To one in a seafaring life the sustaining comfort of Christian Science is invaluable, for it assures us that our loved ones are always cared for, as God's children; it teaches us to say in quietness and confidence, "I will fear no evil; for thou art with me." During a long tour of duty in the South Seas I contracted a chronic tropical disease. From study of the Scriptures in the clear light of Mrs. Eddy's writings, I knew that the nobleman's son and the centurion's servant had been healed by absent treatment, and I felt sure that the same beneficent law would operate in my behalf. So when confined to my berth on board ship I called upon a Christian Science practitioner in a distant port for assistance. The response was immediate. I got up and returned to duty, gratefully conscious of the truth of the familiar declaration of Isaiah, "Before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear." I am glad to add that this healing, which has meant a great deal to me, was complete and permanent.
I feel especially grateful for the unfailing protection afforded my family and me during the trying days of the World War. Amid scenes of great activity in European waters, I found the truth as taught in Christian Science always dependable as a "shield and buckler." During a number of voyages I studied daily the ninety-first and one hundred and twenty-first Psalms, and the Lesson-Sermon in the Christian Science Quarterly. I spent five consecutive weeks within the submarine zone, and, although during this period four of our transports and men-of-war were torpedoed, I came through safely. I felt deep gratitude for the Scriptural assurances, "No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper," "There shall no evil befall thee," and "The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore."
So complete and dependable was the divine protection afforded through the study of Christian Science that every ship in the convoy under my command reached port in safety after four stormy days in the European submarine zone. The destroyer escort did not join our command until within four hours of our destination, but "everlasting arms of Love" were "beneath, around, above" — no other defense was needed.
