CHRISTIAN SCIENCE IN THE WAR
ture. A picture of The Mother Church and of our Leader were hung on the walls. Writing tables and stationery were provided, as well as a piano and a French stove. Potted plants in attractive jardinieres, bright table covers, old rose cretonne draperies and net curtains, all gave a sense of home. Moreover, electric lights were installed which shone out into the darkened street, a beacon light to soldier and civilian.
The first Christian Science service in Nevers was held in the office of the Rooms on Sunday, September 29, at 3 p.m. It was attended by American soldiers and Signal Corps and Y. M. C. A. girls. The office was soon outgrown and the main room was opened for services on October 20 and proved none too large to accommodate the steadily increasing attendance. In response to a request from some of the personnel at one of the units in a large hospital center, the Workers started services in the Red Cross hut on October 6. Because of the duties of the hospital personnel and the constant changing of patients, the services had a different audience each week. Services were also started at another hospital on October 20, the Captain of the Red Cross kindly offering the use of his office for the purpose for a time.
During the first month of the Workers' stay the attendance steadily increased. Some of these visitors were transients, others became regular attendants. All the different branches of the service, including Red Cross and Y. M. C. A. workers, were represented. The simple and sincere gratitude of the boys for the blessings afforded them through the Reading Room found expression in the visitors' book, in which the following remarks were noted from among many more:
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