My first contact with Christian Science was during the First World War when we were stationed in a small country town. My wife had noticed that there was a Christian Science Society there, and she suggested that we go to a service. We went, but did not understand much that was read. Some time later we were able to go to a testimony meeting in First Church of Christ, Scientist, London, and were amazed at what we heard. We both resolved that Christian Science was the religion for us.
A few months later I went to France. The following summer my wife came out to spend a week's Paris leave with me. I saw she was in poor condition, for she had borne the strain of a sister's illness. Our first call was at a Christian Science Reading Room to find a practitioner to give my wife treatment. One of these experienced Christian Scientists came to our hotel and talked to my wife for several hours with beneficial results.
A month later my division was doing a mopping-up operation when I encountered an enemy machine gun that opened fire, and I was severely wounded. One bullet passed through my head, badly splintering the bone. The battalion doctor, who attended my wound, did not rate my chances for survival very high. I was immediately dispatched to a base hospital.
