With deep gratitude I give this testimony. In 1917 my wife gave me a copy of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy. After reading the Preface, I remarked, "I have found that for which I have been searching for years." I had been searching for the meaning of two words, "light" and "love," as used in the Bible, and I felt convinced I had before me a book containing the explanation I required. At the time I was wearing bandages to support my legs, as I suffered from varicose veins. I had undergone operations at different periods to relieve this trouble. That day I threw away the bandages, and had no further occasion to use them. The sense of tiredness completely faded out, and so gently that I did not realize I was healed until weeks later. I would add that from the day I was given the copy of the Christian Science textbook I have not failed to study it, and always before the day's work or play.
I was employed in convoy service at the time I commenced my study of Christian Science, and the following account of protection, due to the confidence I had gained in Love's ever-presence, was one of many incidents which clearly showed me Christian Science prayer is definitely answered. I was taking a large convoy of troops from the United States, and stores for the army in Flanders to London. Having passed the Scilly Islands and altered course up channel I left the bridge and went below to turn in, my cabin being below the bridge. It was a calm, dark summer's night, and the phosphorescence lighting up the bows and sterns of the ships could be clearly seen for several miles with night glasses. The enemy's wireless had been heard before dark, and the officer of the watch remarked as I went below that it was a perfect night for an attack. Just before turning in I thought I would go up again and have another look round, when clearly the thought came to me, Would this be "trust" as you have learned it in Christian Science? Within a few minutes I was aroused by a knock at my door and was informed that the phosphorescent track of a torpedo breaking surface was clearly visible passing our stern. I was up on the bridge at once and, seeing that the torpedo was missing the sterns of the leading line of ships, I waited until it had time to get clear of the convoy, and then altered the course of the convoy towards land. This necessitated firing a rocket and switching on lights, which would point our new direction to the attacker, and sooner or later this altering of course must be repeated, as the convoy was heading for the shore. Now occurred a wonderful thing. Orders for a new direction had been given and I was about to give the order for the rocket to be fired and lights switched on when the officer of the watch reported a white fog bank close up behind the rear ships of the convoy. I saw that this would completely screen the convoy from the pursuer and gave orders for the alteration of course to take place. The convoy was safely off on its new course and unobserved. The remainder of the night was peaceful. The fog bank had given us our protection and my trust had been answered clearly. This was by no means my first answered prayer.
I can honestly state that during all my time on convoy and other work, after I had commenced my study of Christian Science, I was buoyed up by a sense of confidence and happiness above anything I had before experienced.
