I have very great reason to be grateful to Christian Science for the wonderful help and guidance I have received through its teachings. I first attended a Christian Science Sunday school about six and a half years ago, when I was sixteen, and since then have relied on the truth to overcome my every problem, whether mental or physical.
Since joining the army two and a half years ago, I have proved over and over again the omnipotence, omniscience, and omnipresence of God, and now on looking back cannot conceive how I would have fared without this wonderful teaching. I had a very remarkable demonstration of God's protecting care whilst I was on service in France in April, 1917. My company was moved forward one night in preparation for advancing next morning. We were in good time and halted a little way behind our own firing line. The other platoons managed to get some cover, but my platoon had to stay out in the open for the time being. While waiting there, the enemy seemed to get wind of something and put over an artillery barrage. I immediately began to declare the truth of being and realize God's protecting power. It was wonderful—shells landed everywhere except where I was with my platoon. This lasted for about half an hour, and I held on to the truth. I was indeed grateful, for not one of us (and we had about thirty men there) received a scratch.
Next morning my battalion attacked and gained their objective, and whilst holding our position I was wounded in the chest and the right forefinger. The place we were in became too hot to hold and my comrades had to give ground a little. Meantime I had lost consciousness, and I do not know what happened for a little while, but I seemed to awaken on hearing voices. On looking up I saw a German leading off two boys I knew as prisoners. Being unable to do anything I lay still and noticed that there seemed to be a number of Germans about. My first thought was that it would be my turn to be picked up next; then I got over this fear and started to realize the truth of the omnipotence and omnipresence of God. The chief thought I had was of safety in the protection of the everlasting arms of divine Love. I held on to this thought and worked, as we are taught in Christian Science, to know God's allness. Three times that day my equipment, which was lying at my side, was searched by the enemy, but I was left severely alone. None of them laid a finger on me or paid any attention to me whatever.
