CHRISTIAN SCIENCE IN THE WAR
refugees or those in actual destitution. The problem of unemployment had almost disappeared in 1918, owing to the large numbers engaged in munition making, or kindred activities. Therefore, the nature of the relief work changed considerably, and the number of cases helped was greatly reduced. The endeavor was made to have the War Relief agent in charge of a case make the payments weekly, thereby keeping in close touch with the recipient, and giving such encouragement and advice from the metaphysical standpoint as would go far towards healing the condition of poverty. In several cases the metaphysical work done by the agent brought about the financial healing before there was time for the Committee to extend the relief which was sought.
On page IX of the Preface to Miscellaneous Writings, Mrs. Eddy writes:
“A certain apothegm of a Talmudical philosopher suits my sense of doing good. It reads thus: ‘The noblest charity is to prevent a man from accepting charity; and the best alms are to show and to enable a man to dispense with alms.’ ”
This “sense of doing good” has been held as the ideal in distributing the War Relief Fund, and there has been ample proof of the wisdom and fruitfulness of such a method. In one instance the small payment of ten shillings was made to a man who had been discharged from the army as incurable. He was unable to work, and his wife was ill. Christian Science treatment was given and within a week, the man was completely healed and able to take up an excellent position.
Relief was given to a Belgian refugee and her sick husband. The woman was a munition worker during
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