Article February 14, 1901 Issue

"Bricks that go Underground"

BY G. S. H.

Passing a new public building lately, admiring the beauty and grandeur of its outline, noting its massiveness and strength rising so grandly above the surroundings, I could not help going back in thought to the time the same vast piece of masonry was begun, remembering how long it was before any evidence of a building appeared to the onlooker. Day after day, months it seemed, the same picture met the eye, evidence perhaps of something going on behind the surrounding fence but no structure looming before the expectant gaze, one would almost think at times the project had been given up. In reality far from this. As the foreman was overheard to say, which explains the seeming slowness, "We are putting an immense number of brick underground on this job." The builders knew if the foundation were safely laid, if good, careful, conscientious work were put in there, in due time the great derricks could swing the huge stone, the iron girders, the steel beams into place as quickly and skilfully as a child picks up its blocks of wood. All would be able to see the growth then, but how necessary to this growth was the unseen, quiet work beneath the surface.

Is it not so with our greatest demonstrations in Christian Science? How necessary, after clearing away the ground, as the builder clearing away the obstructions of self-love, self-will, self-pity, the stumbling-stones of pride and self-righteousness, to put plenty of "bricks underground," in the foundation, bricks of love, of self-denial, of meekness, of humility, of kindness, of watchfulness, of obedience, "for other foundation can no man lay;" and then we can be sure the work will be done, the demonstration will be made, the building will appear, the clear, beautiful reflection of the "building of God" that always has been "eternal in the heavens."

How necessary, too, to overcome a sense of impatience and discouragement in our work, — impatience to get the roof on before the foundation is laid, discouraged because our senses do not tell us more, forgetting it is the things unseen that are eternal. The careful builder knows it would not do to swing great stones into place before all was ready below the ground, he knows, too, everything there has its part to play, all must be true and level. If there are any weak places the work must be gone over, If any part out of plumb it must be straightened before the work can go on successfully. Is it not so with us? Are we impatient because harmony is not brought about more quickly in our home or in our business? Are we discouraged because some disease is not overcome immediately, disheartened because we are not all brought into harmony, health, and prosperity in a moment?

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