Editorial June 7, 1930 Issue

The Beam and the Mote

Violet Ker Seymer

The aim of every Christian Scientist is to keep before him the model of the perfect man and to identify himself with it. Having done his mental work each day preparatory to mingling with the crowd, and resolving to prove himself impervious to error's arguments, he may straightway encounter the temptation to accept as real the evil traits manifested through one or another whom he meets. Unless the Christian Scientist maintains humility and alertness, he may even find himself feeling devoutly thankful that he has outgrown some of the imperfections which still appear to him to hold others in bondage. The overcoming certainly marks a milestone in his own spiritual advance; yet, in so far as he is still believing that evil really has presence as person, place, or thing, he is guilty of denying the omnipresence of God and man.

Therefore Jesus said, "Why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?" Both the beam and the mote are libels on God and man, and brotherly love requires that we clear our own thought of the error which seems to be darkening that of another. How may this be done if he does not yet seem willing to admit or correct his shortcomings? Christ Jesus pointed out the need for self-correction and unswerving loyalty to God and man when he said, "Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye." Mrs. Eddy's somewhat parallel counsel reads (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 341), "First purify thought, then put thought into words, and words into deeds."

The Christian Scientist rouses himself to behold health wherever sickness seems to be voiced or manifested; and silently, if need be, he also rebukes the belief of sin when it attempts to make an impression on him, whether it claims to be expressed by himself or another. Only so can he keep enshrined in his consciousness the clear vision of spiritual man and heal by it; for Jesus went on to say, "Then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye."

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