Deep gratitude for Christian Science impels me to testify to some of the experiences passed through during the warring years, demonstrating the practical applicability of Truth and Love. In 1914 I went to the front, and in February, 1915, was wounded by a revolver shot. The bullet struck and splintered the upper part of the arm and had also injured a blood vessel, causing an internal bleeding, so that according to mortal belief the condition was serious. I was sent to a hospital and while there requested Christian Science help, and absent treatment was given me. Soon the swelling of the arm ceased and the arm was placed in a plaster cast after having an X-ray examination to show the condition of the bone. After about five weeks the cast was removed, and the bullet, which had entirely escaped the attention of the physician, and of the presence of which I myself had no knowledge, was found to have left the body at the elbow in a very natural way and was lying in the bandage, thus making an operation unnecessary.
Also later, while at the front, I often had the opportunity of experiencing the protecting power of Truth and Love. Tn the course of the warring years, of which I had spent most of my time at the front, I was buried twice, due to grenades and mines, without suffering any after effects. One day in 1917, during the battle of the Aisne, all the dugouts of my regiment were destroyed and I, with about twenty others, was buried in another dugout. We were completely cut off from the upper air and scarcely heard the mine explosions which were taking place in our section. The entrance had been completely closed through falling pieces of earth. While in this position I clung steadfastly to the truth, and after hours of assiduous effort we were finally successful in again getting air and being released from our captivity. Upon looking about we noticed that the dugout had been completely leveled and was transformed into a shell-torn field. When I approached my dugout, however, I found it intact and also found the textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," open upon the table, just as I had left it.
There would not be room enough to enumerate all the blessings received during this time, and I wish to limit myself by testifying that at the time I was taken prisoner in 1918 God proved to be my protection and my Life. With the exception of a slight injury received on this occasion, which healed in a very short time, I passed through everything unharmed, and after being prisoner for sixteen months returned to my family. During these years of war, thanks to my efforts constantly to think right and to reveal a demonstrable knowledge of Truth, I was never placed in a position where I was obliged to harm my fellow man. I frequently read the Bible and Science and Health while in the trenches and often realized the fact that God is our Life while "in the valley of the shadow of death." Mrs. Eddy says on page 340 of our textbook: "One infinite God, good, unifies men and nations; constitutes the brotherhood of man; ends wars; fulfils the Scripture, 'Love thy neighbor as thyself;' annihilates pagan and Christian idolatry,—whatever is wrong in social, civil, criminal, political, and religious codes; equalizes the sexes; annuls the curse on man, and leaves nothing that can sin, suffer, be punished or destroyed." These words point out that Christian Science is the way to peace and the great brotherhood of man.
