A soldier wrote:
Upon my arrival in my final training
camp I made inquiries as to whether there were any Scientists or no. I was told
there were none. I made up my mind to take my stand, so at my first opportunity
I had published a notice of Christian Science meetings in a YMCA hut. Can you
imagine my feelings to have waiting for me Sunday morning at 10:15, thirty-two
men who had come through a drenching rain to attend our little service? We have
held our service every Sunday since then and the average attendance has far
exceeded that of the first Sunday.
Christian Science Wartime
Activities, pp. 125-6
From
France:
We have held services right along and
the last one was in a dugout six feet long and four feet high. (ibid 126)
And
this from Menton, France, at a YMCA “leave area”:
Among the secretaries were four girls
who were Christian Scientists and who met together whenever possible, reading
the lesson and seeking spiritual guidance for their problems. Several other
secretaries, seeing the way seeming difficulties were overcome by these girls,
and remarking at the ability of those who were Scientists to stand up under
work that to them was taxing and difficult, asked to know something of
Christian Science… (ibid 129)
Bravo to those who took
their stand. It’s a reminder of the opening line of that stirring hymn (Christian
Science Hymnal 1932, Hymn 12/13 – words by Violet Hay:
Arise
ye people, take your stand.
Julie Swannell
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