In No. 2 Red Cross Hospital
A City missionary tells how a wounded soldier got his Testament. This is his letter to me: ―
“Exeter. April 13th 1916.
“Dear Dr. Wreford,—On entering a ward in our Exeter No. 2 Red Cross Hospital a few days ago, I was accosted by one of the nurses, who asked me if I could direct her to an address printed on one of your booklets: the one entitled, ‘The Sin against the Living God and Sentimental Blasphemy,’ She told me she was a stranger to Exeter and did not know her way about the city. Of course it was your address she was inquiring for, and I directed her how to find your house as plainly as I could. She then told me the reason she wanted to see you. Pointing to the notice on the booklet where it says: ‘Any soldier or sailor reading this, who has not a khaki Testament to fit his pocket, if he will write to me I will endeavor to send him one at once,’ she said, ‘I have promised to try and get a Testament for that dear fellow up there in the corner of the ward.’ Taking out one (for, thanks to your kindness, I always have a good supply when visiting our wounded men), I said, ‘This is what you want; these came from Dr. Wreford.’ I also gave her one of your ‘Message from God,’ and other booklets, for the soldier. After speaking and giving booklets and Testaments to others in the ward, I eventually got around to where the man who had asked the nurse to get him one of your Testaments was lying. I found him very happy, although he was suffering much pain. He had been wounded by shrapnel in the face, lower jaw, right arm broken and both knees. He told me he wanted a Testament because his Bible was too heavy for him to hold up to read in bed. He is compelled to lie on his back, believe. I said to him, ‘You evidently find comfort through reading the Word of God.’ He answered ‘Yes, I do.’ He told me that just before I entered the ward he had received a letter from his young lady who lives at B—, and she had enclosed your booklet with your address on, and after reading it he asked the nurse if she could help him to get a Testament from you. Needless to say he was very grateful.
“Yours very sincerely, F. G. WAKEFIELD (City Missionary).”