CHRISTIAN SCIENCE IN THE WAR
WITH THE FORCES AFLOAT
The naval man's life differs from the soldier's in its greater restrictions. It possesses less variety in pastimes and associations. Often long periods elapse between his “shore liberty” and his touch with home ties. Indeed, contact with the normal life and daily affairs of the civilian or even of his army brother, is denied him. That the Christian Science War Relief Committee early recognized the need in the United States Navy and developed its naval Welfare work accordingly, was but a natural unfoldment.
The New Jersey Committee, its army Welfare work only begun, probably realized this when urgent request for the Committee's good offices came to them from within the navy itself. An officer in command of a ship, fitting out in a commercial yard in Hoboken, appealed to the State Committee in the interest of his crew. Hoboken had not then become the great embarkation point that it very soon did, though there was ample evidence of the Government's intention. There were no activities, as later, for the benefit of enlisted personnel, and there was sore need for some provision for those attached to ships. The response to this officer's request was prompt, and there was quickly opened a well-fitted and comfortable Welfare Room. The location of this room was close to the piers which were destined to become the great embarkation headquarters and docks, and adjacent to the then just established shipping rooms of the American Library Association. The cordial relations existing from the start between those in charge of the American Library Association and the Committee, opened the
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