Used, study room copy
Foreword
In the loving ministrations of The Mother Church, The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Massachusetts, all that was done to ameliorate wartime suffering from 1939 to 1946 moves as an inspiring epic written by actions of Christian Scientists and their colleagues of many faiths.
Christian fellowship characterized the Christian Science wartime activities of World War II. Under a threat to religious freedom unequaled since the pagan persecutions of long ago, Christians drew together in the spirit of Mary Baker Eddy's prophetic words on page 575 of Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, that the Cross of Calvary "binds human society into solemn union."
Deep and enduring gratitude is expressed to the Christian Science Field for its instantly abundant support of the various wartime funds as they appeared, and for the consecrated service of each and every worker who volunteered for world-wide activities. To have shared in this great work is beyond human praise. The reward of all the workers is voiced by countless hearts in the warm glow of spiritual love, reciprocal and God-crowned.
To the goodly company of individuals in other congregations, to welfare agencies, business firms, governmental officials, and civic groups - to all who aided Christian Scientists in their wartime activities - a direct "thank you!" Without your help the full measure of blessings could not have been wrought.
Those closest to the work will discern sheaves of healings and of selected experiences. Only in the lives of those who lived it can be recorded the full story of superb heroism and unflagging loyalty, the obedience and resultant healing, the love in action, of the second Christian Science wartime activities.
The aim of this volume is to present a complete running account of the wartime activities in their broad outlines, enlivened by enough specific detail of unselfish service, healings, and individual experiences to clothe the framework with a garment of fact. The story - tremendous in its unrehearsed drama - is told as a story rather than as a formal report.
For purposes of preserving continuity, the book has been arranged in chronological order of events, except where the equally desirable drawing together of related topics forms a well-founded chapter. At no point is a reader who participated in the work to conclude that all branches of his special department are covered in any one part of the story. For instance, activities of the War Relief Committee predominate in the early chapters, but do not end there. Also, the Wartime Ministers, chaplains, Volunteer Wartime Workers, Service Center attendants, and other members of a unified team are each introduced in their won chapters. Then they are met again as they move across the world fields of battle and of humanitarian service.
Always to be kept in thought is the inseparable unity of the work within the broad oneness of The Mother Church. At the height of activity, every distinct team was in full stride, meshing its endeavors with all the others, simultaneously.
The Christian Science Board of Directors