Page:Christian Science War Time Activities.djvu/385

 Christian Science gather for the lesson-sermon, or to hear some good article from our publications. We are grateful for the opportunity we have of proving the Principle of Christian Science; and striving each day to abide in the secret place of the most High, we know that evil shall not come nigh our dwelling.

“The enclosed checks for $100 are the contribution of the boys and officers on board our ship to the War Relief Fund.

(Signed—Committee.)

On the trip across, a torpedo from a submarine was fired across the bow of the Roanoke but failed to strike it and from then on the story of the protection afforded this entire naval operation is one which to human thought seems miraculous. The mine barrage was laid across the North Sea from the Orkney Islands to the coast of Norway and during their nine months abroad, the mine-layers made thirteen trips out into the North Sea, in constant danger from enemy submarines, airships, and floating mines, while being laden themselves with tons of the deadly explosive TNT. Each of the larger ships, it is said, carried three times as much of this explosive as that which destroyed the town of Halifax.

It was the duty of our chaplain to accompany his ship on these mine-laying excursions, and in addition to the task of providing for the spiritual needs of the men, he was given what was known as a “vigilance watch.” Thus while the other officers slept and the squadron, sometimes accompanied by twelve destroyers and armed cruisers, silently steamed along in the darkness of the North Sea, the Christian Science chaplain was on guard, knowing the power of the