Article August 9, 1941 Issue

Sweeping under the Mats

MARION SUSAN CAMPBELL

A STORY is told of a little servant maid who had become deeply interested in the sayings of our Master, Christ Jesus. Her mistress, who was inclined to be skeptical as regards spiritual values, asked the girl one day if she could honestly affirm that this awakened love of the Scriptures had made any perceptible difference in her daily life. Whereupon the little maid answered: "Oh, yes, madam! I sweep under the mats now!"

Students of Christian Science who love the Way shower, and long to follow in his footsteps, are equally desirous of sweeping under the mats, which means in their experience the sweeping from consciousness of every hidden unworthy thought. Beginners in Christian Science, however, are sometimes troubled because, though they have striven to cast out these obstructing suggestions, they at times appear unable to do so. For the comfort of all such disheartened ones, Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science writes on page 339 of "Miscellaneous Writings," "Experience is victor, never the vanquished; and out of defeat comes the secret of victory." Let us examine some of the arguments that would endeavor to hold back the advancing student, so that we too many learn from past defeats the secret of victory.

Now the student of Christian Science is little tempted by what might be called the more violent suggestions of mortal mind or animal magnetism; he is not likely to be cruel, dishonest, or vicious. But mortal mind, the supposititious opposite of the one divine Mind, seemingly tries to nullify his efforts by subtler methods, endeavoring to persuade him that he is not sufficiently minded to understand Christian Science; that he is naturally unloving, and therefore unable to grasp the true meaning of the word "love" as taught in Christian Science, or of bestowing love on others; that he is more worldly minded than most people, and consequently less able to resist temptations. Indeed, animal magnetism will try in every possible way to persuade us that we are weak, miserable creatures, utterly incapable of understanding Christian Science or of benefiting our Cause!

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