CHRISTIAN SCIENCE IN THE WAR
home and went to bed. At the same time the influenza manifested itself, and at times during the first night in bed I was delirious. The next morning the Welfare Worker called and soon after he arrived I responded to his treatment and went to sleep. When I awakened the fever had subsided and I was much better. Next morning the authorities at the Post informed us that the ambulance was coming out and would take me to the hospital, which was of course against my wishes. But personal desires amount to very little in the army. I was kept in the hospital and by the next morning was perfectly well, but I had a hard time convincing the doctors of this, for they wanted to keep me in a few days longer. At about eleven o'clock in the morning I called up the Welfare Worker and asked him to help me with this problem. However, later the same morning the sergeant came to me, saying that the doctors had decided I could go back to the barracks.
“All through my two ground courses and the flying course, God, through my knowledge of Him as taught in Christian Science, was an ever-present help and I know I could not have come through it all so well as I did, without this aid.
“Soon after receiving my commission I was assigned to a company and was ordered overseas. Naturally it was hard to leave my wife and child, but with the help we received through the Welfare Worker we saw that everything was for the best and we felt confident that we would be united again and would be taken care of during our separation.
“Many others received the same help as I did through the Christian Science War Relief Committee and it certainly has proved to be a wonderful organization. I have command of no words with which to express my gratitude to God and to Christian Science for the many benefits and blessings I received before my entry into the army, during my service and since my return to civil life.
“Jere Van Rensselaer, Jr.,
“Lincoln, Nebraska.”
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