CHRISTIAN SCIENCE IN THE WAR
sels leaving there and the men at her navy yard found a helpful friend in the Worker. At Mobile, Alabama, many British warships were supplied with our literature, as well as were our own boats landing at that port. San Francisco discovered that the navy was not easy of access, but once admitted, received assistance and found quick appreciation of its work. The Washington State Committee maintained a Worker, whose entire time was devoted to the navy yard at Bremerton, near Seattle. The work here was productive of the most gratifying results and secured the entire appreciation and cooperation of the officers.
The work at the Portsmouth Navy Yard was the last to unfold and little is known of it. Therefore it will be spoken of in some detail. The variety and diversity of the units at this point rendered the work somewhat different from that of the other shore stations. The navy yard proper comprised the usual number of ships, coming and going, a large hospital, a marine camp, and the large naval prison. The latter had a population of twenty-four hundred men during the war. A naval Worker arrived in Portsmouth, at the time the so-called influenza was at its height. Upon reporting to the Commandant, it was learned that the hospital was congested, and there was a shortage of nurses, due to sickness and recent detachments, creating a serious situation. The services of the Worker were volunteered and accepted, and in the hospital spiritual work was combined with the material care of sick nurses and men in the influenza wards. Wards of terror-stricken men, witnessing the death of comrades, were calmed and encouraged, and many patients thought to be very ill were found up and dressed the following day. Sick nurses stopped
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