Motivated by helpfulness

The term "Welfare Worker" appears regularly in our book this month. The term does not really describe the actual work carried out, so it is helpful to hear how one of these workers described his position: "A Welfare Worker is a man who hunts for soldiers for whom he can do favors" (p. 87). The book explains that "helpfulness" was the name of the game, and this might include something as simple but greatly appreciated as offering rides to others while en-route to deliver copies of The Christian Science Monitor.

Readers will be interested to read about the experience of "a student officer" who was in acute difficulty following inoculation during the First World War (p. 83-85, Christian Science Wartime Activities 1914-18). He was in an insane asylum and all was in readiness for his imminent passing.

At this point, a Christian Science Welfare Worker was called. He shared some "simple truths [the student officer] could easily understand", including some Christian Science-based metaphysical inspiration from a well-loved poem, The Ancient Mariner. 

When some difficulty arose within the hospital where the officer was located, the worker was led to "higher demonstration" (p. 84). As part of his prayers, the book tells us, he "came to the conclusion that 'hospital' might represent that which aids men to be well and whole, and 'doctor' that consciousness which knows and ministers to every man as a brother" (p. 85). Soon, the previously difficult attitude of some hospital staff changed for the better, and patients in this ward were being moved "to the convalescent wards or returned...to their organizations" (ibid) and the student officer recovered.


J. Swannell