TIMELY RECOGNITION
sion, and was assigned for a short time to the Boston Navy Yard. While there, a service was held aboard the U. S. S. Salem, of which the Christian Science Sentinel for April 27, 1918, had the following description:
A NOTABLE SERVICE
“On Sunday, February 17, 1918, there took place on one of the battleships stationed at Boston Navy Yard, Charlestown, Massachusetts, the first official Christian Science service to be held in the United States Navy. The ship was rigged for church, and at a few minutes before half past ten o'clock the bugle call for divine service was sounded. At the same time the church flag which bears the cross was raised, this flag being the only one which is ever hoisted above the Stars and Stripes. It remained flying throughout the duration of the service, to indicate that divine worship was in progress aboard the ship.
“The reading desk consisted of two steel barrels and several flat gratings covered with an American flag. A piano was available for hymns and solo, and chairs and benches were provided for the audience. Chaplain Richard J. Davis, U. S. N., acted as First Reader and Lieutenant Samuel W. Burgess as Second Reader. With the exception of a few guests the audience was composed of naval officers and seamen to the number of thirty or forty. All felt the deepest gratitude and joy that Christian Science services are now made possible for the men of the navy.”
The chaplain was soon assigned for permanent duty aboard the U. S. S. Roanoke. This ship was one of a fleet of ten mine-layers then under orders to sail for an European base to lay a barrage of mines across the North Sea. A number of officers and enlisted men on this ship were students or interested readers of our literature and before the squadron left this country
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