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The needs of Portsmouth were next urgently brought forward as being those of a large naval base, which was at the same time the headquarters of two great branches of the marines and of a branch of Garrison Artillery. The town was also one of the American military hospital bases. Accordingly in the spring of 1919, a War Relief Room was opened and promptly made use of by men in all branches of the service. A large percentage of these men came in to write their letters, but remained to read. Many of them made friends with the Worker in charge and brought him their problems for solution.

A gunner came in one day and said he wanted to know about Christian Science, and would like the textbook. It appeared that before going to France, he had been stationed in a fort where one of the garrison was a Christian Scientist. He became friendly with this man and was very much struck by his earnestness, for, though often subjected to chaff and ridicule, he would stand up and say that Christian Science was the thing he valued more than anything else in his life. The example of this man had such an effect on the gunner that when he saw the notice of the War Relief Rooms put up in the barracks, he determined to go and learn something of Christian Science. He inquired immediately for the textbook, saying he was going on night duty and very much wanted to read it. Through the study of Science and Health he was healed of the smoking habit and of severe pain in his hand and arm caused by a gunshot.

A sailor came into the Portsmouth Rooms one day