"Hands Across the Sea"

World War One created huge and far-reaching hardship. The scope of the benevolence offered by the Christian Science War Relief Fund, set up in 1914, was wide, but it was carefully and meticulously conferred on the needy. Chapter II, aptly titled "Hands Across the Sea", chronicles specific instances of blessings that accrued from the distribution of generously donated funds.

One woman, a Christian Scientist, had been a sculptress before the outbreak of war. Finding herself without customers, she conceived the idea to make dolls. With "some slight assistance from the fund" (page 49), she was soon on her way with this new business, which proved to be so successful, that after a while, she was not only providing dolls for large shops in Paris and overseas, but she also needed to employ eleven more women in order to keep up with the demand!

Due to the remoteness of some regional areas of France, The Mother Church - through its local Fund committees - sent letters to dignitaries in 159 regions, explaining the fund and its purpose. These letters specifically invited applications to the fund and they "called forth a very general and enthusiastic response" (p. 51). It is sobering to read that some of the villages had been completely obliterated.

Some of the interesting cases assisted included:
- an artificial leg
- warm clothing for refugee children
- furniture for those who had been sleeping on straw
- packages for prisoners of war
- funds to evacuate children to safety
- funds for sewing machines which were shared among inhabitants
- bedding, blankets, warm clothing and boots
- funds to trustworthy channels in particularly devastated regions.

The sentiment from Mary Baker Eddy's Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures p. 13: "Love is impartial and universal in its adaptation and bestowals" was put into action as aid was extended to a Protestant clergyman (p. 47), an American nurse (ibid), a young Jewish woman from Algiers (p. 48), some Russian ladies (ibid), an Austrian, Poles, Swedes, Italians, and Armenians.

A newspaper report dated November 10, 1918, is of special interest:

"It is not by almsgiving in the name of their religion so widely spread in America, that they seek to aid the victims of the war. It is rather by placing in each man's hand an instrument by which he can overcome evil and so eventually efface all trace of calamity, including war.

Is there any more beautiful religion than the overcoming of evil? Science, allied with this noble idea of Christianity, which for centuries has taken root in the world, becomes a means of uplifting the individual and his family both materially and morally. 

The wounds to be healed are innumerable. Universal brotherhood which is the basis of the doctrine of Christian Science finds its work here. The motive of the Christian Science War Relief Fund is to put into the hands of persons in distress the means of re-creating by their own efforts an independent position."

The stories in this book tell of comfort and relief felt through love's touch, generously and judiciously shared in ways that made a difference to many individuals. It is very inspiring.

Julie Swannell