-operation of the branch churches and societies in Australia, our activities have been growing and are attaining greater fruitage in that country.