ENGLAND'S ANSWER TO THE CALL
twelve additional War Relief Rooms had been opened, which, with the Welfare House in London, brought the number up to twenty-three, with a total staff of forty-nine workers.
The ideal held clearly all through the work was found in a measure in the meaning of the word relief itself, which is defined variously as succor, support, deliverance, refreshment, consolation, comfort. The War Relief scheme of The Mother Church was recognized as bringing the message of the Comforter right down into the urgent problems of the hour. This ideal so inspired the work that all over the county men have looked on the War Relief Rooms as their home, and have turned there for help and encouragement. The endeavor was to place in charge workers who were practical Christian Scientists, who would be ready to take any opportunity that might present itself of serving the men, or the women in the auxiliary service, and equipping them to meet the experiences which lay before them. Every imaginable problem, mental, moral, physical, financial, has been laid before these workers and with remarkable success in the healing of the different conditions.
A special effort was made in the later development of the scheme to provide for the needs of the Americans, Australians, Canadians, New Zealanders and South Africans stationed in this country, and for this purpose War Relief Rooms were opened at several places used as American naval bases, or as Canadian or other camps. Many of these men who came thousands of miles overseas to fight for their highest ideal of good, have, through the War Relief Rooms, found the source of all such ideals.
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