k ,\ FROM THE LIBRARY OF REV. LOUIS FITZGERALD BENSON, D. D. BEQUEATHED BY HIM TO THE LIBRARY OF PRINCETON THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY Scctloi (^4^-0 JUST PUBLISHED: A new Liberal Song Book, entitled Songs of the Morning, ORKilXAL AM) SELECTED. By CALEB S. VVEEKS. IN TWO VOLUMES. EACH VOLUME COMPLETE IN ITSELF. Vol. I. Original, including Responses to Old Hymns, and Old Hymns in Kesponding Versions. Vol. 11. Selections. The first Volume— the Original Songs— Now Ready. It is gotten up in excellent style, on good thick paper, from large, new type. It contains an alphabetical in- de.x of Song titles ; another of first lines of Songs, and an index of tunes suitable for the Songs. One haK or more of Hie Songs are new and original, and the rest original responses to old Hymns, Songs and Doxologies. Nearly all of the most popular old Hymns, which were formerly sung with religious fervor, and some of Moody and Sankey's, are resurrected with a changed body and a new, live soul of truth and rational philosophy. The author is well known as a Liberalist Songster. He was one of the chief contributois to the Truth Seeker's collection. His Son^is have been highly com- mended. One of our correspondents in 1877 called him " That Wonderful American Mocking Bird, who sings us the old songs with variations, and all the modern im- provements." The first volume consists of 212 pages, and contains all of the Original Songs. The Selections may be pub- lished as a second volume at a future time. Price, Cloth, $1.00. For sale, wholesale and retail, at the TRUTH SEEKERi OFFICE, 21 Clinton Place, New York. Digitized by the Internet Arcliive in 2011 witli funding from Calvin College http://www.archive.org/details/songsofmorningorOOweek ^^ y SFP2519W Songs of the MoMim^ .^> ORIGINAL AND SELECTED. By CALEB S. WEEKS. IN TWO VOLUMES. Vol. I. Original — including Responses to Old Hymns, AND Old Hymns in Responding Versions. Vol. ii. Selections. Vol. I. NEW YORK: THE TRUTH SEEKER OFFICE, 21 Clinton Place. 188.-5. Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1881, By CALEB S. WEEKS. In the Office of the Librarian of Congress,- at Washington TO ALL WHO, SOUL-INSPIRED BY THE LIGHT OF OUR manhood's dawning morning, WOULD IN S(^NG GIVE VENT TO THEIR N E W L V - A W A K E N I N G L I F E, BUT ARE NOT VET ABLE TO GIVE IT BETTER EXPRESSION. INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. There is, I believe, no more urgent need among those who are awaking from the night of supersti- tion than that the newly-toned melody of their souls should find free expression in songs which honor and aid, rather than abase and check the rational faculties, thus inspiring the emotions while freeing, enlightening, and exalting them. This need is greatest where consciousness of it is least. Songs are wanted which shall help intellect and intuition in their efforts to unite their coun- terpart elements so as to form completed manly reason — reason which need not war upon the soul's emotions in order to defend its own existence, but which, clear-sighted, can see through all mytho- logic mists, and readily separate living truths from the dead, decaying dogmas which ecclesiasticisms would retain with them. Then it will not only clear and enlarge its own field, but also expand and intensify all the spiritual sensibilities and powers, making all the human faculties co-w(;rk- ers for truth and human happiness. Many of those wlio have consciously rejected the dogmas of old superstition are yet in the acute stage of the outer intellect's strife for libertv to unfold reason's commencing life. Perceiving how effective a use ecclesiastical institutions and pow- ers make of singing to enslave the emoticjns to superstition, they half-suppose that music and emotion united must be a foe to intellectual free- dom, and tluis they leave tliis powerful means of Nature's grace to work against them, while they are chilled and benumbed ff)r want of it. INTRODUCTORY REiMARKS. V The' some have logically perceived, and some, not so seeing, have, in moments of inspiration, intuitively discerned the relation of such music to their needs, and poured forth their souls in song, yet most of the religiously freed are still shivering amid the fetid emanations of decomposing dogmas, which they linger to fight, as if they Avere living foes, instead of hurrying dogmatic authority and the dead moralisms, its fortifications, and coming Avhere the Morning rays may clear the senses and enliven the emotions, thus aiding the growth of the living religion and real moral philosophy. Believing that more of these would see the true character of song, and use this powerful soul-vivi- fier as their own, if melody, harmony and emotion were united with truthful, elevating thought, I liave here put forth some of my own chirpings, hoping they may somewhat help to serve this purpose, and have made a selection from our Morning Songsters' warblings for the second volume of this Avork. Among my own, many are responses to old hymns, and some are responding versions. Some of the old hymns slightly changed in words, again become live spiritual truths, as they were in their original form to the age that thus embodied them in germs of thought. I have retained for the new songs, selections, and the old as resurrected and ;r- newed in responses, the soul-stirring tunes which the waking spiritual emotions set to the crude, half- awakened thought of the old hymns. Melody is immortal, and should have a body of living thought. It needs well-formed thought, but can work with the defective if it is vital enough to serve the ever- living emotions. It will be true to itself, and to life. VI INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. It ever makes the incongruous, dead and disorganiz- ing conditions more apparent. The old sectaries are partially feeling this, and, as they lose the spirit- ual vitality, they yield up the thought-life of their earlier songs ; but as, for church-consistency's sake, they cannot disown the words, they drop the spirit- ual tunes, in which their life chiefly consisted, in- venting such new ones as, by their inappropriate- ness of emotion, make spiritless the words which have become thoughtless. Thus they are resign- ing to the spiritually revivified the tunes Avhich they delighted in when the words expressed living ideals and served living faith's cravings. It is ap- propriate that we accept the surrender. Let us ALL sing ! " Sing in the spirit and with the understanding ! " When we have songs which well express the soul's highest conceptions of living truth, instead of dead or dying forms of infantile faith, we shall rapidly learn to do so. If my own and some of the selections are not a high order of poetry, they express in some degree the sentiments of the live, evolving, natural faith. They may have remains of old befogged thought tinging them, for the Morning Dawn, in awaken- ing souls to song, inspires with truths before it can make them perfectly clear to the eye ; and, more- over, where they are clearly seen, the feebleness of spoken language, even tho' we press larger mean- ing into words, must give written thought some of its old shading as well as its vagueness. This may be distasteful to those who see surface-distortions but not the glory of truth under such partial vail- ings. Who can avoid this difficulty? SONGS OF THE MORNmG, VOL. I. ORIGINAL, INCLUDING RESPONSES TO OLD HYMNS, AND RESPONDING VERSIONS. INDEX OF SUBJECTS. PAGE. A Call to God and Nature's Praise 146 Adoration and Trust of Nature 29 All Hail, the Truth 128 A Lesson from the Rose 56 A Lesson from the Thorn 5 7 A Lesson from the Dew-Drop 49 Amen to Discord Tones 43 Am I a Soldier of the Trutli 123 An Angel Reaches from the Grave 131 Angel Converse and Messages 97 Angel Friends' Greeting Voices 97 Angel Friends with Us 86 Angels Here 99 Angels Our Morning Visitors 87 Angels With Us Here 117 Angel Visitors Disperse Superstitions 61 Arise, My Soul, Arise 160 Ascend the Highlands 83 Aspiration 129 Aspiration for Manhood Faith 130 A Voice of Love from the Tombs 132 Awake from All Dreaming and Fear 174 Begone, Unbelief 168 Blow Ye the Trumpet, Blow 159 Brothers, Turn 196 Call All to See the Light 167 Call Them In, Whoe'er is Needy 181 Come, Dogma's Victim, Look to N;iture. . . . 136 Come, Holy Spirit 135 Come, Join with Our Army 63 Come, My Soul, to Prayer 193 INDEX OF SUBJECTS. IX PAGE. Come, Sing Our Earthly Heaven 157 Come to Nature's Gospel Feast 126 'Comfort Divine 171 "Creeds" No More Needed 171 Dawning Morning 98 Day-Beams Warm Body and Soul 75 " Death " is Resurrection 34 " Death," Life's Conductor 35 " Death," Life's Defense 133 " Death," Life's Pioneer 133 Delight in Morning Gospel 140 Delight in Nature's Name 127 Despot's Arts in Freedom's Morning 91 Despotism Begins its Ending 94 Despotism's Cowardly Tactics 95 Divine Grace Works in Us 40 Dust to Dust 34 Doxologies 111,112 Earth Yields a Heavenly Home 129 Encouragement Under Defeat 66 Faith Discerns the Morning 25 Faith's Foundation 169 Faith's Foundation and Grasp 30 Faith's Morning Achievement 100 Farewell to a Friend Departed 172 Farewell to the Risen Soul 96 Fear at Nature's Gospel Gate 202 Fear of Death 148 Friendship's Tie 154 God With Us Here .• 104 Good in All Evil 127 Gospel Revealed in Nature 44 Grace First and Last 155 Grounds for Perseverance 192 Hail, Manhood's Morning Star 36 Hasten, Morning , . . , . "4 X INDEX OF SUBJECTS. PAGE. Heaven's Building-Law Working Here.... 80 Heavenly Joy on Earth 157 Heaven Unfolding Here 27 Help the Dogma-Darkened 103 Here Find thy God 33 How Shall we Enlighten the Darkened 166 How to Awaken the Sleepers 70 I Found the True, Almighty Friend 141 I Heard the Voice of Jesus 137 It is Finished 189 I Would Not Live Alway 164 Join the Morning Song 113 Joy in Morning Transformations 38 Joying in Nature 203 Joys Never Perish 54 Joy Supernal on Earth 118 Just as I Am 145 Laborers, the Day Breaks 65 Let Us Bask Within the Sunbeams 182 Life's Great Import 152 Life Triumphant 163 I>ight and Freedom Gaining 105 Light Comes Flowing On 197 Litany Changed to Light 197 Lingering Superstition-Fancies 142 Longings for Perfected Life-Harmony 62 Look, O Brothers 188 Love Divine 184 Love's Divine Life Prevails 198 Manhood's Day is Drawing Nigh 89 Manhood's Day Dawns 92 Morn is Dawning 114 Morning 106 Morning Brings New Creation 78 Morning Efforts to Scale the Mountains. ... 60 Morning Gospel 186 Morning Gospel's Call 190 INDEX OF SUBJECTS. XI PAGE. Morning Gospel's Message 188 Morning's Gospel-Trumpet 125 Morning Gospel's Harsher Tones 42 Morning Illumes the Mind Ill Morning Inspirations 73 Morning Light Brings a Gospel 11 Morning Light Frees and Saves us 101 Morning Light Will Give us Heaven 79 Morning Missionary-Hymn 192 Morning Movements 72 Morning Prophets, Your Work Prevails. ... 85 Morning View of Divine Grace, and of Woes 58 Morning View Reveals Spirit-Life 132 Morning Warms old Dogma's Champions.. . 195 My Soul's Joy in the Light 81 Nature's Abundant Grace 162 Nature's Assurance 165 Nature's Evolution-Promise 95 Nature, Fount of Every Blessing 185 Nature's God Appeals to the Creed-Bound.. 136 Nature's God to Man hath Spoken 93 Nature's Hour of Prayer 149 Nature's Life a Fount of Sweetness 140 Nature's Loving Kindness 143 Nature, Mother of my Soul 196 Nature Outworks Righteousness 193 Nature Reveals her Lord 43 Nature Shapes Anew 26 Nature's Triumphant Lead 180 Nature's Word of Promise 187 Night Passing Away 107 No Road Leads to Death 148 Not Ashamed of Nature 146 Now We Know the Angels 50 O for a Thousand Tongues 122 One True Word for Jesus 200 OuAvard, Upward, Nature's Freemen 180 Open Day will Give Smiling Skies 38 Opening Morning's Joyous View. 69 XU INDEX OF SUBJI ("IS. PAGE. Our God's Central Work 5-3 Our Nature Needs No Hiding Place 144 Our Security 183 Our Souls Awake 51 Parting from a Social Circle 186 Parting Invocation for Morning Workers.. . 88 Prayer for a True Heart 131 Rallying Call to the New Builders 90 Rally, Ye Army of Labor 68 Rejoice, tlie Morn Appears 57 Rejoicing in Morning Gospel 139 Religion's Revival 55 Rescue the Suffering 207 Respect for Earth and Basic Loves 147 Rise, Morning Sun 160 Rock of Ages 194 Safe in Nature's Fortress 105 Salvation 124 Salvation and Working Avith Jesus 176 Saviours Not Always to be Martyred 138 Seeking the Spirit of True Prayer 156 See, ye Fearful ! Your Path Brightens 76 Superstition's Night is O'er 59 Take the Fort '. . 209 The All-In-All 153 The All-Perfecting Name 161 The All-Perfecting Providence 41 The Angels Join Our Song 54 The Awakening Begins 47 The Charge to Nature's Freemen 84 The Dawn of Jubilee 124 The Dawning Deepens 37 The Day-Star 68 The Day-Star is Appearing 109 The Day-Star has Far Ascended 61 The Enlightened Soul Never Fears 46 The Fount of Grace J 55 INDEX OF SUBJKCTS. xiii PAGE. The Free Soul's Aspirations 204 The Free Soul's Glorious View 58 The Free Soul's New Delights 131 The Glorv of Nature and of Man 179 The God We Wors-hip 167 The Judgment Morning Comes 71 The Judgment Trumpet 92 The Joyous Hours in Open Liglit 175 The Joyous Story 112 The Joyous To-Day 208 The Laborers' Foes Cowering 67 The Law of Divine Grace 39 The Light Comes Flowing On 119 The Morning Concert 54 The Morning's Rescue 134 The Morning View and Lessons 48 The Mountains' Lesson of Faith 45 The Mountain-Tops are Glowing 110 The NcAV Birth T 149 The Past, Present, and Futvire 150 The Seers' Duty to Sleeping Fellows 102 The Soul's Freedom 30 The Soul's Joy Immortal 164 The True Messiah Now Appears 28 The True Preacher's Work 139 The Victim of Plunder ; 205 The View in Morning Light 121 The Waking Cry 82 The Watchman's Morning Trumpet 89 Tenderness toward Old Errors 32 This a World of Gladness IIG This World is Not All Fleeting Show 204 Time's Flight, and Its Lessons 151 'Tis Morning : We Awake 26 True Faith Serene Amid Confusions 170 Truth's Children Victorious 64 Tyranny Cowers Before the Morning Toilers 63 Tyranny is Falling 177 Upward ! Scale tlie Mountains. . . , 115 XIV INDEX OF SUBJECTS. PAGE. Wake from Superstition 83 We Are Not Born to Die 158 We Build no Toy-Temples 65 We Give the Winds Our Fears , . . . 153 We Must Tell The Story 113 Welcome Morning Light 52 Welcome to a New-Born Child 173 When I Can Read My Title Clear 123 Workmen, Rouse 206 Worship in the Morning Light 191 FIRST LINES OF SONGS. PAGE All around us notes of gladness VS All hail, the Truth ! behold he comes 128 All my darkening doubts have vanished. . . . 187 All nature's life reveals her Lord 43 "Amen ! " we say — no more we fear 43 Am I a soldier of the cause 123 A morning concert, grand 54 And am I born to never die 152 Anxious souls now hear the message. 188 Arise, my soul, arise 160 As dawning beams of coming day 38 As dawning light increases round 30 As daybeams, deepening round our heads.. 40 As the morning deepens 117 As we part let Nature's blessing 186 Awake from all dreaming and fear 174 Awake, my soul, to joyful lays 143 Awaking manhood rises free from all its dreamy fear 209 Before the open gate 202 Begone, unbelief, for the morning is here. . . 168 Behold ! while saviours of mankind 138 Behold ! the fount of grace 155 Blest tie of life, that binds 154 Blow ye the the trumpet, blow 159 Brothers, let no thought of sadness 95 Brothers, turn, why will ye try 196 Brothers who are vainly trying 83 Call them in, whoe'er is needy 181 Come, dogma's victim, in whose breast. .... 136 Come, Holy Spirit, heavenly Dove 135 XVI FIRST LINES OK SONGS. PAGK. Come join with our ai'iii}-, which battles to- day ' 63 Come, my soul, thy suit prepare 193 Come sing aloud with joyful sound 124 Come sing our earthly heaven 157 Come ye superstition victims 190 Creed-darkened soul, this is the place 38 Children of labor, the day-dawn is breaking. 65 Children of light and of labor, arising 66 Children of light, now the morning is breaking 64 Comrads, see ! the gray is spreading 209 Day is dawning ; see ! ye toiling 76 Dogma-darkness, now forever 81 Dogma's champions, you relent 195 Dogma's night and desolation 90 Everywhere kind Nature leads us 180 Far from my thoughts old creeds be gone. . 140 Freedom's morning now^ is nearing 91 Freedom toilers, lo the morning 89 From all that dwell below the skies 146 Glorious scenes are transpiring around us. . 61 Glorious things by thee are spoken 183 God the token word hath spoken 92 Grace ! 'tis a charming sound 155 Hail, angel friends ! our opening eyes 50 Hail, morning star of manhood's day 36 Hail the day so long expected 177 Hail, Morning light ! Thy dawn began 144 Hark! the watchman's trumpet, sounding.. 89 Hark! from the tombs a joyful sound 132 Hark ! what sounds are floating o'er us 97 Hark ! while morning-life rejoices 97 Hasten on, thou coming morning 74 Hear ye not the golden promise 95 Here joy is found ! No more I'll sigh 129 FIRST LINES OF SONGS. XVll PAGE. How beautifully in our sight 26 How firm a foundation doth Nature afford. . 169 How glorious appears 53 How joyous, enlivening, the hours 115 How joyous is the story 112 How grandly Nature's blessings flow 127 How sweet thy name, O Nature ! sounds.. . . 127 I asked the fragrant rose 56 I heard the voice of Jesus say 137 I'll joy in Nature while I've breath 164 In morning's dawning light 58 In morning light we joy to-day 38 In morning light, now spreading wide 35 In morning's opening light I stand 121 In Nature's laws abiding 105 In our Morning's dawning light 198 In solemn joy our spirits see 39 In the morning breaking o'er u? 80 I once was a stranger to morn's dawning rays 165 I saw a piercing thorn 57 I Avoke to morning's gospel-sound 149 I would not live alway — I ask not to stay. . . 164 It is finished — night is closing 189 Joyously our souls awaken 79 Just as I am, I need no plea 145 Let all our waking voices • 113 Let every human ear attend 125 Let manhood's well-unfolded faith 130 Let preachers from old dreams aAvakc 139 Let us bask wuthin the sunbeams 182 Let your glad voices ascend to the skA 163 Lift your eyes, ye long-benighted 83 Lo ! in morning's dawning glory 87 Lo, it comes, the long-expected 71 Lo, w4iat a glorious sight appears 27 Long the gloomy night has lingered 77 Look, O brothers ! Morning greets you 188 Look ! the light is o'er us breaking 72 '^VIU FIRST LINES OF SONGS, PAGE. Love Divine, all love impelling 184 Manhood's day at length is breaking 92 Mid scenes of confusion and folly's com- plaints 170 More manliness give me 21)4 Morn is dawning ! see it 114 Morning comes ! the waking soul 193 Morning light, increasing round us 101 Morning Light, in joy we see 104 Morning light, now flowing o'er us 75 My days, my weeks, my months, my years. . 151 My God, permit me not to be 147 My waking powers, why linger ye 32 Nature, fount of every blessing 185 Nature, mother of my soul 196 Nature, when on bended knee 197 Nature's freemen, take your stations 84 Nature's God to man hath spoken 93 Nature's God, Ave see thee now 191 Nature's seers, who scale the movmtains. . . . 102 New gospel tones of heavenly cheer 42 No childish toy-tempels of fanciful pride. . . 65 No real, vital joy 54 Now, as dawn is deepening o'er us 86 Now a world of gladness 116 Now, in morning light, we sing 192 Now, in opening morning rays 30 Now, in parting, may the blessing. 88 Now Morning light affords the faith 131 Now, Mother Earth, receive again. 34 Now one true word for Jesus 200 Now the truth-exploring spirit 186 Now, through every land and nation 179 Now we see, with joy and gladness 78 O brothers who joy in the morning's glad beams 70 O comfort divine, to know I am thine 171 O for a heart to praise my God 131 FIRST LINES OF SONGS. XIX PAGE. O for a thousand tongues, to sing 122 O God of Nature — Love 153 O happy day, when Nature's voice 141 O how a glance of opening day 139 O how happy are they 203 O joy ! our souls awake 51 O life-inspiring Love Divine 41 O Morning! how joyously beam on our sight 69 O Morning light, what lessons grand 48 O Nature ! as the cheering Ill O Nature ! as thy love 60 O Nature ! I long to see body and soul 62 O Nature ! shall it ever be 145 O Nature! thy grace, from the infinite fount- ain 162 O Nature ! we adore thy name 29 O man, to delve in " creeds " forbear 133 On the realms of dogma-darkness 103 Onward ! Upward ! Nature's freemen 180 O preach me no more the dark " creeds " of yore 171 O that all earth could see 161 Our God his gospel-truth makes known. ... 44 Our God is no " king," but all-glorious love 167 Our nature's God proclaims 53 Our old earth is as fair as the day 208 Our souls awake to new delights 31 Our souls begin to glow 59 Oh, welcome, Morning Light 52 O what shall we do that may carry the grace 166 Plunged in a darkness nigh despair 134 Prophets of the dawning morning 85 Rally, ye army of labor, for action 68 Rejoice ! the morn appears 57 Rescue the suffering 207 Rise, morning sun ! thy rise 160 Risen soul, no more surrounding 96 Rock of ages — Law Divine 194 XX FIRST LINES OF SONGS. PACK. Salvation ! O the joyful sound 124 See, honest toilers, your foes all are cowering 67 See ! the glorious morn appears 105 Soldier for the right contending 94 Sweet hour of prayer, of Nature's prayer... . 149 Sweet is the joy thy power doth bring 140 The angels join our song 54 The Day-Star is appearing 109 The Day-Star has now far ascended the skies. Gl Tlie dawning deepens all aroimd 3 7 The light is spreading o'er the sky 99 The morning light is dawning; see! 'tis spreading o'er the sky 119 The mountain-tops are glowing 110 The night of superstition 107 The once-loved form whose soul has fled.. . . 132 The true Messiah n, 5. — Elah, Onward, Starlight, SONGS OF TTTE MORNING. VOL I— PART I. ORIGINAL AND NEAV. 1 FAITH DISCERNS THE MORNING. C. M. Tune — Coronation. There comes on every passing breeze New sounds of joyous cheer: The waking warblers in the trees Proclaim the dawn is here. The flowers, responding, fill the air With melody-perfume — With welcomes open everywhere As morning rays illume. Faith's vital germ within the rose, In birds with instinct-power. As day-beams feeblest rays disclose, Discerns the morning hour : Tho' fogs may thickly gather round, And seem to vail the day. Exulting, confidence profound Maintains its perfect sway. Through all the gloom which thus assails It sees the dawning gleams, And triumphs over all that vails Its view of morning beams. And shall our faith, in drowsy plight, By vapors blinded be? No ; let us rouse, and morning light Through all the mists we'll see ! 26 SONGS OF THE MORNING. 2 'TIS MORNING: WE AWAKE. C. M. Tune—Antioch. 'Tis morning ! and our nature, now, Awakes from dogma-dreams ; And, tho' the vapors vail the brow. Begins to catch the gleams. 'Tis morning! all despairing creeds Of superstition-fright Are fading, and our human needs Begin to claim their right. 'Tis morning ! see ! man's waking sense Now half disowns his fears, While misty thought would drive from hence The light which dawns and cheers. 'Tis morning ! e'en the darkest mind Some lighting rays has found ; And intuition strives to find His nature's higher ground. 'Tis morning ! shout the word around ! The mists now break and clear ; Man soon shall see, with joy profound. His God is with him here. 3 NATURE SHAPES ANEW. C. M. How beautifully in our sight All nature shapes anew. When mists no more distort the light Of morning's opening view. The " evils," which have vexed us long, Before us now appear As blessings to inspire our song Of lively morning cheer. NEW. 27 We see that every seeming ill Is goodness misapplied — That pains are teachers to reveal The laws which joys provide. That all of life in earth and skies The laws divine express, As ripening fruits before our eyes Transform their bitterness. O joy ! we see in open light AH nature shape anew — See heaven unfolding in our sight Through nature's laws so true ! We gladly would the sight display To every human eye : We cry to all : " Awake ! 'Tis day ! The mists and darkness fly !" 4 HEAVEN UNFOLDING HERE. C. M. Lo, what a glorious sight appears As misty darkness flies — The new evolving earth and heavens Take form before our eyes ! The judgment-fire, now spreading round, Old error's world consumes — Its states and churches melt away As morning light illumes. Old despots, trembling, seek to hide Beneath their mountain-wrongs ; Their rocks and mountains flee away At manhood's waking songs. We see that here our God resides, And on our lowly race, 28 SONGS OF THE MORNING. As through the highest heavens above, Sheds his abounding grace And those whose outer senses fail The work to clearly see Find inner wake ; and angels aid Their nature's life to free. The breaking mists will soon disperse, And all, with vision clear. Behold, 'mid "hells" consuming round, Our heaven unfolding here. THE TRUE MESSIAH NOW APPEARS C. M. Tune — Coronation. The true Messiah now appears In manhood's morning dawn ; Ideals childish faith reveres Are from our view withdrawn : The fancied bleeding sacrifice No longer justice seems ; The real justice greets our eyes While waking from our dreams : The opening senses catch the view Through all the mists around, Of Love and Wisdom — God (the true) — Who in our life is found. Incarnated in man we see The all -perfecting love, With saving grace, his spirit free For higher heavens above. Distorting vapors roll away, And, to our joyous eyes, NEW. 29 Truth straightens all the warped display Which seemed destructive lies. "We joy in manhood's-morning beams, And our Messiah here ; Exult ! the faith-distorting dreams Give place to vision clear. 6 ADORATION AND TRUST OF NATURE. C. M. O Nature, we adore thy name, In joy we dimly see Thy laws that built our wondrous frame Of living energy. The partial-outline view reveals Thy loving wisdom's sway, While yet the lingering mist conceals The full and clear display. We cast our opening eyes around, And beauties on us beam ; We look within — a vast profound Of mental forces gleam. In wonder lost, we faintly scan Thy active building power. Which from the clod constructs the man. Whose thoughts to heaven can tower. He grasps the mighty forces round. And turns them to his use ; Gains wisdom's light and freedom's ground From blunders and abuse. The love and wisdom infinite In Nature's laws we see ; And rest securely in the might That serves so perfectly. 30 SONGS OF THK MORNING. 7 FAITHS FOUNDATION AND GRASP. C. M. As dawning light increases round, And darkening mists grow thin, We wake from superstition-woes — The terror-dream of sin. We see eternal wisdom blends, In counterparting flow, With mother-love — a perfect God — And rules above, beloAv. We see our God on every soul Bestow pefecting grace. Revealing to each opened eye His ever-smiling face. The conscience, wounded by the sting Which false ideals give. Within the light finds healing balm To make the dying live. The loves here know their union true With the Divinity, And find the free inflowing life From morbid passions free. Faith now, exulting, firmly stands On knowledge as its base, And reaches forth untrammeled hands, Which grasp the boundless space. 8 THE SOUL'S FREEDOM. CM. Now, in the opening morning rays. We wake to nature's prayer, And join the joyous songs of praise Which greet us everywhere. NEW. 31 The warming glow new vigor brings, The scales fall from our eyes, Faith shakes the mildew from her wings, And, soaring, mounts the skies. The intuitions learn to trust Their soul-activities. And reason, rising from the dust, The laws-eternal sees. They join their powers, and thus explore The hights till now untrod. While leading onward, just before, We see our nature's God. Old superstition now in vain Declares its haughty claims To dictate to our life, again, Its duties and its aims. Since in the light, with nature's God, Our powers could freedom know E'en when in discord's hells we've trod To soothe our fellows' woe. 9 THE FREE SOUL'S NEW DELIGHTS. C. M. Our souls awake to new delights In reason's morning rays ; The ills which once produced affright We find inciting praise. In nature's God a friend we see, Whose wisdom never fails ; Whose love for all is working free. And evermore prevails. We see that all in earth and heaven But serve for human weal ; 32 SONGS OF THE MORNING. That pains, to follies kindly given, The laws of joy reveal. Faith's eyes, now opened, well can see, As storms the heavens clear, That sorrow-tempests serve to free The spirits atmosphere : That racking-blasts the vigor nerve Of roots and branches, all To broaden out and better serve Enlarging being's call. Thus, free from all desponding fear. To "hells" our work is given; And faith beholds, with lively cheer, Each changing to a heaven. 10 TENDERNESS TOWARD OLD ERRORS. C. M. My waking powers, why linger ye To fondle childish creeds? The light has come to set you free; It calls for manly deeds. Why when the truth, inspiring, brings Its energizing power, Should aspiration clog her wings With toys of childhood's hour? Why, love fraternal, in thy flow To friends, in tender play, Preserve the darkening mists which so Obscure their nature's day? The morning light, when deepening round, Calls forth from every rill The vailing mists to save the ground From frost's benumbing chill; NEW. 33 Then lifts them, and o'er hill and plain Their golden linings throw New light and warmth, to serve the grain, And gladden all below. Thus doth the sunlight of the mind Old error-mists control, And with its breaking A-apors find How to illume the soul. 11 HERE FIND THY GOD. C. M. Creed-darkened soul, this is the place Where thou thy God mayest find ! All nature shows his loving face To the enlightened mind. His smiling features on vis beam From earth and sea and skies ; The grossest clod reflects the gleam ; The founts are love-lit eyes. When in the deepest soul-distress Of superstition-fear. Unrecognized, his kindly grace Still serves thy life to cheer. While ancient dogmas, deemed divine, Are fading from thy view. Love's life thy nature doth refine, And gives a faith more true. Trust inner light while outer sense With doubt and sadness strives ! The darkening mists will pass from hence, Illumined faith survives. 34 SONGS OF THE MORNING. 12 DEATH IS RESURRECTION. C. M. Why should we drop a sorrow-tear When life's evolving flow The vestments sheds which served it here Awhile in scenes below ? Are not all forms of life we see Ascending- thus, to gain, In larger measure and degree. What serves their higher plane? When nature's God with beckoning calls, Life rises him to greet ; And while the husk, noAV useless, falls, New circles there complete : The solid rocks dissolve to free The soul of motion there ; And vegetation yields, we see, Sensation-germs they bear. Perfected, then, through long careers Of sensuous nature's flow, They ever rise, until appears The child of God below. Thus man — the spirit — ever true To life-perfecting laws, Ascends, and, in relations new, Outworks the perfect cause. 13 DUST TO DUST. CM. Now, Mother Earth, receive again The dust thy love hath lent ; It wrought full well, e'en when in pain, To aid the soul's ascent. 35 'Twas Nature's loving life in thee That built the wondrous form, And filled with vital energy Which served through every storm. When feeble outer senses failed To see their nature's need, The inner vigor's work prevailed, And from obstructions freed. And pain but nerved its efforts more To thoroughly subdue Whatever placed itself before The powers of life so true. And, tho' the senses' struggle seemed To dim the spirit's eyes, From inmost fountains ever streamed Its real life-supplies. Outworn, it frees, through transient pain. The soul for new ascent; So, Mother Earth, receive again The dust thy love hath lent. 14 DEATH, LIFE'S CONDUCTOR. C. M. In morning light, now spreading wide, From dark distortions free, No more the life-conductor giude A " demon foe " we see. The "monster" of our nature's night Our greatest friend appears; We wake from superstition fright — From all benumbing fears. We see the all-conducting hand. In universal lead, Assisting life where fields more grand May serve its higher need. 36 SONGS OF THE MORNING. What tho' awhile, in misty view, We stumble, causing pain, And, unripe vestments breaking through, Life's freedom thus must gain ? Our race's slight and transient woes Reveal the laws of joy; Death aids our triumph o'er the foes That would our bliss alloy. 15 HAIL, MANHOOD'S MORNING STAR! L. M. Hail, morning star of manhood's day, Who, beckoning, leads the dawning rays ! Thy light on our long-darkened way, Our nature's path of life displays. Our race long struggled on in pain Through superstion's starless night; Now morning-beams flow o'er the plain, And quicken the enfeebled sight. The flashes of our nature's life. As through the night and mists they shone, Distorted, seemed a "liorid strife" Of passions fired by "ill" alone. For help divine we loudly prayed, Yet struggled 'gainst the answering power; Deemed it a dreadful "demon" raid, Which joy and hope would soon devour. But now thy glorious morning-gleams Dispel forebodings and affright. And herald the approacliing beams Which all our race shall fully light. 37 Our waking souls, exulting, sing The glories which thy beams display; And to all peoples' view would bring The morning star of manhood's day. 16 THE DAWNING DEEPENS. L. M. The dawning deepens all around, Dispersing all the gloom profound, And all the phantoms of the night Transform within the morning light. Before our opening, wondering eyes We see abounding life-supplies; And all the dreaded "evils" prove The angels of all-conquering love. The seeming pitfalls in our path, And "goblin forms," and " flashing wrath," We see were but the misty-view Distortions of the good and true. We shrink no more in trembling fear When transient sorrow-clouds appear; Hope, standing on foundations sure, Tov.-ers where the light is cloudless, pure. And faith, well based on law divine. Sees God and Nature's powers combine To aid our life's evolving flow Completed harmony to know. Well may we, then, with joy profound, Exult as light thus spreads around And "demons" of the gloomy night Transform to angels in our sight. oS SONGS OK THE MORNING. 17 OPEN DAY WILL GIVE SMILING SKIES. L. M. As dawning beams of coming day The gloom and darkness drive away, The frosty chains of error bend, Then melt to vapors and ascend. As gathering clouds, they now reveal The light they once did so conceal — With golden linings, see, they glow. And coming sunshine on us throw. And tho' at times they close again, And shadows dark cast o'er the plain, We know that soon their darkening power Will yield to morning's lighting hour. We learn that tho' they sometimes pour Their drenching floods the landscape o'er, New energy from this will spring To aid the flowers in blossoming : That tho' the winds, untamed, may rage, And war destructive seem to wage. The morning shoots will still prevail, And strengthen in the surging gale. The tempests of our nature's night Grow feebler in our morning light ; We fear no more ; we know that day With smiling skies will cheer our way. 18 JOY IN MORNING TRANSFORMA- TIONS. L. M. In morning light we joy to-day, Tho' long, in superstition-fright. We strove against each dawning ray, And cherished human nature's night. 39 The fogs disperse which long have been Distorting all our eyes perceived ; Aud fancied "evils" now are seen The friends which human ills relieved. Each "pit of woe" we quaked to view, We find is but a misty vale ; We wake in light to life anew, Assured that life and love prevail. Our God, we see, abides with man, And loving smiles illume his face; While pain but works his kindly plan. And shows the law and means of grace. We see our blunders — " sins " — are calls Which bring these monitors to teach, That by their aid through childhood-falls True manhood-balance we may reach. The "demons" of our frightful dreams Are seen to be our nature's friends ; The hells transform with heavenly gleams ; The morning comes ! the darkness ends ! 19 THE LAW OF DIVINE GRACE. L. M. In solemn joy our spirits see The natures which in darkness cower Explode in passions wild, which free From superstion's dwarfing power. The vital vices break the sway Of " moral " fancies that enslave ; With seeming wrecks they strew our way, But wield the vigor which will save. While outer sense in sadness strives To check their work of "woe" and "waste," 49 SONGS OF THE MORNING. While they embitter much our lives, Faith sweetens well the cup we taste. Our opening eyes in morning light, As scattering dogma-mists grow thin, Awake from morbid-dream affright Of hopeless "evil " — fancied "sin." We see the " monster " of our ferfr Is Nature's life, which wounds to heal ; Who calls and monitors appear — The pains — which nature's laws reveal. Faith in the light accepts with joy The law of God and Nature's grace ; And would our growing powers employ To aid its growth within our race. 20 DIVINE GRACE WORKS IN US. L. M. As day-beams, deepening round our heads, In ever-brightening glory shine. We see that God and Nature spreads O'er all the earth the grace divine : That streams of loving life-supply The universe of worlds embrace ; While the great fountain, never dry, Is boundless as the realms of space. That the immortal energy And laws and powers of its control Are working ever mightily In each unfolding human soul. That all the pains and sorrows known Are merelv ripples of the tide ; While Nature in our hands hath thrown The power upon its crests to ride. NEW. 41 What fuller gospel could be given Than that we here, on earth, may know A real soul-supplying heaven Evolving in our nature's flow ? Ho, all ye trembling sons of fear, From dreamy-terror now arise ! Your heaven is building, God is here, Awake, and open wide your eyes ! 21 THE ALL-PERFECTING PROVI- DENCE. L.M. O life-inspiring Love Divine, The life of Nature all is thine ! How strange to our half-waking sense Thy wondrous ways of providence ! Our spirit-senses first in play From fleshly trammels break away, And lift our aspiration-eyes In dainitless strife to scale the skies. Then when our soaring energy, In sense of spirit-mastery, Inflates to pharisaic pride, The p. ssion-powers its checks provide: In vice-explosions thus the soul Breaks loose again from false control. Until the physical regains A power which blinded flight restrains. In vain crude aspiration chides ; In vain the sense its voice derides ; Each nobly serves till, ripe and free, Our powers can work in harmony. 42 SONGS OF THE MORNING. O life-inspiring Love Divine, How doth tliy perfect wisdom shine In thus subjecting soul and sense To thy perfecting providence ! 22 MORNING GOSPEL'S HARSHER TONES. L.M. New gospel tones of heavenly cheer, As morning dawns, salute the ear — Old "demon" voices "threatening woe," In loving accents on us flow. The harshest which our ears have heard. And those which most our fears have stirred, Tell us, in most heroic strain. Their work is love, and not in vain : The tempest raging round our door, Througli all its seeming " threatening " roar Says, "See! my mission is not death — I purify your vital breath !" The ocean's billows, when they rise. And seem to madly war with skies. Say, " Thus the waters and the air For life-support we well prepare." The earthquake, seeming to devour. But speaks of life's resistless power O'er what at times would interfere 'Twixt breathing earth and atmosphere. The thimder, rolling in the sky. Proclaims that Nature's life-supply, While in its universal play Will all obstructions sweep away. NEW. 43 23 AMEN TO "DISCORD" TONES. L. M. "Amen !" we say — no more we fear The morning's harshest tones to hear; Tho' some discordant seem to be, We know they tune to harmony. The earth will soon, in open light, Behold her skies serene and bright ; Her vital powers in perfect play, And no obstructions in the way. Then elements shall -war no more In earthquake-shocks and thunder's roar; Nor racking passions madly roll Across the ripened human soul. We joy in all the conquering power Of manhood's clearing morning hour ; Let equilibriimi-strifes appear We say, "Amen !" we never fear ! The vapors floating o'er the plains, The gathering clouds and falling rains, The bubbling springs and streamlets' flow Respond, "Amen ! its love w^e know !" The skies with brighter smiles inspire Each thing of life wnth vital fire; Awake, O sleepers ! you will then The chorus join and shout "Amen !" 24 NATURE REVEALS HER LORD. L. M. All nature's life reveals her Lord ; His love and wisdom's perfect word: Where'er w^e look, where'er we turn. His power and glory we discern : 44 SONGS OF THE MORNING. The surging storms, the smiling skies, The earth witli blooming life-supplies, The solid ground and viewless air His active presence well declare. Old ocean ever makes it plain ; Its rising vapor, falling rain, Refining wrestlings with the skies. And mountain-springs its fount supplies. All vital are with life divine ; Their great constructive works combine. And reproduce on higher plan All forms and forces joined in man. Then tho' young forming-power may find Its labors checked while sense is blind, 'Twill light and equilibrivim gain, Altho' it strives awhile in pain. Then let us w^ork and never cower Before the troubles of the hour ; In nature's faith sublimely rise. And taste her proffered life-supplies. 25 GOSPEL REVEALED IN NATURE. L. M. Our God his gospel-truth makes known In every star, in every stone ; His love and Avisdom well displays In worms, that glow, and suns, that blaze. Throughout our wondrous earth we see It well unfold in lessons free ; In ocean's depths, and earth, and air. Through law unfolding everywhere. NEW. 45 And clearest in the vital flow Through living forms, his law we know-; Here law and gospel, one, divine. In golden letters ever shine. In man the brightest page we find — His wondrous body, heart, and mind, Express the all-perfecting laws, And life's relation to its cause. Its perfect language all may hear : It flows in accents ever clear From loves in unobstructed play ; While blunders this in part display. Well understood, it tunes the soul To harmony's divine control — From woes and discords fully saves, And from the fear which man enslaves. 26 THE MOUNTAINS' LESSON OF FAITH. L. M. When I behold the mountains rise And boldly kiss the glowing skies, My soul the lesson thence derives That earth and heaven unite their lives. I see they gain the freest play Of heavenly breathings day by day ; And learn that fullest blessings greet The faith that rises these to meet. I learn he best his God reveres Who spurns all self-abasing fears — Whose filial love exalts his head To catch the blessings on it shed. 46 SONGS OF THE MORNING. Tliat Ave should rise in manly might •Where no dark mists of error's night Contract the soul to grace divine, Which would exalt, enlarge, refine : That faith in our own nature's dower, From God and Nature, is the power Whose mighty inspirations move Confiding arms to grasp their love, Avaunt ! then, all ye faithless fears Of superstition's darkened years ! The life of God is serving mine ! I rise to meet the grace divine ! 27 THE ENLIGHTENED SOUL NEVER FEARS. L. M. When o'er our nature's vision lower The darkening clouds, with seeming frown, We know 'tis but the coming shower Which God and Nature's grace pours down. Who once has pierced the vailing mists, And God and Nature's features seen, Finds that their light doth still assist, Tho' raging tempests intervene. Faith sees the law, and rests secure On nature's equilibrium-flow — He knows the providence is sure; That joyous ripeness 'twill bestow. He braves the blasts which broaden out His being's roots in Nature's ground. And spreads confiding arms about The wrestling tempest struggling round. NEW. 47 He rises up in peril's hour, And danger grapples, thus to mend ; And finds his nature wields the power To make each ''threatening" foe a friend. A "saviour," an incarnate God, He finds at work within his frame ; And knows that manhood's path well trod, Secures salvation in his name. 28 THE AAVAKENING BEGINS. L. M. Tune — Old Hundred. Tho' darkness long has vailed the earth, And despots ruled through many years, Fair liberty shall soon have birth ; The dawn of day at length appears. The eastern sky begins to glow ; See, brighter grows the silvery gleams! The heavens above and earth below Now feel the sunlight's coming beams. Birds chirp around, o'er hills and dales Life-movement sounds salute the ear; Man feels the light, nor longer quails With dreamy soul-benumbing fear. The frightened hords of tyrants quake While now, before their wondering eyes, The working masses start, and wake, And in the strength of manhood rise. Monopoly shall soon give way, And hide its horrid demon-face, No more on earth to hold the sway ; And justice then shall take its place. Then lift your joyous banners high ! Exalt your standard everywhere ! 4:8 SONGS OF THE MORNING. The day of triumph draweth nigh, Equality to all declare ! 29 THE MORNING VIEW AND LESSONS. C. P.M O morning light, what lessons grand Thy beams reveal on every hand, InstructiA'e, bright and clear ! They spread the hills and valleys o'er; They strew each road-side ; crowd each door. With real gospel-cheer. Unfolding revelations flow, And on each open soul bestow The power to truly see Great Nature's all-unfolding laws, And that the all-unfolding cause Works ever perfectly. We see one principle of life Outworks through all the seeming strife Till harmony prevails — That the divine formation-plan Works, from the clod, till it in man The spirit life unvails; That all the "hells" earth's children know Are from the ever-conquering flow Of Nature's laws of joy ; That with obstructions cast aside They will a heaven for. all provide Of perfect life-employ. O joyous view in morning beams ! O that we could from morbid dreams Wake all the light to know ! 49 Then should we find, through every land, All sorrow cease, all joys expand — A heaven besrun below. 30 A LESSON FROM THE DEW-DROP. C. P. M. Tho' morning light shone round my way And warmed my life to freer play, I felt a strange distress — Beloved fellows failed to see ; We could not interchange the free Fraternal soul-caress. In yearnings, seeming unsupplied, I prayed : O Morning Light, provide The needed love-supplies ; Or if, with interchanging flow. True life-support we each bestow, Reveal it to my eyes. Then, to my yearning nature's prayer, An answering voice upon the air In incense-music came — It said : "The interchange-supply" Works, tho' unseen by outer eye ; Withhold your childish blame." I looked, and on a blooming rose, In joyous, satisfied repose, A sparkling dew-drop shone. And, to my spirit's inner ear. Spake on the words of morning cheer In clear exulting tone : It said : "Behold ! in morning hour I seem unnoticed by the flower — It cannot with me blend ; 50 SONGS OF TFIK MOKNING. And I, to those who dimly see, Seem rounding up myself to be A self-iupplying friend. " To our own life each being true, The more the others' help renew, E'en tho' vmconsciously : I moisture give, and light supply. And gain perfume, with which I fly, And fragrance bear to thee." 31 NOW WE KNOW THE ANGELS. C. P. M. Hail, angel friends ! our opening eyes Your presence now can recognize; For, in the dawning beams, You've banished all the blighting fears Of superstition's night of years — You've roused us from our dreams. Tho' long appeared our gloomy night, And soul-benumbing was the fright Its morbid dreamings gave, The glowing, warming light-supply On bounding veins and open eye, From its effects can save. As opening light more fully flows, And free illumination throw^s Upon our yearning souls. The mighty realms of boundless space We see are realms of loving grace, Which evermore controls. We see that law-divine endears. And kindred souls, in all the spheres, Unites in genial love ; NEW. 51 That fellowship's outreaching need, Whate'er obstructions may impede, Will ever master prove. Oh, angel friends ! our darkened eyes Saw you as "demon" enemies. Who sought our bliss to blight ; We thought true angels only sent When special grace Almighty meant Some favorite to light. But you have striven unceasingly. Since feeblest dawn, to make us see, And now have gained success ; Your fellowship at last we know, And would that its unhindered flow Should all our fellows bless. 32 OUR SOULS AWAKE. S. M. Oh, joy ! our souls awake As morning light appears ; In morbid dreams no more we quake With blood-stagnating fears. The blinding mists, behold ! Grow thinner day by day ; And nature's fields to us unfold, Which long in darkness lay. The breaking mists oft show From all distortions free, The life of love at work below In true divinity. And then our God is seen To look with smiling face On all of life, no thing too mean To share his loving grace. 52 SONGS OK THE MORNING. Altho' an angry frown Once seemed to shade his brow, The beaming love — his perfect crown, Is undistorted now. We joy in morning beams ! Our nature's niglit is o'er ! Our souls awake ! the morbid dreams Our life-streams chill no more ! 33 WELCOME MORNING LIGHT. S. M. Oh, welcome, Morning Light ! Wo joy to see thee here — To see the gloomy shades of night Disperse and disappear. Our waking spirits" life, In densest darkness, long Has groped in earnest stvmibling-strife With superstition's throng. We yearned with strong desire For light to cheer our way. Yet deemed a "foul, infernal fire," The first-seen rays of day. When intuition caught A reason-lighting gleam, The soul's aspiring impulse fought The soul-illuming beam. But light increased apace, And opened wide our eyes ; And now we call on all our race To share the heavenlv prize. NEW. 53 34 THE FREE SOUL'S GLORIOUS VIEW. S. M. How glorious appears The smiling earth and skies When, free from superstition-fear, We look with open eyes. The zephyrs, breathing low, The tempests, raging 'round, Proclaim the equilibrium-flow Of Nature's love profound. In perfect law expressed. We see its power employ A wisdom which its fruits has blessed With powers of ripening-joy. 35 OUR GOD'S CENTRAL WORK. S.M. Our nature's God proclaims His life is love alone ; His wisdom claims no pompous names, His power, no monarch's throne. Our human nature's life His centering powers combine ; And, through its seeming blunder-strife, . Evolves the life divine. Ye timid, trembling souls. His all-perfecting grace Through all his works to all outrolls, Through all the realms of space. Then cast aside your fears, And open wide your eyes ; See ! morning's dawning light appears ; It spreads o'er all the skies. 54 SONGS OF THE MORNING. 36 THE MORNING CONCERT. S. M. A morning concert, grand, Outrolls from earth and skies ; It says : " O man ! within your hand Are all your life-supplies." This is the gospel true. For which our souls have yearned ; We hail it now, tho' long, in view Distorted, this we spurned. Now joyously our souls Incline the willing ear ; And from the tropics to the poles We fain would spread its cheer. 37 THE ANGELS JOIN OUR SONG. S. M. The angels join our song, And, with exulting breath, The joyous morning notes prolong Of "victory in death !" We give the welcome hand ; — Our morbid fears are o'er; — The fancied " demons " 'round us stand — The loved ones gone before. We hail the grand surprise Which crowns the light-display ; Ye sleeping friends, awake ! arise ! Behold, 'tis dawning day ! 38 JOYS NEVER PERISH. S. M. No real, vital joy Can ever fade away ; NEW. 55 Tho' clouds may vail and grief alloy, At last it gains the day : It wakes to new career, And on the memory Paints glowing hues of blooming cheer, Which from all sadness free. Ye trembling souls who shrink, O'erwhelmed by sorrow- waves, Your life prevails ; you cannot sink ; The God within vou saves. 39 RELIGION'S REVIVAL. S. M. We see thy work revive, O Nature ! in this hour — The powers of soul, long torpid, strive 'Gainst superstition's power. The dawning light, so true. Which reaches everywhere. Wakes human souls to life anew, And nature's labor-prayer. The germs of spirit power Are warmed through dogma's clod, By morning beams, and, every hour, Rise to the light of God. Man's sense of human worth Breaks through the servile fear; No more his goodness and his earth As "filthy rags" appear. The priestly despots coAver ; Old persecution quails ; And 'neath hypocrisy their power But partially prevails. 56 SONGS OF THE MORNING. Soon, in the open light, All, well revived, shall know Salvation from the shriveling blight Which superstitions throw. 40 A LESSON FROM THE ROSE. S.M. I asked the fragrant rose : What lesson dost thou bring — What morning truth dost thou disclose In thy bright blossoming ? Its voice^ in sweet perfume. Responding, then replied : " My fragrant cheer and lighting bloom To all are now supplied : " My healing balm I shed On those who trample me, E'en while I trip the heedless tread, My threatened life to free. "Thus, in the ripened play Of thy perfected powers. Thy manhood will resentments stay, Tho' conquering what devours." I asked : Did perfect love. Thus all thy life posess? It answered : " Nay, my greenness strove In selfish bitterness. "The inner life-divine Did thus the basis found. And strength afford to thus refine. And shed my fragrance round." NEW. 57 41 A LESSON FROM THE THORN. S. M. I saw a piercing thorn Close by the rose's side, I asked : Dost thou in opening morn 'Neath beauty's vestments hide ? In self-respecting tone It answered ; " Verily ! Not yet can beauty hold her throne From all protection free : "Tho' morning hath appeared To fully opened eyes, Through the long night our earth hath reared Its darkened enemies : "In blindly groping 'round. The grasping hand would tear Our tender roots from out the ground Did thorns not teach them care ; "Or virtue's blinded sight. As 'vanities,' would rend; Or beauty-love, in wild delight, Defeat our mission's end. "Not til the open day Its light sheds everywhere. Can thorns and brambles pass away, Or earth their presence spare." 42 REJOICE THE MORN APPEARS. H. M. Tune — Lenox. Rejoice ! the morn appears — Our nature's night is o'er! Reformers quell your fears — Your foes shall rule no more : 58 SONGS OF THK MORNING. The light is spreading o'er the skies! Arise ! in manly courage rise! The despots, quaking, strain Their artful tyranny. But freemen on them gain As morning light we see : The light is spreading o'er the skies ! Arise ! in manly courage rise I Old superstitions quail ; Monopoly takes fright ; They only dare assail Deceitfully the right : The light is spreading o'er the skies I Arise ! in manly courage rise I The persecutors, see ! And "legal " robbers, all, On old Hypocrisy To shield themselves must call : The light is spreading o'er the skies ! Arise ! in manly courage rise ! Tho' mighty seems their power, And mountainous their gains, They tremble, quake, and cower, As light flows o'er the plains : Exult ! it spreads o'er all the skies ! Arise ! in manly courage rise ! 43 MORNING VIEW OF DIVINE GRACE, AND OF WOES. H. M. In morning's dawning light Faith triumphs o'er our fears ; — Old superstition's fright And fancies disappear: As misty vapors break, we see That God and Nature's grace is free. NEW. 59 And ever more and more, As nearer grows the view, Its fullness we adore ; Its workings ever true ; Through perfect law's evolving flow Constructing well a heaven below. The "woes" which, in the mist, Vague terror woke within, We see, as friends, assist To free from blunders — "sin :" A rainbow spans life's clouded sky, Proclaiming sunshine draweth nigh. 44 SUPERSTITION'S NIGHT IS O'ER. H. M. Tune — Lenox. Our souls begin to glow With morn's reflected rays, Our opening eyes to know The love our earth displays : Old superstition's night is o'er! Its morbid dreams can vex no more ! No more our spirits strive God's image to efface. But now begin to thrive. And grow in Nature's grace : Old superstition's night is o'er ! Its morbid dreams can vex no more ! Distorted fancies fade ; Ideals new evolve ; The "gods in wrath arrayed" To vapors all desolve : Old superstition's night is o'er! Its morbid dreams can vex no more ! Our loves, so long reviled As dark depravity, 60 SONGS OF THE MORNING. Now, woke from impulse wild, Feel their divinity : Old superstition's night is o'er! Its morbid dreams can vex no more! For those whose outer eyes The light cannot receive. Its warming-beams supplies Their hampered souls relieve: Old superstition's night is o'er! Its morbid dreams can vex no more ! 45 MORNING EFFORTS TO SCALE THE MOUNTAINS. H. M. O Nature ! as thy love Unfolds the opening day, We seek to fully prove Its perfect light-display ; We strive to scale life's lofty moimts, And bask in light's o'erflowing founts. Tho' stumbling at the base, Where dark obstructions are, We keep our earnest gaze Upon the Morning Star, And, through them all, still force our way, To sooner gain the open day. No bruises will we heed, Nor timid " prudence " cry From those who fear its lead. And fear their powers to try ; Tho' blundering oft, we'll persevere Till standing where the light is clear. NEW, 01 46 THE DAY STAR HAS FAR ASCENDED. 11. The Day Star has now far ascended the skies ; The light, fast increasing, reveals to our eyes, In waking commotion, the vallies around, And well-begun labor on life's higher ground. Then let us not tarry to muse on ovir dreams, But mount to the region of clear morning beams; And, quaffing to fullness the free mountain air, For life's earnest labor ourselves well prepare. 47 ANGEL VISITORS DISPERSE SUPER- STITIONS. 11. Glorious scenes are transpiring around us — The angels unite with us, lending their aid. Errors now break which for ages have bound us ; The forces of truth all their stronghold's invade. Long, in the mists of old error-effusions. We saw all before us as "goblins" and gloom ; Deemed it a duty to nurse the delusions Which shrouded in darkness and sorrow the tomb. Nature appeared to all goodness a stranger. Accursed by its God for the " sins " of our race; Man, all "depraved," and his spirit in danger. And having no claim to his God's "sovereign" grace. Friends gont before us, tho' often returning, Awoke but distrust, persecution, and dread ; At each return we, the truth undiscerning. Beheld, dark and " ghostly " the realms of " the dead." 62 SONGS OF THE MORNING. But, in the light of the opening morning, Fogs break and we see angel friends with us here : Loving companions, or guardians, warning Whenever a pit-fall or danger is near. Grand inspirations they aid in promoting, Enlarging, exalting the life of the soul ; All superstiti(nis full well antidoting ; Our life now is glory, and " death " is its goal. 48 LONGINGS FOR PERFECTED LIFE HARMONY. 11. Nature ! I long to see body and soul Well ripened, thy laws each in perfect control — The germs all unfolded in harmony free Of life vmobstructed united to thee. The visions of truth which at times greet my eyes, The lessons of wisdom my soul then espies — Thy provident laws, which so surely prevail, 1 would not lose sight of when sorrows assail. I would that my eyes through all clouds could but see Thy wisdom well working in all things for me ; And ever in life's every turmoil behold The ultimate harmony surely vnifold. The deep love fraternal that warms in my breast, I would it should calm selfish passions to rest — From hatred and strifes, and all sordidness free. Toward fellows with whom I'm united in thee. The soul-elevation of spirit inspired ; The vigor with which then my being is fired ; The hope, joy, and courage, the faith's opening sight, I vvHJuld not have checked by the darkness of night. NEW. 63 The conscious relation to the loving God No more e'er obscured by the sense of the clod, Nor my angel-sense overlook or despise Its base in the earth when it towers to the skies. 49 ■ TYRANNY COWERS BEFORE THE MORNING TOILERS. 11. Tyranny's minions, who prowled as despoilers Through all the long night of our infancy-years, Start from their rioting, now, as the toilers Arise for their rights as the morning appears. Every leaf-rustling increases their terror; A foe they behold in each son of the light ; With waning faith in old dogmatic error, They strive in its name still to rally and fight. Each dawning ray of the opening morning, Reflected, they see as a fire in their rear. Each uttered thought they behold as a warning That darkness desolves, that the morning is here. 50 COME JOIN WITH OUR ARMY. 11. Come join with our army, which battles to-day That freedom and truth over man may have sway That greed, pride and error no more may control. Nor old superstition e'er darken the soul. Tho' hard is our contest, now plainly we see The haughty foes waver, preparing to flee ; Their ardor is waning ; they break and divide ; The armies of truth they can never abide. G4 SONGS OF THE MORNING. Behold ! tliey are weakening, and trembling with fright ; They dare now no longer maintain open fight ; They seek all their movements to vail from our eyes, And war by deception, in ambush-disguise. Their banners are drooping and faint is the roar Of all the creed-cannons, so mighty of yore ; They seek now as allies, to aid in their plight, The forces long cursed as the "foes of the light." They grasp "worldly" tactics and let "worldlings" lead ; Invoke "worldly wisdom." to help them succeed; The old creedling captains as privates appear ; While arts branded " worldly," their " piety " cheer. Come ! join with our army, and hasten the day When truth and the right shall have fully the sway ; Help us soon to conquer the forces of wrong, And 'neath the Truth Banner sing victory's song. 51 TRUTH'S CHILDREN VICTORIOUS. 11. Children of light, now the morning is breaking, Wide o'er the hills where the darkness has lain ; Despot-oppressors with terror are quaking — All their vaunted powers they find on the wane. Mists of old errors around them are thinning ; Are breaking at times to the strengthening rays , "Demons" and "goblins," they find, are beginning To vanish as light their true nature displays. Despots now chiefly their purposes cover — 'Neath robes of hypocrisy shelter would find : Each strikes at freedom in guise of a lover. Disguised as an allv, her soldiers to blind. NEW. 65 See ! from the robes of deceit circling 'round them, They strive to reflect stolen rays from the morn ; Thus as the rising beams, gaining, confound them, Pretend to work well for the cause that they scorn. All their successes betray desperation ; Their cunning and craft are revealing their fears ; The dawning light now begins new creation ; Come ! join in the work, for the morning appears. 52 LABORERS, THE DAY BREAKS. 11. Children of labor, the day-dawn is breaking ; The day when old despots can plunder no more : See! in all lands how the people are Avaking ; Rejoice ! for the night of oppression is o'er. Strong are their forces, but ye shall subdue them, •And scatter their legions and sweep them away : Behold, they retreat e'er ye start to persue them ! As light falls upon them they shrink in dismay. Children of labor, the day breaking o'er us Shall know only justice and full liberty : Shout ! for the foe shall no more stand before us, But all shall be brethren, in true equity. 53 WE BUILD NO TOY-TEMPLES. 11. No childish toy-temples of fanciful pride For manhood's true worshipful souls we provide; No "sacrifice" bring we of "victims once slain ;" No souls bowed in sorrow and trembling with pain. With heads lifted up in the day-beams, so bright, And eyes Avidely opened to welcome the light, 66 SONGS OF THE MOKNIXO. We find every portion of infinite space The true sanctuary — tlie center of grace. We meet by the road-side, in fields, or the Avood, By sea-shore, the streamlet, or wild rushing flood, At home or in workshop ; we find everywhere A temple of worship, an altar of prayer. Our lives, now released from the blinding control Of old superstition, which darkens the soul, Exult in the wondrous creative display Of wisdom divine which is crowding our way. We strike hands with Nature and God, evermore, In true labor-worship, with which we adore The soul of all being, the fountain of life, Whose love turns to harmony every strife. We know that, at last, on our earth it shall give A heaven completed to all that shall live: The Temple Divine they shall see, in that day, Who now with toy-temples that love would portray. 54 ENCOURAGEMENT UNDER DEFEAT. 11. Children of light and of labor, arising For justice and manhood's true freedom to fight, Banded, foes, desperate, still are devising Dark treachery-schemes for their contests with right. Thus, for a time, they may often defeat you, As, conscious of right, you reject all disguise; They steal your watch-words, and craftily meet you As false friends, who, fawning, cast dust in your eyes. But, in the gloomy hour, when all before you Grows dim till the morning rays all disappear, NEW. 67 Know 'tis but moving mists, just passing o'er you ; Look sharply ! some breaks will reveal rays to cheer ! Every success of the despotic forces But leaves them less skillful X.o wso. their old arins. These fogs will break, and, their falsehood-dis- courses, Reacting, will paralyze them with alarms. Eyes of your friends, they have blinded, unclosing, Will see their deception and join in your fight ; The language of freedom they learned for opposing. Will then serve to forward the triumph of right. 55 THE LABORERS' FOES COWERING. 11. See, honest toilers, your foes all are cowering ! They quake as the morning sheds on them the light ; No more, in sense of a strength overpowering. They wage open war with the friends of the right. Tactics of cowardice only can serve them ; — With bribes, slurs, and slanders, your force they divide. Spurn their regards! self-respect will unnerve them; Their army is wavering, while yours they divide. Epithets aid them ; their cunning confuses Your half-waking sense of propriety true. Measures they slur, their self-interest uses To gain them success in the work they persue : Sneering -aX. your thought of co-operation. As "folly's most wild and fanatical dream," Corporate imions — their "legal" creation. They make serve completely each plundering scheme. 68 SONGS OF THE MORNING. Look, then, ye toilers; 'tis only clear-seeing You need to enthrone perfect liberty here ; Strike ! and, from old institutions once freeing, Your foes will soon join you the day-dawn to cheer. C. S. IV. 56 RALLY, YE ARMY OF LABOR. 11. Rally, ye army of labor, for action ; As light dawns, monopoly's legions all cower ; Rally ; unite ; let no spirit of faction Deprive you of liberty, now in your power. Charge, then, with valor, their wings and their center. And give them no time to recover from fright ; Storm every refuge its soldiers shall enter, Nor hold till they cease for oppression to fight. Scan every spot where an ambush can gather ; For only when covered they venture to stand : Forced to the light open field, they will, rather. Throw down all their arms, and, before you, dis- band. 57 THE DAY STAR. 11, 8. Tune — Meditation. We wake from our slumber, and glorious light Flows over our long-darkened way ; We look, and the Morning-Star rises in sight; It heralds the dawning of day. The silvery luster of its glowing beams Makes all lesser stars quickly pale ; It spreads o'er the earth, o'er its fields, lakes, and streams, Descending from mountain to vale. NEW. 69 Earth's energies quicken, and the bounding air, Enlivening, more freely inspires; Increasing activity starts everywhere, As life in its glory refires : The songs of the birds, all awaking, we hear In semi-tone chirpings ascend ; And manhood, long dreaming in dark morbid fear, Begins all his fetters to rend. Yes, this is the Day-Star! and brightly it shines All over the long-darkened ground ; The soul's inner sense now, unfolding, refines, Responding to light shed around. O glorious herald of manhood's glad day. We joy well to know that thy rays. In soul-lighting luster, around us shall play Till melting in sunlight's full blaze. 58 OPENING MORNING'S JOYOUS VIEW. 11, 8. Tune — Meditation. O Morning ! how joyously beam on our sight The glories thy coming displays. While 'round us, transforming, the "goblins" of night Enrobe in the bright shining rays. Our pathway of life we now find is replete With Nature's abounding supplies ; No "pitfalls of error" now "yawn at our feet" — The mists, that distorted, arise. The " tempters," which " crowded to lead us astray," We find were our nature's true friends — The angels of love, who were pointing the way For the vigor which nature defends. 70 SONGS OF THE MORNING, The " frowns " which appeared on the Visage- Divine, We find were the smilings of grace ; The " flashes of wrath " were the glories that shine In love, which illumines his face. The earth is revealed to our wondering sight, — A primary school of kind heaven ; Where bliss, in a slowly unfolding delight, To man's cultured nature is given. O gropers in darkness, now open your eyes, And mount to the regions of day! — The highlands are glowing with sunbeam-supplies, And all of their glory-display. 59 HOW TO AWAKEN THE SLEEPERS. 11, 8. Tune — Meditation. O brothers who joy in the morning's glad beams. Let us in true vigor arise. And work for our fellows who, struggling in dreams, Would hold to the darkness which flies. They strive in a horror that curdles their blood, Yet hug their delusion and fear ; But each struggling streamlet of the vital flood Half feels that the morning is near. They see us as foes when in kindness we call, And bid them awake to the day ; The bright scintillations, around them, appall ; Distorted, they fill with dismay. Thus dark persecutions they call to their aid, That they in the fog may remain ; Each rallying effort of friends seems a raid Of ''demons," to plunge them in pain. NEW. 71 The mists of the morning make lurid the glow Of each morning ray playing 'round — Makes kind love fraternal, "malignity's flow, To plunge them in sorrow profound." But tho' waking struggles, commingling with dreams. Against us their efforts employ. Let us, all imiting, let in the day-beams, And we shall awake them to joy. 60 THE JUDGMENT MORNING COMES. 8,7. Lo, it comes, the long-expected Judgment morning of our earth, When our reason-germ, perfected. Shall at last have gained its birth. Long its labor-throes have given Painful " creeds," to rack the soul ; Now the dawn spreads o'er the heaven, Vital energies control. Every eye, with joy surprising, Soon shall open to the light ; Every soul, new-born, arising, Drop the vestures of the night. Breathing then the inspiration Of the njwly-quickened air, They shall soon, in transformation, Grow to manhood everywhere. Faith, well grounded and maturing, Shall behold, with manly eye. Heaven-foundations here, enduring. Linking with the heavens on high : — Clearly, through the mists dissolving, Man his "Saviour" here shall see — 72 SONGS OK THE MORNING. Wisdom — in his life evolving, Which from blunders " sin " shall free. Shout ! ye first-born of the morning, Who have gained the highland view, And beheld the earth adorning In the light unclouded, true ; Sunlight shall in greater glory- Through the earth unfold the day. Sound aloud the gospel story Of the light's all-conquering sway ! 61 MORNING MOVEMENTS. 8, V. Look ! the light is o'er us breaking ; Morning gleams illume the skies; All the mists are in commotion ; See ! they break before our eyes. List! the chirping notes of gladness Birds of morn begin to sing. Let their strains dispel all sadness ; See ! they venture on the wing. Science, rising from her slumbers And the truth-distorting dreams^ Dimly seeing, crudely blunders. Then begins to catch the beams : Classifying, in position Facts arrange, revealing cause ; Opening, to our erudition. Knowledge of great Nature's laws. Fogs grow thinner; eyes grow stronger;— Nature's God by man is seen ; — Superstition can no longer Fully hold its mists between : Manhood wakes to its condition, Challenges its kingly foes ; NEW. 73 Woman claims her true position, Spurns whatever dares oppose *' Moral " dogmas, persecution, Tyrant-greed, monopoly. Now, foreboding dissolution, To the thickest vapors fly. Cheer ! ye struggling prophet-toilers— Champions of the truth and right, Ye shall conquer all despoilers ! Now appears the morning light ! 62 MORNING INSPIRATIONS. 8, 7. All around us, notes of gladness Fall upon the listening ear. And the tones of shrinking sadness Lessen as the day draws near : E'en the morbid dreamers, quaking In a superstition-fright, From their fancies half-awaking, Catch some gleams of morning light. Often those Avhose outer senses Are in dozing-stupor still, Find their inner, gain defenses, Strengthening reason, thought, and will, While the Saving Light they're dreading. As a " soul-destroying fire," Evermore, around them spreading, Much their souls it doth inspire. Faith now holds its earth-foundations When it strives to mount the skies ; Less it flutters in gyrations — With more steady wing it flies. Ever wider are its ranges ; Higher, higher still it soars ; Less the fog the view deranges When the life-field it explores. 74 SONGS OF THE MORNING. And, while half-awaking vision Larger inspiration feels, Senses open find elysian, Here, the morning light reveals Finds the heaven to earth united. Angels bringing us its cheer ; Faith, becoming clear, all-sighted, Finds perfecting-law is here. 63 HASTEN, MORNING. 8, Hasten on, thou coming morning ! All our souls of thee have need ; Let thy rays, our earth adorning. Quicken manly life and deed ; Faith refiring and inspiring — Faith that blossoms bearing seed, Till aspiring souls, desiring Real gospel, here may feed. Earnest natures darkly labor To promote our human weal By denying self and neighbor Truths that morning rays reveal ; Giving ever their endeavor, With intensest bigot-zeal Made a lever, hearts to sever From the love divine they feel. Superstition-mists, around them, So distort their spirits' view That the morning rays confound them. Till the false appears the true : Till they're praying that decaying Faith may crush the live and new ; Truth obeying, deeming " straying ;" "Sinful" all that truth persue. Let thy glory-beams, increasing, Soon their blinding mists remove, NEW. 75 Till, distortions wholly ceasing-, Light shall reach tlieir dogma-grove ; Love clear-sighted, truly lighted, Their ideals will improve ; And, benighted fancy righted, Piety the light will love. Then, in fullness of the blessing Which the open light shall give, Every soul, in love progressing, Shall for real welfare live. Then each being, clearly seeing Whence the blessings that relieve, Shall, in freeing light agreeing. Real aid from all receive. 64 DAY-BEAMS WARM BODY AND SOUL. ] s, r. i Morning light, now flowing o'er us, j AVarms anew our vital blood, '• While the opening view, before us, Cheers the newly-quickened flood. ,• Long, in half-stagnation courses, \ It has struggled through each vein, 1 Striving 'gainst malarial forces, < Which had poisoned heart and brain : '• Dreams of " wrath " and " condemnation," ^ Broke our rest in sleeping hovirs ; ; Rheums and agues racked sensation t; In our half-awaking powers : Struggling faith, tho' ever seeking To maintain its active sway. Gave but superstitions, reeking With miasmas' foulest play. All ideals gave distorted Shapes unto the spirit's view, 76 SONGS OF THE MORNING. Which, as error, greatly thwarted Efforts for the good and true ; God and Nature's loving features Seemed to frown with selfish wrath, Sending curses on their "creatures," Scattering woes upon their path. Man was seen, "A feeble being By great tempters made to fall ; All depi'aved, no power for freeing From the snares which souls enthrall. Angel friends, when circling round us, Seemed but " demons " " to ensnare;" Lurking foes, who would confound us, Seemed besetting everywhere. But the dawning, breaking o'er us, Warm anew our vital blood. While the opening view, before us. Cheers the newly-quickened flood : Life and health, from love and beauty. Warm the body, heart and soul ; Grandest pleasures blend with duty As the day-beams o'er us roll. 65 SEE, YE FEARFUL! YOUR PATH BRIGHTENS. 8, 7. Day is dawning ; see ! ye toiling Strugglers through our nature's night, Who, in partial life-awaking, Stumble forward, seeking light — Ye whose intuitions, rousing From old superstition-dreams, Strive to pioneer your progress. See! the morning round you beams. Look ! and soon, with clearer vision, You will see your life prevails NEW 77 Over every seeming "evil Which its vital power assails ;" That its pains are only transient Monitorial promptings, true, Pointing out the path of pleasure You are seeking to pu."suc. See ! less dismal grows your pathway ! Seeming pitfalls, "threatening harm, Prove but shallow, marshy spaces, AVhich should never cause alarm : E'en the vale of "death," before you, Dark and fearful seems no more — There you see no "vengeful flashes," Such as vexed your souls of yore. Steadfast, look ! and, as the daybeams Break the mists before your eyes, You will see, beyond the valley, The celestial mountains rise ; That "the death-fiend" is an angel Leading to a brighter day. With a hand of love extended. While the other points the way. 66 MORNING LIGHT BRINGS A GOSPEL. 8,7. Long the gloomy night has lingered. And the mists o'erspread the sky, Till no ray but feeble starlight Dimmed by vapors met the eye ; Or when mists were partly breaking. As by surging tempests torn, Came but fitful and distorted. Leaving us the more forlorn. But the morning light is dawning; Deeper grows the spreading gray ; 78 SONGS OF THE MORNING. All the mists are in commotion, Thinning in the breaking day: Clearer, clearer now, before us, Nature opens to our view ; Ever the distortions straighten, And ideals shape anew : All the horrid fancies, cherished As eternal truth, divine. Are dissolving, reconstructing, As the day-beams 'round them shine : Man is seen, the child, well cherished By Almighty Power and Love ; "Woes," but monitors, to teach him Pleasure's path if he should rove. Morning light thus brings a gospel To the hungry, famished soul, Satisfying nature's cravings ; This can make the wounded whole ! Send its message to all nations. Till each needy soul shall see Nature's all-supplying fountain, Ever open, ever free. 67 MORNING BRINGS NEW CREATION. 8,7. Now we see, with joy nd gladness, Manhood's dawning morning-light Scattering all the misty sadness Of old superstition's night. This is heaven's divinest treasure ; Every blessing with it blends In an all-supplying measure. And upon our earth descends. This unfolds a new creation. Working 'round us every hour ; NEW. 79 Earthly scenes, in transformation, Glow with heavenly life and power. Man, awaking, starts to action, Shares the flowing morning-gleams ; And, unheeding creed or faction. Scales the mounts for fuller beams. There no saddened tones of pleading Load the breath of manly prayer : Man, his life's own promptings heeding, Working, grasps his answer there. Let us, all obstructions spurning, Toward the summits force our way, From ou purrpose never turning Till we bask in open day. 68 MORNING LIGHT WILL GIVE US HEAVEN. 8, 7. Joyously our souls awaken, As our manhood-morning's hour Sheds its dawning rays around us, In their all-illuming power: Views sublime unfold before us As the vapors roll away. And the day-beams, ever clearing. Nature's opening fields display All the half-seen glory-glimpses Of Ideal's early dreams Were, we see, but dim reflections Of our morning's rising beams : Ever, as the light increases, Larger, grander still, they grow, Then, as newer rise, are fading In the daylight's freer flow. Grandest flight of poet's fancy Scarcely can its thought express 80 SONGS OF THE MORNING. Ere the opening light, so real, Dims the luster of the dress. Soon, in fully-open morning, Truth undimmed shall all receive ; And the perfect light, transforming, Heaven complete to earth shall give. 69 HEAVEN'S BUILDING-LAW WORK- ING HERE. 8, 7. In the morning breaking o'er us, While but twilight meets our eyes, All the opening view before us Gives us cheering soul -surprise : Earth is seen with beauty glowing, Well unfolding heavenly love, On each open heart bestowing Foretaste of the heaven above. All the "evils," so distressing. Now we see are but the sway Of the forming-laws, progressing While obstructions block their way: "Poisons," misplaced building forces. Or dross-solvents misapplied, " Death " but nature's law divorces 'Twixt the lives no more allied ; Pain, the faithful guardian angel Of the soul's unfolding form ; Prompting wisdom — life's evangel. Till it learns to check the storm ; Earthquakes, spreading desolation, Tempests, dark contagion -woe. But life-force in inflammation Its obstructions to o'erthrow. And we see that passions breaking Forth into excesses wild. NEW. 81 1 Are but trammel-burstings, making ■'. Room for Nature's growing child : '; See Ideal's blindest blunder, -i In its thought of moral law, "j Cannot keep our nature under — i That its bands will prove as straw. \ Yes, we see, the "great destroyer," \ Laying joy and virtue low, I Is the Life-Divine employer, ^ Bidding builders forward go : :| 'Hells" the discord of the clearing '; Grounds for heaven arising here. ] Yes ! we see the city rearing, j As the light is grownng clear. i 70 MY SOUL'S JOY IN THE LIGHT. 8, 7. Dogma-darkness, now forever ; Thou hast left my tortured soul ! '^. Thy old chilling gloom can never i More my manly powers control ! Tho' by thee so long surrounded, - I have risen to see the light ; j Reason is no more confounded ''., By forebodings and affright. '. Now, serenely here abiding, 'I Peace and joy my nature fills ; j From my God no more I'm hiding; ^^ I delight in w^hat he wills : I "Sins," I see, but blunders; saviours ] All the pains they bring to teach; ' "Death" the pioneer, whose favor J Makes all life to serve for each. ■ And, I see, tho' many, dreary, ] In the darkeninsf mists abide. '< 82 SONGS OF thf: morning. Starving for the truth, and weary For the rest they spurn and chide, "Sins," and pains, and "death" are serving Cherished errors to dissolve, While their souls, so well deserving, In great Nature's grace evolve. •n THE WAKING CRY. 8, 7. Wake, O man ! the Day-Star rises ! See ! He mounts the glowing sky ; Now his lighting beams are flowing On each fully-opened eye ; Wake ! Behold ! and then, rejoicing, Thou wilt join the waking cry, And, thy nature's life adoring, Know thy nature's God is nigh. Wake ! ye who, in troubled sleeping. Struggle with your morbid dreams, "Goblin" forms are disappearing — Morning through your lattice gleams; Wake! your fancied "flames of vengeance' Are the light's caressing beams ; Wake ! Behold ! their fond, endearing Love flows 'round you, now, in streams. Wake to life of manly action ! To its fruits of manly joy ! Wake ! and Nature's truths and beauties Will your manly powers employ. And the superstition-terrors Will no more their work destroy ; Wake ! and joys shall blend with duties, Joys which fear cannot alloy. 83 72 WAKE FROM SUPERSTITION. 8, 7. Lift your eyes, ye long-benighted! Wake from superstition-fear ; See ! the earth around is lighted ; See ! the dawn of day is here ; See ! the mists are in commotion ; Wake from morbid-dream affright ! Rise from morbid, fear devotion ! Rise and greet the morning light! Wake to manly life-endeavor ; Let your widely-opened eyes See that Nature's laws, forever, Give us perfect life-supplies : See ! The "evils," which alarm you. Ever teach the laws of joy, That your blunders may not harm you When your powers find true employ. See ! as blinding mists are thinning. Fancied "demons" prove your friends, And your "penalty" for " sinning" But the work which folly mends. Nature's God, with smiling features, Greets you in the dawning day ; Never frowns upon his "creatures," Never casts his wards away. 73 ASCEND THE HIGHLANDS. 8, 1. Brothers, who are vainly trying. In the lingering mists, to find Inspirations well supplying The aspiring human mind, See! the morning-dawn is breaking! See ! the mountains tower before ! Scale their hights, the fogs forsaking — Nature's open fields explore. SONGS OF THE MORNING. Mount where vapors are dispersing; Where the soul, with open eyes, Can, with nature's God conversing, Find unfailing life-supplies. Leave traditions, dim and dying, And their fetid atmosphere Here are highland fields, supplying Vital currents fresh and clear. Hasten where the light is flowing Undistorted all around. Where the wholesome plants are growing Over all the gladdened ground ; Seek no more your life to nourish On the fungus of decay ; Living shoots abvmdant flourish. Which would give it healthy play. Here the fields already whiten With the promised fruit-supply ; Fragrant blossoms hourly brighten, Yield perfume and cheer the eye. Mount the highlands, never turning Once a lingering look behind ! All your nature's life is yearning For supplies you here may find. 74 THE CHARGE TO NATURE'S FREE- ] MEN. 8, 7. i Nature's freemen, take your stations ! 'i Be the leaders in the van Of our earth's advancing nations, ' Of your struggling fellow-man. Blindly striving, ever striving * Nature's law of life to scan — Their evolving life-creation — s Love Divine's unfolding plan. 1 NEW. 85 Bid the darkened, dogma preachers — "Blinded leaders of the blind," Stand aside for Nature's teachers, Take their stations, now, behind. Help their victims, struggling victims, From the "ditch" their way to find, And remove from spirit-features That which darkens thus the mind. Take your stations, tho' excited Priestly despots loudly rail ; Show the pious souls benighted, Nature ever will prevail — True religion — free religion. Will old dogma-power impale ; Pausing not till, earth well lighted, "Creeds" no more can truth assail Let the priestly pride no longer You as "worldlings" classify! True religion will be stronger When it works with open eye ; Well assert it ! now assert it ! Error's haughty hosts will fly ; Then, well known, none e'er shall wrong her, From her light none hide the eye. 75 MORNING PROPHETS, YOUR WORK PREVAILS 8, 7. Prophets of the dawning morning, See ! as light increases 'round. Those who met your call with scorning Now begin to scan the ground : While your upward view ignoring, TAey, with clearing earth-bound eyes, Life'sfoutidations are exploring. For the structure soon to rise. 86 SONGS OF THE MORNING. Science delves in brave endeavor To well base philosophy ; And her blows well serve to sever Ruins which around her lie. Many, while by vapors darkened, Feel the warming morning-rays, And unconsciously have barkened To the truth the light displays. In the priestly institutions Social life and arts revive ; "Creeds" are kept in thin dilutions, For the weakly sensitive : The ecclesiastic preachers Lean on old Hypocrisy ; Morning prophets, you're the teachers ! See! old superstitions die' 76 ANGEL FRIENDS WITH US. 8, 7. Now, as dawn is deepening o'er us, We behold, around us stand. Loving friends who've gone before us To the joyous angel land : When the heart is deeply yearning For the tender soul-caress. From their heaven they, oft returning, Find it heaven our lives to bless. Angel friends, no more our lonely Longringf hearts, in slavish fear, Spurn your converse, thinking "only ' Demon foes' surrovmd us here :" Morning rays, arovind us streaming, The distorting mists remove, Till no more your smiles are seeming " Frowns, to blight our life and love." Joys unknown our souls are warming, For, before our wondering eyes. NEW. 87 "Goblin-forms" are all transforming, Heaven we see on earth arise : No forebodings dark, of sorrow, Golden memories alloy ; Now we know' a heavenly morrow Fully shall unfold our joy. tT ANGELS, OUR MORNING VISITORS. 8,7. Lo ! in morning's dawning glory, While our hearts expand with cheer, And old errors, worn and hoary. In the light soon disappear. Angels join us, freely join us, In our social circles here. Tinting earth with rainbow-glory From the higher heavenly sphere. Mists all melt, no more distorting. Angels as our friends are known : From fraternal love resorting To the scenes which were their own. Giving gladness, buoyant gladness. Giving hope its rightful throne, Strengthening it till, fears all thwarting. None in sadness e'er shall moan. Now we see, their ministrations Are through God and Nature's law, As in all the love-relations Kindred souls together draw. This is perfect, fully perfect, With no lacking and no flaw, All-sufficient for "salvation :" Ills before it are as straw. '•'Goblin " dreams and terrors vanish ; — God and angels, with us here, 88 SONGS OF THK MORNING Lighten care, distortions banish, Make our "woes" our pathway clear For our progress, onward progress, Toward a perfect heavenly sphere. This when love is ripe, unclannish, We shall see on earth appear. 78 PARTING INVOCATION FOR MORN- ING WORKERS. 8, 7. Now, in parting, may the blessing Of the light's unceasing flow, Evermore our souls possessing, Mould our lives where'er we go, And inspire us, well inspire us, Real duty well to know ; That to fields of truest labor We our efforts may bestow. May no prejudices blind us ; May the light of dawning day Cast the lingering mists behind us, And illumine well our way. Till the glowing, warming, glowing Sunbeams there, may so display The inviting path of progress. That no footsteps e'er can stray. Till this joyous consummation Let our diligence and care Freely join in earnest labor With our fellows everywhere ; And remember, well remember, Each our neighbor's toil to share. Till, in light, the race all workers, Joyous work tlie toil shall spare. NEW. 89 79 THE WATCHMAN'S MORNING TRUM- PET. 8, 7. 6 1. Hark ! the watchman's trumpet, sounding, Now proclaims the dawn of day — Manhood's day, when truth, abounding, Finds a larger, freer play. Send the tidings to ail nations — Tidings of the dawning day. Science wakes from dreamy slumbers, Finds the universal laws ; Poesy exalts its numbers — Shows the All-Relating Cause. Spread the light through every nation ; Show them Nature's work and cause. Inspiration learns its mission, And its universal play ; Science, raised to true condition, Joins it ; leads it on the way. Let it soon, its laws revealing. Lead from error's darkened way. Superstition's trembling legions Seek the thickest mists in vain ; For the light has pierced the regions Of the fog-invested plain. Send the light till, fogs dissolving, It shall deluge all the plain. 80 MANHOOD'S DAY IS DRAWING NIGH. 8, V. 6 1. Freedom toilers, lo the morning Beams o'er all the Eastern sky! See! the light, the hills adorning, To the valleys draweth nigh. 90 SONGS OF THE MORNING. Mark the tokens ! much betokens Manhood's day is drawing nigh. On the hills the birds arc singing; Listen I hear their tuneful lays ! Every zephyr-breath is bringing Notes their joyous voices raise. Mark the tokens I cheering tokens Of the sunlight's coming rays. Despots start in wild commotion, Struggling, in despairing plight, To make ignorant devotion Serve to bar the morning light. Mark the tokens! stirring tokens! Right begins to show its might. Kingly craft and priests', conspiring, Newer subterfuges try; But the people's hearts are firing. Manhood's day is drawing nigh. Mark the tokens ! all betokens Manhood's day is drawing nigh. 81 RALLYING CALL TO THE NEW BUILD- ERS. 8, V. 6 1. Dogma's night and desolation Long upon our earth has lain, But there comes a new creation — Morning dawns o'er hill and plain ; And the chilled and nearly blighted Plants revive with life again. Ruined wrecks of former ages Lie in fragments strown around ; And their builders* wrath enrages When we strive to clear the ground; But we know 'tis m.anly duty Needed structures new to found. NEW. 91 Let us, then, be up and doing, All who, waking, see the light ; Ever active, well pursuing The demands of truth and right ; There is nothing that opposes But the love-inverting blight. 82 DESPOTS' ARTS IN FREEDOM'S MORNING. 8,7. 6 1. Freedom's morning now is nearing ; See ! o'er all the Eastern sky. How the deepening gray, appearing. Makes the mists and darkness fly ; How the despots, troubled despots, Quaking, newer arts must try! Thrones appeal unto the people As their source of " rights divine ;" The cathedral-tower and steeple For the "worldly" friendships pine; And their builders, crafty builders, "Worldly" skill with " faith" combine. "Worldly" rulers, most despising All ecclesiastic power, Seek to kill, yet, succor prising, Streams of flattery on it shower; Priests all cowering, inly cowering, Laud the " laws" they would devour. Despotism now decomposes — Each lone element, in strife, 'Neath Hypocrisy opposes Secretly the others' life. Theirs is but desolving vigor. Where but treachery is rife : War must wait till Greed has voted ; Greed to thought must bow the knee : 92 SONGS OF THE MORNING. Bigotry must seem devoted To all liberality. Prophet toilers, freedom toilers, You may here your triumph see ! 83 MANHOOD'S DAY DAWNS. 8, 7. Manhood's day at length is breaking ! Through the mists it sheds its rays ! Eyes which seek the truth, awaking, Find it opening to their gaze. Active souls who scale the raounta.ns, Where the view is open, clear. See the sunlight's flowing fountains, And the morning star appear. Wake ! arouse ! ye long-discouraged, Dozing champions of the right ; Wake to action; well encouraged ; Strike for manhood, in the light. Despot foes, in darkness hoarding. Deem ye conquered, sleep secure ; Wake ! the light is now affording Victory that will endure. 84 THE JUDGMENT TRUMPET. 8, 7. God the token-word hath spoken — Science gives the "trumpet-sound; "Creeds" all broken, well betoken Mighty changes all aroimd. Errors, fearing, partly hearing, Shrink at Nature's judgment-blast; As appearing, ever nearing, Her archangel comes at last. NEW, 93 Now the sounding trump, resounding, Wakes from dogma-graves their dead ; While surrounding light, confounding, Dazzling, plays around each head. As ascending souls are blending With the truth-illumined sky. Error's bending power is ending; False authority must fly. Institutions, in dilutions Fashion "creeds," to hold their sway; 'Mid confusions, old illusions They behold all pass away. The consuming fires, illuming The new earth, the old destroy ; Truths now blooming, sway assuming, More and more our powers employ. 85 NATURE'S GOD TO MAN HAS SPOKEN. 8,7. Nature's God to man has spoken ! By his voice, in every land. Persecution's power is broken — Undisguised it cannot stand. Now its hand and shriveling fingers Wield no more the sword of power ; In disguise it merely lingers. Growing feebler every hour : Priestly chains, by rust of ages. Cankered, rotted, hold no more ; Nature opens wide her pages ; Seers abound as ne'er before. By Hypocrisy protected, Propped by power of reigning Greed, 94 SONGS OF THE MORNING. Dogma's bulwarks, best erected, Crumbling, serve no more its need. Nature's living shoots are springing Forth to life o'er all the ground ; Chimes of science-truths are ringing ; Her foundation-laws are found. Nature's God to man has spoken ; Where his voice is clearly heard Superstition-faiths are broken 'Neath his nature-written word. Pass the word to error's forces ! When the people understand, Heeding Nature's wise discourses, Error's armies must disband. 86 DESPOTISM BEGINS ITS ENDING. 8, 7. Soldier for the right contending, Let thy courage never fail ! Despotism begins its ending. Freedom's forces wall prevail. Tho' the battle rages 'round thee, 'Tis the foes' despairing charge ; They can never more confound thee, Tho' their numbers may be large. See ! their energy is wasting — Coward-arts — deceit they try ; Thou art ever on them gaining ; Soon their haughty hosts will fly. Onward ! see ! their ammunition, (Failing fast, and blindly used) Oft rebounding, their position Sweeping, has their ranks confused: NEW. 95 While with freedom's forces striving, Freedom's battle-cry they sound — "Justice!" "law!" their shouts reviving Freedom-inspiration 'round. Fears o'erwhelm them, paralyzing All their ever- vaunted powers ; Now, in manly strength arising. Strike ! the day will soon be ours. 87 DESPOTISM'S COWARDLY TACTICS. Brothers, let no thought of sadness Faith and joyous hope confound, When old dspotism, in madness. Strikes your fellows to the ground. Tho' the friends of truth assailing, Often seeming to succeed, Closely scan it ! when prevailing, All its tactics weakness plead. By its craft in false pretenses. Now, from victims, it must gain Prejudice for its defenses. Or its efforts prove in vain : " Moral purity's protection," To the blinded crowd it cries ; From their rights gains their defection But by dust cast in their eyes. 88 NATURE'S EVOLUTION-PROMISE. 8,7. Hear ye not the golden promise, Nature to her children gives? 96 SONGS OF THE MORNING. " My constructing-hand shall finish To perfection all that lives : "I will make the dreaded 'evil,' Dreary shadow pass away ; j And, from darkness soon evolving, ' Thou shalt see the beaming day. ; "Lower forms and lower forces Shall foundations lay for man ; ' Who, in fullest life-unfolding, t The causation-laws shall span. j "Thus thy childish hopes, tho' 'failing,' Will give larger life-supply ; ^ Not a throe is unavailing, \ Not a tear in sorrow's eye." i 89 FAREWELL TO THE RISEN SOUL. 8, 7. j Risen soul, no more surrounding Earthly floods and billows roar; ; Angel life, with joy abounding, ; Greets thee on the heavenly shore. i There thy nature's ripening glory — j All thy loves' unfolding flow, \ Free from trammels grim and hoary, \ Perfect heavenly joy shall know. 'Mid those truer life-relations, Well completed will appear All that spirit-aspirations. Stumbling, oft predicted here. In imperfect life-endeavor, i We awhile must here remain ; i But the soul ascendeth ever; — ; We sliall meet thee soon again. NEW. 97 90 ANGEL FRIENDS' GREETING VOICES. 8,7. Hark ! what sounds are floating o'er us, In a lively, joyovis strain ! — Loving friends w^io've gone before us, Come to greet us here again. Ivisten ! tneir exulting voices Reach us on each passing breath ; Earth with heaven to-day rejoices. For a friend we find in death. Hear them cheer the new arrival ! Open reason's listening ears ! Hear our friend, in life-survival, Triumph o'er old earthly fears ! Now our misty, morbid terrors Change to joys in morning light ; — Heaven and eartli, through fading errors, Join their hands Avithin our sight. 91 ANGEL-CONVERSE, AND MESSAGES. 8,7. Hark ! while morning-life rejoices, While awaking nature sings, Angels add their cheering voices. Earth with spirit-greeting rings : Many, long esteemed as " lost ones, Torn by ' cruel death ' away," Say to VIS, the tempest-tost ones. They are still with us to-day : Tell us, " life is one eternal Onward-flowing, perfect stream-^ Earthly blending with supernal — ■ Sharing its effulgent beam :" 98 SONGS OF THE MORNING. Tell US "death is but resigning To the earth the outworn clay ; E'en as vital powers, refining, Yield some portion every day ; " That "the ripe, or hampered spirit Casts obstructing flesh aside, Yet its earthly friends are near it, Finding it a friend and guide." Shout ! the goblin-dreams have vanished ! Earth and heaven unite to-day ; Superstition-fears are banished : "Hells" dissolve in morning's ray. 92 DAWNING MORNING. 8, 7. Tune — Shining Shore. We'll join our hands, with lively cheer, In earnest life-endeavor ; The chills of fear all disappear; They leave us now forever. Chorus. — Foi-, oh I Ave see the jubilee Of manhood's dawning morning, And earth below begin to glow — In heavenly robes adorning. We'll shrink no more, with tearful eyes, From any passing sorrow ; If storms arise, the clearing skies Will brightness from them borrow. Let passion sweep in tempests wild ! This truth the light discloses — Life's angel, mild, thus aids her child 'Gainst what his life opposes. We joy in the resistless flow Of vital inspirations; The Avhirlwinds blow clears earth below, For heavenly life's foundations, NEW. 99 We joy in every grand display Of heaven's unfolding treasure, Which morning shows around us flows In soul-supplying measure. Cho. — For, oh ! we see, etc. 93 ANGELS HERE. 8, 7. — Tune — Shining Shore. The light is spreading o'er the sky, Each moment growing stronger ; Distorting mists now break and fly : They blind our eyes no longer. Chorus. — For, oh ! the streams of morning beams The plains are flowing over ; And with us here, in social cheer. The angels we discover. The loving friends Avho've gone before, We find are with us ever ; With heavenly vigor evermore Inspiring life-endeavor. We see that "Death" is Life's true friend, Who opens wide the portal Through which, to higher spheres, ascend The souls that drop the mortal : That dying forms, in changing states, The life-forms are evolving: That Nature ever thus "creates" From lower forms dissolving : That, through the mighty realms of space. Life-pulses all are beating Response to the nutritious grace "Death" yields for life-completing. We'll join our hands, in earnest zeal. With angels, in erecting 100 SONGS OF THE MORNING. A heaven below, which will reveal The higher heavens, connecting. Cho. — For, oh ! the streams, etc. 94 FAITH'S MORNING ACHIEVEMENT. 8, V, 4. Through the vapors, earth surrounding, Rays of dawning find their way ; Fancies crude, so long confounding, Melt before the dawn of day : See ! the day-beams More and more around us play. Long we strove, in half-awaking Struggles, to unclose our eyes, Saw, with nightmare terror quaking, " Demon " forms around us rise : Deeming angels " Fiends," who joy would sacrifice. Thus, with frantic efforts, hiding From imagined dangers near, Vapor "creeds" we were providing, As the covers for our fear. Till the thinning Fogs began to break and clear. Then we roused, and, 'mid confusing, Strange distortions all around, Manhood powers first feebly using. Stumbling, gained the higher ground. Till the clearer Morning light at length we found. Here we find complete salvation In our lives' unfolding play ; And we call to every nation, Scale mounts and meet the day ; Then, enlightened, Faith shall lead in Nature's way. NEW. 101 95 MORNING LIGHT FREES AND SAVES US. 8, 7, 4. Morning light, increasing round us, E'er the fogs have passed away, Melts the icy chain that bound us, Gives our natures freer play, And our life-streams Greater vigor day by day Intuition's opening vision Sees, in grand unfolding views, Earth preparing fields elysian, Decking in the heavenly hues ; Love fraternal. Thrilling, spreads the joyful news. Faith now finds her true foundation In the all-sustaining laws ; There, unmoved, she grasps creation, And the all-unfolding cause ; Which, evolving, "Well repaires the transient flaws. Earth now shows us love eternal ; Storms its equilibrium flow ; Through the storm-cloud, joy supernal Sheds its gleams on every woe, Giving glimpses Of unfolding heaven below. Thus illumed, we see that vices — Passion-tempests — but remove Air befoulments and the ices Frigid " morals " cast on love ; — " Hells" thus aid us While we link with heaven above. Oh ! the wonderful salvation Which our Morning brings to view ! This is real consolation, Grace divine, almighty, true, Free, unceasing. Old as time, yet ever new ! 102 SONGS OF THE MORNING, I>et it now, our souls expanding, Energise each manly power, Till, while yet on earth we're standing, To the highest heavens we tower, And reach downward Loving hands the "hells" to scour. 96 THE SEERS' DUTY TO SLEEPING FEL LOWS. 8, V, 4. Nature's seers, who scale the mountains, And discern the morning beams, In your joyous exultation O'er the upward-spreading gleams. Still remember Those who strive in morbid dreams : Just beneath you, in the vallies, Lingering fogs obscure the day. Stupefying manly powers, Which would wake to manly play ; — There your fellows Life-streams stagnate and decay. Wildly striving to awaken From their superstition-fright, Their half-opened, feeble senses See you as the foes of light ; And would brand you " Helpers of the ' fiends ' of night." Governments, of states and churches, Led by greed, around them stand — "Menial " servants — executing. Where they can, each wild command Of the blinded Dark resentments of the band. Yet, unfearing, draw ye near them ; Cry aloud, " 'Tis dawning day ! " NEW. 103 Meet with love their drowsy curses; Keep their roaring bulls at bay, Till their waking Powers arouse to healthy play. 97 HELP THE DOGMA-DARKENED. j 8, 7, 4. 1 On the realms of dogma-darkness, ■ Sons of light, in pity gaze ; ; See the crowds of human brothers ;^ Lost in superstition's maze, i Vapors spreading "« Over all their thoughts and ways : ', Dwarfed and chilled by priestly teachings ] In their tender childhood years, Reason's vision dimmed, distorted. By a morbid fancy's fears, ' Error, danger, ' Nature's truth to them appears ; ^ i Reason's voice, within them speaking, ; Nature's loves, when they impel, ' Are contemned and scorned, resisted. Deemed the "whisperings from hell." j And benighted ^ Virtue loves in chains to dwell ; < Faith's intensest life-endeavor : Closes inspiration's eyes ; -; Love fraternal, when controlling, : To befog its fellows tries ; h Blinding vapors Deems the light to make them wise. .^ i Sons of light, behold with pity — } Loving pity — not with scorn ! i Work with earnest zeal to rescue ' All your fellows thus forlorn; , Help to scatter Fosfs that vail our reason's morn. ^ 104 SONGS OF THE MORNING. 98 GOD WITH US HERE. 7. Morning' light, in joy we see How thy power the soul can free ; How the mists before thee flies, Opening the effulgent skies ! Ever on resistless flow ; Change to joy our human woe ; To the souls oppressed Avith fear, Show their nature's God is here. While the daybeams dawn around, Many still, in dread profound, Deem them only " lures to woes, From malignant 'demon foes ;" Thus they plunge into the mist. And their needed light resist. Show the timid souls sincere, Thou, their God, art Avith them here. While, in superstition-fright, They attempt to bar the light. And their waning faith would stay On a " God that's far away ; " In an agonizing prayer Calling for his aid and care, Show his presence ever near — Show their loving God is here. Show them strifes of darkened years, Pains and sorrows, griefs and tears. Were but manhood-energies Conquering what opposed their rise; Show, from worn and clogging earth. Soul-life germs thus gain their birth ; Clear their mental atmosphere. Till they know our God is here. Morning Light, tho' long we strove In the mists that vailed thy love. Which concealed the smiling grace Of our God and Nature's face. 105 Now we see, with joy profound, God and love our lives surround ; — Seeming frowns, their smiles of cheer, Know our God is with us here. 99 LIGHT AND FREEDOM GAINING. ' See ! the glorious morn appears — Earth's great morn of manhood years ; Superstition's night is o'er; Soon her dreams can vex no more. Tho' the mists still linger round, Ever thinning they are found ; Breaking, oft, some votary Of the darkness is set free. Many half-desponding souls, While yet fear their thought controls. Catch some feeble, glimmering gleams Of the sunlight's coming beams. In the vallies tho' we find Many still are nearly blind, All ascending, shout, with cheers, "See ! the Morning-Star appears ! " Despots quake with strange alarm. And, to save their craft from harm, Plunge into the densest mist. That the light they may resist. But the deepening tinge of gray, Even there, reveals the day ; All their prudence-craft is vain — Light and freedom on them gain. 100 SAFE IN NATURE'S FORTRESS. In Nature's laws abiding, My soul, in triumph, sings ; 106 SONGS OF THE MORNING. And, in them well confiding, Defies old error's kings : Tho' dogma-foes surround me, With fiercest battle-cry, Their power can ne'er confound me; My walls their strength defy. My fortress-tower can nev^r Before their efforts fail ; But they, by vain endeavor, • Exausted, I prevail : Tho' superstition rages, My walls are built secure, Of truth — the rock of ages — And ever shall endure. In vain, with trumpet sounding, Old error's powers combine, Each fruitless charge, rebounding, Breaks its own battle-line. Thus, here in joy abiding. My soul, in triumph sings. The Life Divine is guiding, And victory it brings ! 101 MORNING. 7, 6. Tune — Misssiotiary Hy7nn. What light is this that rises? What music round us rings? 'Tis morning! glad surprises Each waking warbler sings. Behold ! the East is glowing With ever-deepening gray ! 'Tis on each cloud bestowing The tints of coming day ! Our souls, tho' long benighted, And racked with dreamy fear, See now before us liglited The region once so drear; 107 And ever, round us, thinning, Distorting mists remove. And " goblins " are beginning To shape to forms of love. Now earth casts the reflection Of soul-illuming beams. Revealing its connection With heaven's outflowing streams We see that joys supernal Unfold with us below ; And learn that I^ove Eternal Is conquering every woe. A perfect fount of blessings, Each source of pain we see, Which never yields distressings When from befoulments free ; — That ever when, in blindness, The streamlets we may rile, In Nature's law of kindness. They bring us balm the while. In joyous expectation, We wait the deepening dawn, And fullest revelation When all the mists are gone ; Exulting in the measure Of light upon our way, Faith finds mid sorrows, pleasure; It antedates the day. 102 NIGHT PASSING AWAY. 7, 6. The night of superstion Is passing from the earth ; Man feels his new condition Of spiritual birth ; — His nature's life-relation His powers of thought commands; 108 SONGS OF THE MORNING. The laws of new creation He finds Avithin his hands. The dreamy hosts, awaking, Feel the transforming power ; The despot forces, quaking, Arc weakening every hour ; Old persecution falters, And, 'neath Hypocrisy, Affects to build the altars Of "moral purity." In last, despairing charges The foes of right engage ; But freedom's host enlarges, And checks their craft and rage ; And, tho' not Avell perceiving Their battle-field before. Their blows are well retrieving The losses met of yore. As morning inspiration The more secures its sway. Our souls, in transformation. Give manly faith its play ; — In self-respect arising, The loves assert their right To work to God's devising . In manhood's Morning Light. They open Nature's pages, Till Law, Divine, is found ; The fetters of the ages We trample on the ground ; We'll scale the towering mountains, Tho' stumbling by the way, Till basking in the fountains Of open, beaming day. NEW. 109 103 THE DAY-STAR IS APPEARING. 1, 6. The Day-Star is appearing ; It heralds morning's dawn ; The fogs commence the clearing ; They'll from us soon be gone ; As broken clouds, then, shining . With rising sunbeams' glow, They, from each golden lining. Shall luster on us throw. What tho' in troubled dreaming, Long seemed our gloomy night, Our life-blood often seeming To stagnate with affright ! The morning-beams, transforming. Distortions shall remove. And manhood-life, well warming, Unfold in vital love. Faith, freed, enlightened, grounded In natural law, divine, No more shall be confounded, Nor feel its powers decline ; But, deepening, broadening, towering In manly majesty, Shall welcome without cowering The doubt that sets it free ; His office recognizine:, It gives the countersign ; — In confidence, well prizing The sentinel divine ; It finds his hand extended To lead it on the way, Till darkening clouds, ascended, Leave unobscured the day. We joy in the appearing Of manhood's Morning-Star, And ever toward us nearing The day that seemed afar ; 110 SONGS OF THE MORNING. The morning inspiration Expands our souls with cheer; It gives us full salvation From superstition-fear. 104 THE MOUNTAIN-TOPS ARE GLOW- ING. 7, G. The mountain-tops are glowing With Morning's rising beams, And on the vallies throwing Their ever-brightening gleams ; And many, who were quaking In morbid-dream affright. Are from their slumber waking. To see the dawning light. The mountain-sides are swarming With those who seek the day ; Who, as they feel the warming, With vigor force their way : The many just beginning With stumbling steps to climb; The few where vapors thinning, Reveal the hights sublime. These call, with earnest voices. To sleepers in the vales, "Awake! The earth rejoices! The Morning Light prevails ! — Its forces serve your nature — Each proves a genial friend, Who works with the 'Creator,' Life's every 'ill ' to mend." And tho', with dreamy terror, Full many still remain — With superstition-error Congealing heart and brain ; Tho', for our gospel labors, They curses on us cast, NEW. Ill We know that these, our neighbors, Will wake to lisfht at last. 105 MORNING ILLUMES THE MIND. 7, 6. O Nature ! as the cheering, Bright day-beams on us rise, In grandeyr new appearing, Thy glories meet our eyes! We see in thee, abounding. Our life and joy supply ; The streams each soul surrounding, The fountain never dry ! We see each soul evolving A form for new career ; Which, lower forms dissolving, Rebuilds for higher sphere. No longer are we trembling At fancied "demon foes," Whose cunning and dissembling O'erwhelm with final "woes." We see, our life-endeavor, Tho' stumbling by the way. The Life Divine, forever, Leads on in Nature's way ; No more crude aspiration, In thought from " sin " to free. Would check the new "creation," O Nature ! Avrought by thee. No more, in pious feeling By fearful fancies driven, In self-abasement kneeling. We pray 'gainst kindly heaven : Our lives, now free, unguarded By false ideals, find Their every act rewarded With light to aid the mind. 112 SONGS OF THE MORNING. Our watchfulness employing- To find our nature's laws, Makes us secure, enjoying Repose on life's own cause : No "evils" can befall us. And foes in vain assail ; — Love's law, almighty, 'round us, Is perfect ; will prevail. 106 THE JOYOUS STORY. 1, 0. How joyous is the story The Morning gospel sings — That heaven's unfolding glory Our earth to manhood brings — That every child of sorrow Our youthful earth shall rear, Shall see a joyous morrow. Despite his stumbling here : That man, each human spirit. And man the race, shall see The soul-life we inherit From all its "evils" free — Instructed by his "sinning" And sufferings, to prepare A heavenly life; beginning In nature's labor-prayer. Our souls, exulting, hear it. And sorrows melt away ; Our bovmding hearts revere it. And move in freer play ; Our pains and slight privations In confidence we bear; — Faith sees a full salvation Unfolding everywhere. NEW. 113 107 WE MUST TELL THE STORY. 7, 6. Whoe'er hath seen the glory Of Morning's dawning light, Must strive to tell the story To sleepers of the night ; His soul, with Joy o'erflowing, Would have nis neighbors share The blessings light is throwing Around him everywhere. Who feels the inspiration Of morning's atmosphere, Would to earth's every nation Impart his lively cheer: His soul's new life, expanding, Would all his fellows bless With the new power, commanding A joy from old distress. Whoe'er is plainly hearing The Morning-music sounds — The lively notes of cheering, Which thi'ough the earth resounds, Must seek the tones of gladness To pour on fellows' ears. And wake them from the sadness Of superstiton-fears. Yes ! we, who know the glory, And lively Morning-joy, To spread abroad the story Must all our powers employ ; Nor cease till all are voicing The soul-expanding cheer With which the earth, rejoicing, Begins to charm the ear. 108 JOIN THE MORNING SONG Let all our waking voices Now pass the notes aloug, 114: SONGS OF THE MORNING. With which the earth rejoices In joyous morning song ; In lively exultation, We see the mists remove, And "hells," in transformation, Unfolding heavenly love. The angels, hovering o'er vis. Now join the grand refrain — The friends who've gone before us Return to earth again : They drown all notes of sadness In tones of thrilling cheer ; And man awakes in gladnes, To see the dawn appear. The "demons" of our dreaming As brothers 'round us stand ; With love fraternal beaming, They give the helping hand. Our God we see with features Of ever-smiling grace. Which beam on all his creatures, Through all the realms of space. 109 MORN IS DAWNING. 6, Morn is dawning! see it Lights the eastern sky ; Broadening, deepening, cheering Every open eye ; Darkness flies before it ; Earth begins to ring With the notes of gladness. Waking warblers sing. Morn is dawning! lo it Clothes in radiant light The ascending vapors Of the cheerless night : NEW. 115 Morning clouds, receiving Golden linings, throw Heaven's unfolding glory On the world below. Morn is dawning ! purer, Fresher zephyrs play With the sweetening vigor Of the coming day : Larger inspirations Vivify the soul. And its senses, waking, See our nature's goal. Morn is dawning ! gladly Now we join the song; Love and joy shall triumph Over hate and wrong ; Rays of light are falling On the darkened eyes ; They shall soon illumine All the earth and skies. 110 UPWARD! SCALE THE MOUNTAINS. 6, 5. Tune — Starlight. Upward ! ye aspiring Lovers of the light ! — Reep the rising Day-Star Ever in your sight ! Scale the towering mountains, Till, in full display, 'Round you, undistorted. Rising sunbeams play. Upward, press with vigor ! Let no fears appall, Tho', awhile, your foot-slips Make you sorely fall ; — Ye who, drawn by glimpses. Seek the glory there, 116 SONGS OF THE MORNING. Never, in your efiforts, Of success despair. Upward, tho' your pathway Great obstructions show ; Press ye on, unheeding Cautions from below : Tho' your friends beneath you, This, as folly, chide. Let no timid councils Turn your feet aside. Upward ! just before you, Brealting vapors clear. And the notes of gladness Chorus lively cheer! — Listen ! birds of morning Joyous music blend With the joyous voices. Bidding you "ascend." Upward ! upward ! listen To the triumph-tone, While they bid you "hasten. Make the light your own :" Friends have reached the region Of the opening day. And are now rejoicing In the grand display. Ill THIS A WORLD OF GLADNESS. 6, 5. Now a world of gladness Opens to us here. And all clouds of sadness, Thinning, disappear; — In our opening Morning "Evils" blessings prove — Earth we see adorning In the heavenly love. NEW. 117 No more "wrath and chiding" From our God we see, But a wisdom, guiding. Ever, perfectly : Pain, we see, the teacher Of the laws of joy — Freeing every creature From its life's alloy. Energies, long striving In a half -despair, Now, with vigor thriving, Join in labor-prayer; Faith, thus firmly standing On great Nature's laws. Towering and expanding. Grasps the living cause. Here we see, evolving, Manhood master prove. Follies, all dissolving. From its life remove ; — Yes ! a world of gladness Opens to us here. And all clouds of sadness, Thinning, disappear. 112 ANGELS WITH US HERE. 6,5. As the Morning deepens. And the light grows clear. Angels freely join us In our labors here ; Each aspiring spirit With new life inspire. And his waking vigor Warm with heavenly fire : Circling 'round our hearth-sides In affliction's hour; 118 SONGS OF THE MORNING. Nerving great achievements By infusing power; Calming surging passions, Which would whelm the brain ;- Everywhere their presence Warms each vital vein. Everywhere their loving Inspirations guide ; — Aid each troubled spirit, " Ills" to override : When they can but whisper To the inner ear, The half-wakened senses Catch the heavenly cheer. But a freer converse With them oft we gain, As the light, increasing, Flows o'er hill and plain. Shout, ye long benighted ! For, in day-beams' play, Earth and heaven, before us. Join their hands to-day. 113 JOY SUPERNAL ON EARTH. 6,5. This is joy supernal — Standing in the light Viewing love prevailing. Curing every blight — Seeing racking tempests But expand the soul, Adding greater vigor " Evils " to control. All the sad foreboding Of the night are o'er — In the joyous day-beams They return no more. 119 Grand exultings move us, As we see appear An evolving heaven In each hell of fear. "Sins," we find the teachers Who, with kindly hand, Point us out the pathway To the heavenly land. Earth we see constructing For each child of pain Flowing robes celestial, Free from every stain. Oh, the lively rapture With which morning light. Filling all our being, Thrills the wondering sight! This is joy supernal ! Who would from it stay ? Brothers, mount the highlands ! Share the light of day ! 114 THE LIGHT COMES FLOWING ON. Tune. — John Brown. The morning light is dawning ; see! 'tis spreading o'er the sky : The mists of superstition all begin to break and fly, And men begin to waken, and to see the day is nigh, As light comes flowing on. Chorus. — Glory, glory, hallelujah ! Glory, glory, hallelujah ! Glory, glory, hallelujah ! The light comes flowing on. The morbid dreams are passing from the half- awaking band 130 SONGS OF THE MORNING. Who strive to doze in darkness while the light flows o'er the land — They catch some inspirations, for their friends around them stand, And light comes flowing on. Cho. — Glory, glory, etc. Our wondering eyes, now opened, see the "de- mons" of our dreams Transform to beauteous angels, in the joyous morning beams — The friends we deemed as "lost ones," with us, joying in the streams Of light now flowing on. Cho. — Glory, glory, etc. They join our social circles, and enliven every ]oy ; They lighten every sorrow that would happiness alloy ; They nerve our manly vigor all its powers to employ, As light comes flowing on. Cho. — Glory, glory, etc. We see in all around us God and Nature's smiling face ; That there, and here within us, works their all- perfecting grace, Which, manhood well completing, every blemish will efface. As light comes flowing on. Cho. — Glory, glory, etc. Our souls arise triumphant over every morbid fear. For "hells" we see transforming as the light is growing clear ; — Their fancied "demons" joining us in building heaven here. As light comes flowing on. Cho. — Glory, glory, etc. SONGS OF THE MORNING. VOL. I.— PART II. ORIGINAL RESPONSES TO OLD HYMNS, INCLUDING RESPONDING VERSIONS. 115 THE VIEW IN MORNING LIGHT. C. M. In Morning's opening light I stand, And, with discerning eye, Survey the fair, the blooming land, And the effulgent sky. Oh, the inspiring glorious scene That rises to the sight When fogs no more are found between The eyes and morning light! Sweet fields, surviving error's flood, Stand robed in nature's green — Where superstition-marshes stood The fruits of truth are seen. O'er all the well-enlightened ground, In unobstructed play, The rays of truth, reflected 'round. Enliven every day. Here dogma-creeds with poisonous breath Can cast their blight no more ; The "victory," the "sting of death," Its triumphs all are o'er. 122 SONGS OF THE MORNING. I see our Mother's loving grace In Nature's law-behest ; I see in all her smiling face, And on her bosom rest. Old Hymn in Responding Version. 116 O FOR A THOUSAND TONGUES. C. M. O for a thousand tongues, to sing In loving Nature's praise — The glories of the blossoming And fruitage of her grace ! Oh, loving Mother, Father, God, Assist me to proclaim, And spread through all the earth abroad The honors of thy name. Thy name, well known, will charm our fears, And bid our sorrows cease ; And, in the drooping sad one's ears, Will whisper hope and peace. It breaks the fancies crude, of "sin," And sets creed-victims free — It shows their natures clean within. To all with eyes to see. In Morning light thy loving voice Life-inspiration gives. Which makes desponding souls rejoice, As each new life receives. Hear it, ye superstitious souls ! Your tongues 'twill then employ ; And, as awaking life controls, Your lame will leap for joy. Old Hymn in Responding Version. RESPONSES. V2'.) 117 AM I A SOLDIER OF TRUTH? C. M. Am I a soldier of the cause Of truth and its campaign, And shall I swerve to win applause And error's favor gain ? Shall I life's higher summits scale On flowery beds of ease — Against old error's force prevail By honeyed flatteries ? Are there no foes for me to face — No superstition-flood — Will Pharisees assist the grace Of truth and nature's God ? Sure, if I would the cause maintain Of truth and Morning light, I must, through earnest toil and pain, Still struggle for the right. Truth's soldiers, in her glorious war, Shall conquer, tho' they die : They see their triumph from afar, With Faith's discerning eye. When truth's effulgent sun shall rise Its armies will combine, And, in its beaming light-supplies. As victors ever shine. 0/d H in Res. Ver. 118 WHEN I CAN READ MY TITLE CLEAR. C. M. When I can read my title clear To Nature's life-supplies, I'll bid farewell to every fear. With joyous, tearless eyes. 134 SONGS OF THE MORNING. Should creeds against my soul engage, And poisoned darts be hurled, I'll smile at sviperstition's rage, And face a darkened world : I'll shed the dawning light around Upon the eyes of all, Till Morning's gospel truths, profound, Shall raise them from their thrall. Then with the free, enlightened throngs, Whose souls their anthems raise. We'll join the new inspiring songs Of God and Nature's praise. Responding Versiofu 119 SALVATION. CM Salvation ! O the joyful sound What pleasure to our ears ! — Salvation from the gloom, profound. Of superstition-fears : Buried in fancies crude, of "sin" And "wrath divine," we lay ; But raised by Nature's grace, begin To see a heavenly day. Salvation ! let the echo fly The spacious earth around. While all the armies of the sky Conspire to raise the sound. Responding Version. 120 THE DAAVN OF JUBILEE. C. M. Come, sing aloud, with joyful sound. Of Morning gospel, free — RESPONSES. 135 Proclaim to all the world around The dawn of jubilee ! Long lost in superstition's night, 'Mid fears we could not flee, Salvation comes — the Morning light — The dawn of jubilee ! Ye drooping souls, now raise your voice! Behold ! your saviour see ! Ye waking prisoners, now rejoice In dawn of jubilee ! With rapture swell the great refrain, Of Morning-gospel free. Till all the world shall ring again, " The daAvn of jvibilee !" Let every well-enlightened soul. Who now the truth can see, Exultingly the anthem roll. Of "dawning jubilee !" Old H. in Res. Ver. 1121 M O R N I N G'S G O S P E L-T R U M P E T. C. M. Time — Coronatio7i. Let every human ear attend. And every heart rejoice ; The Morning's gospel-trumpet sounds With an inviting voice. Ho ! all ye hungry, starving souls. Who feed upon the wind — Who with tradition's childhood-toys Would fill a growing mind. Eternal Wisdom here prepares A soul-supplying feast, And bids your longing appetites The rich provision taste. 126 SONGS OF THE MORNING. Ho ! ye that pant for living streams, And pine away and die, Here you may quench your raging thirst Witli springs that never dry. The gates of Nature's gospel-grace Stand open night and day ; — Here all may find complete supplies. And drive their wants away Old H in Res. Ver. 122 COME TO NATURE'S GOSPEL FEAST. C. M. ; Ye starving, superstitious souls, Behold a royal feast, *• Where Nature spreads her bounteous store • For each accepting guest ! She stands with open, loving arms. And bids you freely come, \ Nor fear the priestly-wrought alarms ; \ Behold ! how wide the room ! "- Come, then, and with us freely taste The joys of light and love ; \ And, nourished by the sweet repast, •; In manly vigor move. ; Then each expanding soul shall voice, . ! With loud exulting tone, j The songs of those who now rejoice \ With joy so long unknown. ^ Thy waking spirit's opening eyes ] Shall then, in Nature, see i Thy God affording full supplies i To all mankind, to thee. Old H. in Res. Ver. RESPONSES, 127 123 DELIGHT IN NATURE'S NAME. C. M. How sweet thy name, O Nature ! sounds To one who sees thee clear ; He knows thy loving life abounds With all that serves his cheer. He knows it makes the wounded whole ; — That trouble makes the breast Expand to serve the enlarging soul, Who finds in labor, rest. He knows he here can safely build, And needs no " hiding-place ;" That thy all-sweetening fount is filled With ever-fiowing grace. He knows thine every law a friend ; O'er all its " woes " a king ; Who by its workings, in the end, Will blessings ever bring : That tho' bleak fear may fill the heart In superstition taught, .Afflictions sliow thee as thou art, Till health in thee is sought. Then let my powers thy love proclaim With every passing breath. Till all, rejoicing in thy name, Find victory in "death." Response. 124 GOOD IN ALL EVIL. C. M. How grandly Nature's blessings flow ! — The seeming false is fair; Each poison serves our pleasure, too; Our sweetening, every care. The darkest things in earth and sky Diffuse some rays of light ; 138 SONGS OF THE MORNING. We should inspect for joy-supply In every wild affright. Our enemies, as well as friends, Whose love so warms our blood, Reflect some light upon our minds, Revealing nature's God. The sourness of inverted loves, E'en while it stings the sense, Back to the aching vacuum moves Affections driven hence. O Nature ! give us light to see Our spirits' needed food. And ever from the chafif to free The grains of real good ! Respotise. 125 ALL HAIL, THE TRUTH. C. M. Tune — Coronation. All hail, the Truth ! behold he comes ! See ! errors prostrate fall ! He comes with royal diadem, And crowned the Lord of all ! He comes as reason's morning-beams Dawn on our earthly ball ; He comes ! we wake from morbid dreams! He comes, the Lord of all ! He comes, and superstition-fears No more our souls appall ! He comes, the " peril " disappears! He comes, the Lord of all I He comes to all — no chosen race — No partial remnant small ; He brings to all his sovereign grace; He comes, the Lord of all ! RESPONSES 129 Fie comes with crown of manliness For those who heed his call ; He comes ! in him our souls possess The crown and Lord of all. "Let every kindred, every tribe On this terrestrial ball, To him all majesty ascribe. And crown him Lord of all." Then, with the mighty joyous throng Arising from their thrall. We'll join the grand exulting song To Truth — the Lord of all ! Response to Old Hymn. 126 EARTH YIELDS A HEAVENLY HOME. C. M. Here joy is found ! No more I'll sigh — The Morning light has come ! It shows our world, like "that on high," Affords a heavenly home. Celestial gleams on earth we know ; We find a sheltering dome Are Nature's laws : they conquer woe, And yield a heavenly home. The lively inspirations 'round Disperses lingering gloom ; — Earth glows ! — her now transforming ground Affords a heavenly home. Response to Old H. 127 ASPIRATION. C. M. While thee I seek, great Nature's power, Be creed-taught fancies stilled ; 130 SONGS OF THE MORNING. And let this aspiration-hour With reason's light be filled. Thy grace to free my thoughts bestow, Assist me while I soar; — Let light undimmed around me flow While I thy laws explore. When skies from darkening mists are clear, Thy ruling hand I see — In dreaded "evils" blessings dear, Conferred on all by thee. I look, and all thy works and ways, E'en every pain I bear, I find thy perfect care displays, And serves my nature's prayer. Help me to gain the joyous hour When light my life shall fill — When blinding mists no more shall lower. And hide thy loving will : When faith's strong eye, without a tear, Through every storm shall see ; And for the struggling feel no fear, But know thy power will free. Response to Old H. 128 ASPIRATION FOR MANHOOD-FAITH. C. M. Let manhood's well unfolded faith Enlighten well my powers ; — I then shall triumph over death In life's most clouded hours. Through breaking mists, the gleams of light Its youthful efforts prove, Until its opening spirit-sight The chill of doubts remove. RESPONSES. 131 !| Then, joying in the strength I have, ^ In confidence I'll sing, }^ "No victory is with the grave ! i Death has no ' vengeful sting !' " ; Our nature's God gives victory >j To life of every grade ; — j 'Tis but the vestments drop and die, ] Life is anew arrayed. H Response to Old H. 129 PRAYER FOR A TRUE HEART. C. M. O for a heart to praise my God VV^ith working-sympathy Toward fellows struggling 'neath the load Of any slavery : A heart that fires when grasping greed The despots would enthrone ; That yearns with fellows' every need, And makes their cause its own : A heart whose every pulsing-beat Propels resistless streams Of vital courage, to defeat Oppression's selfish schemes. Old H. in Res. Ver. 130 AN ANGEL REACHES FROM THE GRAVE. C. M. Now Morning light affords the faith To cheer the dying hours — It shows, an angel-friend is death. Who aids the living powers. We see it serve the forms it gave And, in full triumph, sing. 133 SONGS OF THE MORNING. " An angel reaches from the grave, And not a 'monster's sting !' " Response. 131 MORNING VIEW REVEALS SPIRIT- LIFE. C. M. The once-loved form whose soul has fled, To-day, our thought employs, Yet, joyous, know, the seeming "dead" Has risen to higher joys. Faith melts in sight in Morning time, For, on the angel-shore. We see, now born to angel-prime. The friend who goes before. Then childhood-nature, cease from tears ! The light spreads o'er the sky. Till to our reason's view appears The realms of life on high. Response. 132 A VOICE OF LOVE FROM THE TOMBS. CM. Hark! from the tombs a joyful sound, While light falls on the eye : "Ye trembling souls, within the ground 'Tis but the vestments lie ! "Life's higher spheres the spirits tread, And wield untrammeled powers ; From whence, returning oft, they shed Their light on earthly hours. "Ye stand, amid the seeming gloom, In endless life, secure ; — Your nature's God permits no 'doom' The soirit to 'immure :' RESPONSES. 133 "The all-encircling perfect grace, Through Nature's law-supplies, Will perfect all to see his face On earth or in the skies." Response. 133 DEATH, LIFE'S DEFENSE. C. M. O man, to delve in creeds forbear ! Now cast thine eyes on high ! The opening day is not afar — It lights the Eastern sky. Reflect ! thy soul doth greatly crave Above the mists to mount, And see that the long-dreaded grave Ne'er closes life's account : That death but serves for life's defense — To lovingly compel Each outworn part to move from hence, Nor prove the being's hell. Thy flesh-obstructions thus, with care, The vital fires consume ; — "Destruction" is but life-repair; It works beyond the tomb. Respo7ise. 134 DEATH, LIFE'S PIONEER. C. M. Why do we mourn departed friends, Or see in death, alarms? 'Tis only superstition, sends A dread of Nature's arms. All life is tending upward, too, As fast as time can move ; 134 SONGS OF THE MORNING. Nor should we wish the hours more slow Which perfects all in love. We should but joy when life's full day Man ripens for the tomb, And know 'tis but the vestments lay Within the seeming gloom. Each joy with which our lives are blest, Each grand life-quickening breath, Each aspiration of the breast Is pioneered by death : Each life unfolds by lower forms Dissolving for its sake ; Life's angel sways "destruction-storms," Their forces builders make. Then, in the light, let goblin-fears No more our bosoms sway. But, joyous, will new forms and years Our honored, outworn clay. Response. 135 THE MORNING'S RESCUE. C. M. Plunged in a darkness nigh despair, In misty creeds we lay, Where to our nature's childhood's night Scarce reached a glimmering ray. Blind impulse-struggles broke our peace, And, in a mighty grief. We strove with drooping energies To find a true relief. Fraternal love inflamed by fear The wild resentments led, — In strife to save our fellows' soul. Their bodies burned and bled. RESPONSES. 135 But morning light fell on the plains, The fogs began to break, And from our frenzied, morbid dreams, Our souls began to wake. Then, with the mist-distortions o'er, Our God could show his face ; And what to fears a frown appeared, We saw was smiling grace. Now rocks and hills, and angel bands Assist our nature's lays. While, in exulting joyous songs, We God and Nature praise. Response to Old H 136 COME, HOLY SPIRIT. C. M. Come, Holy Spirit, heavenly Dove, With all thy quickening powers, Kindle a flame of trustful love In hearts which fear devours. In vain they sing old dogma-songs, In vain they strive to rise, They languish, shrivel, on their tongues, And such devotion dies. Oh ! shall our brethren ever live At this poor dying rate — With fears congealing love to thee, While thine is still so great? Come, Holy Spirit, heavenly Dove, With all thy quickening powers, And wake their nature's deeper love. That it may join with ours. Old H. in Res. JW. 136 SONGS OK THE MORNING. 1 i 137 NATURE'S GOD APPEALS TO THE ' CREED-BOUND. C. M. \ Ye creed-bound, nature's God regard ; He clearly speaks to-day — '. He calls, in open science-word, From dogmas' darkened way. i 'Mid blinding mists you ne'er can rest, j Nor feel a real peace ; The aspirations of your breast j In darkness find no ease. -j To foster discord — build a "hell," Why will you persevere, i When in the light you all may dwell ; Of joys serene and clear? ! .1 Why will you in the darkened ways ^ Of superstition go — j In painful struggles spend your days . With mere imagined "woe?" | Turn to the light, and you shall live In Nature's flowing grace ! The dawning day begins to give The light to see her face. Look to her all-perfecting word ; 'Twill banish dreams of "sin," And show, in you your nature's " Lord" i Well works his will divine. I 0/d H in Res. Ver. 138 COME, DOGMA'S VICTIM, LOOK TO ' NATURE. C. M \ Come, dogma's victim, in whose breast j A thousand fears revolve. RESPONSES. 137 Come, with your sense of "guilt" oppressed, And make this firm resolve : " I'll look to Nature, and, within The light her laws disclose. Review my creeds — my thoughts of * sin,' And causes of my ' woes : ' "Erect in manliness, I'll claim My right to Nature's grace — To know her laws and make the same My blemishes efface : " I'll to her sovereign power approach, And ask that it bestow On man the same perfecting touch That serves all life below. " Perhaps her great unfolding-laws Will serve my nature's prayer ; I'll fully trust that folly-flaws Her workings will repair. " I shrivel 'neath my chilling creeds, I am resolved to try If Nature cannot to my needs Afford complete supply." Resp07ise to Old H. ■ 139 I HEARD THE VOICE OF JESUS. C. M. j I heard the voice of Jesus say, ' " Ye love me ? freely feed ] My tender lambs — the famishing — \ Destroy the reign of greed." '\ I looked to Jesus, and I saw \ A loving brother there, :; Who for the weak and sorrowing :* Wrought, ever, labor-prayer. i i 138 SONGS OF THE jMORNING. My soul responded earnestly To his fraternal call ; And nations I beheld profess To "crown him Lord of all." I said, Behold the time has come ! Heaven's kingdom now is born ! I sought their aid, to work for him, They laughed my thought to scorn. Then to the circle of the "saints" — The church — with hope I turned, It rated me an "infidel " My aspiration spurned. With saddened soul, I turned again And listened for his word : Are these thy friends? he answered, "Nay; Not all who say ' Lord ! Lord ! ' " Response. 140 SAVIOURS NOT ALWAYS TO BE \ MARTYRED. C. M. - Behold ! while saviours of mankind • Must suffer still for thee, ) The dawning lights the public mind ; ' From error's power 'twill free. ■ Each life-divine, through suffering, makes ■ The despots' pillars bend, i Till, with co-workers joined, he breaks \ The powers which truth would rend. And tho' the slaves who by his aid * Were saved, unite their cries * ^^ In clamor 'gainst the sacred head \ Who comes more fully wise, -i And, in the former martyr's name, ; Rekindle martyr-fires ! RESPONSES. 139 For every one in whom the same Illumined love inspires, Yet sons of light shall break the chain Which manhood-powers confine ; O freedom-toiler ! not in vain Are lives of love, like thine. Response to Old Hymn. 141 THE TRUE PREACHER'S WORK. CM. Let preachers from old dreams awake, And real gospel give — From human nature's loving God The charge divine receive. 'Tis not a work of small import They take upon their hands — To light the minds and warm the hearts Of eager, listening bands : The passive natures, by their words Are shaped for weal or woe — In love, to bless, or bigotry, To blight where'er they go. Response to Old H. 142 REJOICING IN MORNING GOSPEL. L. M. O how a glance of opening day Old superstition sweeps away, Till the inflowing life divine, Awaking, fills this soul of mine ! With racking fears no more I'll quake, Tho' earth with Avild convulsions shake ; "Destructive" powers, I know", combine To serve all life ; to ripen mine. 140 SONGS OF THE MORNING. The loads of sorrow man has felt In new evolving joys will melt — In Nature's word each glowing line Declares her forces serving mine. Her judgments now with joy I hear They banish "demons," "goblins," fear; For each award gives perfect sign Of kindness toward this life of mine. Her great design, outworking deeds Will fill all aspiration-needs — Make dross to serve, and then refine. And well perfect this life of mine. Old H in Res. Ver. 143 DELIGHT IN MORNING GOSPEL. L. M. Far from my thoughts old creeds be gone, Let my religious hours alone ! As I our Morning gospel see, I need no visit more from thee : My heart is warmed with purer fire ; Thy torch I can no more desire — The light is streaming from above ; It fills my soul with joy and love. O Nature ! what delicious fare ! How sweet thine entertainments are ! When will the dreamers wake and know The fullness of their perfect flow? Old H. in Res. Ver. 144 NATURE'S LIFE A FOUNT OF SWEETNESS. L. M. Sweet is the joy thy power doth bring, O Nature ! we thy praises sing ! RESPONSES. 141 We see thy life in Morning light, And waken from the shades of night. Thy love each day gives sweetening rest, Tho' weighty cares may seize the breast ; It tunes the heart in joyous sound To all the harmonies around. We triumph in her life and Lord ! — Thy works express thy loving word ! — Thy truth and grace there fully shine, Eternal, natural, divine. We freely share a glorious part — The streams o'erflow each open heart, And in abounding floods are shed Upon the light-encircled head. At last, in unobstructed flow. E'en as above 'twill serve below ; And every world give sweet employ. And prove a world of perfect joy. Responsive Version. 145 I FOUND THE TRUE, ALMIGHTY FRIEND. L. M. happy day, when Nature's voice First reached my ear and helped my choice, Where I could really rejoice In a divine, Almighty friend ! In darkening mists' distorted light 1 saw, misshapen to my sight, My nature " fallen," God a blight, — Not a divine. Almighty friend. My drooping soul then cast around Its eyes, in agony profound, 142 SONGS OF THE MORNING. i It saw all Nature's fruits abound, ! But no divine, Almighty friend. j Friends bade me gain the " sovereign grace *'* * Through " one who suffered in my place." j My soul, revolting, sought embrace ^ From a divine. Almighty friend : ' I could not real justice see ; In guiltless sacrifice for me-; — ' It pierced my heart ; I longed to flee To a divine, Almighty friend. i Then Nature's voice fell on my ear : i •'The real God, you seek, is here!" \ The breaking fogs began to clear ; — j I found the true Almighty Friend. Response. \ 146 LINGERING SUPERSTITION - FAN- CIES. L. M. While morning light light is flowing round, O Nature ! fancies dark are found — Of " sin " and a " corrupting fall ;" And many souls they still enthrall. To feeble, opening infant-thought These superstition-fears are taught. Till chilled, contracted, is the heart, And reason dwarfed in every part. Then hungering sense of spirit need Is left on husks like these to feed. With sense of "guilt" for which alone Enslaving priestly-faiths " atone." Thus morbid fancies break their peace ; Thy light alone can give them ease — Can rescue faith from what devours, And wake and free the manhood^powers. RESPONSES. 143 Give us, who see the light, the zeal To work for human nature's weal — To help our fellows gain the hight Of undistorted Morning light. Response. 147 NATURE'S LOVING KINDNESS. L. M. Awake, my soul, to joyful lays. And sing our mother Nature's praise ! She justly claims a song from thee — Her loving kindness, O how free ! She saw thee lost in darkest night. And shed upon thee Morning light. It rescued from thy darkened state ; Her loving kindness, O how great I When countless hosts of dogma-foes Thy needed freedom did oppose. She armed with truth, and led along; Her loving kindness, O how strong ! When Nature seemed a dismal cloud, Where dangers, gathering, thundered loud, She gave her laws into thy hand ; Her loving kindness, O how grand! Tho' struggling wants did often start Tempestuous passions in the heart. She forced the balance when forgot ; Her loving kindness changes not. When life appeared a gloomy vale. Where vital powers at last must fail, She showed that, through the waning breath, Her loving kindness rules in "death ;" — That in a world of perfect light The ripened spirit sees aright ; 144 SONGS OF THE MORNING. And sings, with widely-opened eyes, Her loving kindness in the skies. Old H. in Res. Ver. 148 OUR NATURE NEEDS NO HIDING- PLACE. L. M. Hail, Morning light ! Thy dawn began To rescue dark, benighted man From fears that sought to shun thy grace, In dogmas* dark, soul-hiding place. In misty creeds, my tortured eye Beheld our God uplifting, high, A vengeful rod to smite our race ; And then I sought a " hiding place." While darkness much my soul did blight, I clung to it and feared the light ; I madly strove in its embrace To find my "needed" ** hiding place." I trembled when the dawning day Shot gleams of light upon my way : It seemed the "flames of hell," in chase, While still I had no " hiding place." With "vengeance" rushing on my view, Within the thickest mists I flew ; But soon the light increased apace. Till this I found no "hiding place." Then Nature's loving voice I heard ; Truth's angel in her "flames" apf)eared; He freed my eyes from mists' embrace; I needed then no "hiding place." Now all my fellows I would tell. What darkened fancy deems a "hell," Is light to aid a darkened race ; Our nature needs no " hiding place. Old H. in Res. Ver. RESPONSES. 145 149 NOT ASHAMED OF NATURE. L. M. O Nature ! shall it ever be — INIan's " pious " pride ashamed of thee, While all, thy glory so displays That grandest angels sing thy praise? Ashamed of Nature? man despise The fount of all his life-supplies I Oh, shall the mists forever hide The lovely light by thee supplied ! Ashamed of Nature, as "depraved," When only Nature's grace hath saved Some vision-power, to see the light While dogma-vapors vail the sight. Ashamed of Nature ! just as soon Let morning-dawn disown its noon! — The dawning aspirations, all. For noon-day light on Nature call. Ashamed of Nature ! niati thus chide The forms of love in which abide The great All-Father-Mother-Soul, Whose love and wisdom all control ! Nay ! Man, awake ? and, from the plain, Ascend the mounts, where you may gain The light, full, vindistorted, free, The Nature will yoicr glory be. Old H in Res. Ver. 150 JUST AS I AM. L. M. Just as I am, I need no plea, O nature's God ! thy work in me Is life divine that would be free ; — It ably strives to gain the room. 146 SONGS OF THE MORNING. Just as I am, I knoAv that not A blunder can my nature blot — Thy loving law shall cleanse each spot When it succeeds in gaining room. Just as I am, I cannot doubt. Thy perfect law, within, without. Will ripened manhood bring about, And make itself abundant room. Just as I am, thy law can find How to enlighten well the mind. Till darkening mists no more can blind, Its working power will gain the room. Just as I am, I do believe That perfect grace I do receive, All imperfections to relieve ; My nature strives to make it room. Just as I am, I feel its power At work within me every hour. Faith grounded well to heaven doth tower; I shall not fail to make it room. Response to Old H. 151 A CALL TO GOD AND NATURE'S PRAISE. L. M. Tune— Old Hundred. From all that dwell below the skies, Let life's true joyous anthems rise — Let God and Nature's praise be sung Through every land by every tongue ! Abundant are their blessings poured ; Abundant care their laws afford ; And all supremely will adore When wisdom wakes to know them more. \ Their loving, providential care l Spreads teeming bounties evervwhere ; ■ RESPONSES. 147 And bids them serve our life's demands, Responsive to our active hands. Let all that live in concert sing, And labor-worship incense bring ; With heaven and all the worlds proclaim The co-eternal, loving name. O sons of earth, benighted long. The morn is dawning ! join the song ! Let faith its working triumphs raise, And fill our world with active praise ! Responsive Version. 152 RESPECT FOR EARTH AND BASIC ' LOVES. L. M. My God, permit me not to be j A stranger to myself and thee — - Oh, never let my conscience rove In disrespect of any love. \ When aspiration spurns the earth In misty view of heavenly birth, ; Teach me I need the things beloAV, \ That I in them my God may know. ; Teach me to know the fleshly-sense ^ Nurse of young spirit-forms, and hence \ That to obey thy voice divine \ No other joy I should resign. '' Thus earth, the base of life, well known. My soul can ne'er its joys disown ; ■ But, with a well-enlightened mind, My God and heaven I here shall find. - Old H. in Res. Ver. -^ 148 SONGS OF THK MORNING. 153 FEAR OF DEATH. L. M. Why should we start and fear to die? What timorous ones we mortals are? Death is the gate to higher joys, And yet we fear to enter there : The creed-made sting and dying strife Start our affrighted souls away, And we shrink back to earthly life, And cling to feeble, outworn clay. If Nature's truth our souls could meet. They then would stretch their wings in haste, Fly fearless through "death's iron gate," And prove it golden as they passed. Responsive Version. 154 NO ROAD LEADS TO DEATH. L. M. There is no road that leads to death — No dark destruction anywhere, True wusdom shows us Nature's path Is life for every traveler. In open light we see that loss Can ne'er occur in Nature's hand ; — " Death " is but form-repair ; the dross. Refined, rebuilds at God's command. Ye fearful souls that shrink and faint, Your God hath made your triumph sure ! — The " demons " of your fear-complaint From all destruction will secure ! No hope's true central wish is vain — It wins, tho' mists may hide the view ; — Life's yearning will its goal attain ; 'Tis linked with God ! 'tis ever true ! Response. RESPONSES. 149 155 NATURE'S HOUR OF PRAYER. L. M. Tufie — Sweet Hour of Prayer. Sweet hour of prayer, of Nature's prayer — Of earnest work beneath her care, Which, making all my wishes known. Secures her work to aid my own ! When waking wants would cause me grief I turn to thee and find relief, And free myself from every snare By Nature's earnest labor-prayer. Sweet hour of prayer, of labor-prayer, Thy wings doth each petition bear To Nature's living, loving cavise. And answers gain from Nature's laws. 'Tis thus she bids me seek her face, And gain her providential grace, And rise triumphant o'er each care By thy great power, sweet Nature's prayer. Sweet hour of prayer, of labor-prayer. Thy aid supports me everywhere ! — By thee I scale life's mountain hight, And gain a view in clearer light. And, in the rays there shed around, In future joys gain faith profound. And on the earth a heaven prepare By thy kind aid, sweet labor-prayer ! Response. 156 THE NEW BIRTH. C. P. M. Tune — Willoughby, or Hedding. I woke to morning's gospel-sound While superstition-meshes bound My aspirations' floAV ; I scaled the mounts, high o'er the plain, Then feeling dragged me down again Into the mists below. 1 \ 150 SONGS OF THE MORNING. I heard the dogma-thunders roll, And on my chilled and struggling soul, A dark oppressive load Of mixed emotions void of cheer — Consistency disowned and fear, Seemed as the "wrath of God." Then breaking mists revealed full well The mountain-tops, where sunshine fell, And, rallying my powers. With stumblings, finally did gain The hights where light was clear and plain, And joyed in freedom's hours. My nature's life, new-born that day, Rejoices in the genial play Of loves in harmony; And, in the light's unfailing fount. Would urge my fellows all to mount. And its full glory see. Response. 157 THE PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE. C. P. M. Tune — Willoughby, or Ganges. Tho' on a little point of land In Nature's boundless field, I stand. Yet I am sensible That universal loving grace, Which rules the mighty realms of space. Doth serve our earth as Avell. O Nature's life, my God thou art ! Thou dost within this atom-heart Eternal laws express ! Dost give the power to wield their weight. And use their forces to create True balance — righteousness : RESPONSES. 151 Did'st teach my inmost soul to pray To Nature's life in Nature's way, And when the answers came, Tho' still in superstition's mist. With powers vmconscious to assist, Despite its sense of "blame." Be it my leading business here To make thy light, O Nature ! clear To souls in fog immured — To show that the "creative" Avill A loving purpose doth fulfill — That "ills" will all be cured ; That then thy light, which all receive. Completed heaven to earth shall give, Nor aspirations rove To distant worlds to find delight, But earth, well ripened, in our sight. Shall bloom with perfect love. Response to Old H. 158 TIME'S FLIGHT, AND ITS LESSONS. C. P. M. Tune — Willoughby, or Meribah. My days, my weeks, my months, my years Are but the breaths of spirit-spheres. And whisper as they roll, "Time for thy spirit only keeps The form till ripened, when it reaps And garners well the soul." In open light — no fogs between, The grave is but the cradle seen Of Nature's nursery : Benighted man, thy life is bliss ! — The song thy mother sings is this : "No thinsf of life can die." 152 SONGS OF THE MORNING. Sleep while the shades around yoii fall, But let no morbid dreams appall ' And, with the ending night. When with her voice of love, so true, She calls, awake to life anew, Rejoicing in the light. Response to Old If. 159 LIFE'S GREAT IMPORT. C. P. M. T7/?ze — Wiloughby, or Hedding. And am I born to never die ! — Is "death" but shedding husks, to fly. At Nature's kind decree. And bask in life's completer plains — In joys celestial, free from pains — In true felicity ! How joyful, then, ought I to live ! No earthly "woe" should make me grieve! Should use my house of clay With manly zeal and faithful care, To make its life the soul prepare — Well ripen — for that day. No room for superstition-fear, While in the light, unfolding here, Our "ills" so soon are gone : While nature's God leads on before, Makes " woes but serve to ope the door For life to take its throne. Let manly faith my thoughts employ — Show the unfolding laws of joy, Which ne'er shall have an end : Thus here begin my heavenly place, And introduce the brighter days I shall with angels spend. Response to Old Hymn. RESPONSES. 153 160 WE GIVE THE WINDS OUR FEARS. ) S. M. ; We give the winds our fears, ', And stand no more dismayed ; , God's law within our life appears, i Well ruling heart and head. ■ The stormy waves may roll, ] And sweep across our way, 1 It gives the power which may control Till these shall serve our day. ;; No heaviness of heart 3 Can weigh our spirits down : ' Life's law reacts till cares impart i New joys our lives to crown. : i What tho' the misty creeds "i Of superstition's night ■ Still linger 'round? our nature's needs • Are warmed by morning light ! ' We joyously obey j The natural-law commands ; J The power which these for us may sway Is placed within our hands. The light to us hath brought, In vision bright and clear, ; A faith above the childish thought, ^ We give the winds our fear ! . Response. I 161 THE ALL IN ALL. S. M. O God of nature — Love, To thee, to thee we call ; Each soul doth in thy being move, For thou art All-in-All. 154: SONGS OF THE MORNING. Thy conscious grace can cheer In dungeons tho' we dwell ; 'Tis paradise to know thee here ; To doubt thy presence, hell. The smilings of thy face How amiable they are ! — 'Tis heaven to rest in thine embrace, And no where else but there. With angels, Avorlds unknown, To thee we owe our bliss ; Thy mighty life can joy enthrone While tempests 'round us hiss. Thou sea unbounded — Love } — Where all our pleasures roll ; Thou circle where the passions move, And center of the soul, To thee our yearnings fly J With infinite desire ; ■ Tho' in the darkening mists we lie ■\ Thy light shall raise vis higher. 1 O/i^ Hymn in Responding Version. ^ \ 162 FRIENDSHIP'S TIE. S. M. Blest tie of life, that binds — Thou true fraternal love ! The fellowship of kindred minds Is like the feast above : In Nature's loving tone It pours united prayers ; — Life's prompting aims, its hopes are one ; They lighten all our cares. True friendship soothes our "woes;" It comforts everywhere RESPONSES. 155 While for each other's sorrow flows The sympathizing tear. Tho' when true friends must part It gives us inward pain, Yet often, in each yearning heart, In loves we meet again. AVhen from the borrowed " woe " Of dreaded " sin " we're free Our friendship shall unbroken flow. And all its blessings see. Old H. in Res. Ver. 163 THE FOUNT OF GRACE. S. M. Behold ! the fount of grace To every soul is near — Kind Nature, with her smiling face, To answer real prayer. For needs, ask when thou wilt ; Be confident and bold ; No labor-prayer is wasted, spilt ; — Supplies she'll not withhold. Thus Nature, in thy faith. Our wills shall blend with thine ; And we shall find that e'en in death Thy bounteous blessings shine. Response. 164 GRACE FIRST AND LAST. S. M. Grace ! 'tis a charming sound ! — The music of the spheres ; Heaven sends the echo all around. And earth, responding, cheers. 156 SONGS OF THE MORNING. Grace serves in Nature's way, Perfecting earth and man ; And all the steps of its display- Reveal the perfect plan. Grace makes the wandering feet, Evolving, find the road Where manhood's conscious sense shall meet Its real, loving God. Grace then shall fully crown Its work of youthful days — Heaven's dome complete — its topmost stone Upon our earth shall raise. pondi7ig Version. 165 SEEKING THE SPIRIT OF TRUE ^ PRAYER. S. M. ' Thy praying spirit breathe, O Nature ! power impart From creed-entanglements, beneath, To free each yearning heart. j i; Our waking faith sustain j Till dawning light, possessed, | Shall clearly show thy laws will gain '\ For all, their needed rest : ' That from their work shall come i The power to fully seize j The joys of earth and heavenly home — I Perfected life and peace. - • Then never shall we rove i Through blinding mists abroad ; But, freed by Nature's light and love, ; We'll dwell with nature's God. ' Old H. in Res. Ver. \ RESPONSES. 15T 166 HEAVENLY JOY ON EARTH. S. M. Who know our nature's Lord, Come, let your joys be known ; Join in a song, with sweet accord, To see your liearts his throne. Let those refuse to sing Who have not seen our God, But ye may make earth's rallies ring With joys proclaimed abroad. The earth for you now yields A thousand sacred sweets ; It opens here the heavenly fields, With heavenly blessings greets. Then let our songs abound. And every tear be dry ! — Our earth is all heaven's joyous ground, And joins the heavens on high ! Old H. in Res. Ver. 167 COME SING OUR EARTHLY HEAVEN S. M. Tutie — No Sorrow There. Come, sing our earthly heaven — The joys that here are nigh ! — This to the soul when cares oppress Gives conquering energy. Chorus — Our sorrows light appear, And ever end in cheer ; To manly faith with open eye Our sorrows light appear. Inspired, our souls will see That through all dreaded " woes " — 158 SONGS OF THE MORNTNG. Through pains and deaths of germic forms Our manhood forms arose. Cho. — Our sorrows, etc. Faith's music in the ears, In songs exulting given, Makes earth, with all her crowding cares. The vestibule of heaven. Cho. — Our sorrows, etc. Counterparting Response. 168 WE ARE NOT BORN TO DIE. S. M. We are not born to die ! Nor lay our bodies down Until our spirits need to fly And make the heavens their own : The form outworn is made A clog to life and thought ; We give it other forms to aid, By Nature ne'er forgot. Nor far from earth we go ;. But still most dear shall be The friends beloved ; their joy and woe We share in sympathy. Great Nature's trumpet sound Calls all of life to rise To higher plains, where, newly crowned, It scans the larger skies. In open light a doubt Can never pain the breast — The welcome friend we cast not out, For by it all are blest : While fear from us is driven, It aids our Saviour well — The Wisdom — which constructs a heaven. Transforming every hell. RESPONSES. loO O ye who dread the grave — Who fear the soul can "die," Or that the " creeds " alone can save From " final misery," When wise, your souls will know Life's angel leads us here — That death conducts from transcient woe To Nature's higher sphere. Response to Old H. 169 BLOW YE THE TRUMPET, BLOW. H. M. Tune — Lenox. Blow ye the trumpet, blow. With loud exulting sound ! — Let all the nations know To earth's remotest bound The dawn of jubilee has come ; Return ! ye wanderers, return ! Ye slaves of darkness-creeds And superstition-fright, Now, answering your needs, See ! Nature sends her light ! — The dawn of jubilee has come I Return to freedom's light, return ! Ye who from priestlings think To gain a heavenly day. See I from their creeds they shrink, ' Explaining them away : The dawn of jubilee has come ! Return to Nature's light, return ! The living gospel hear. Proclaiming Nature's grace ! Before you see appear You Mother-Saviour's face! The dawn of jubilee has come ! Return to Nature ! now, return ! " H. in Res. Vet: 160 SONGS OF THE MORNING. 170 RISE, MORNING SUN. H. M. Tune — Lenox. Rise, morning sun ! thy rise Shall banish manhood's night, Illume and warm our skies Till free from chilling blight! O chase these dismal mists away, And bring the bright millennial day ! Long, hiding nature true. Old error-fogs have lain. These, to our human view, Distorted all the plain. And aspirations led astray Till checked by passion's impulse-play. Thy fullest rays send down Each darkened land to greet. Till every despot's crown Is 'neath its victims' feet : Till kings and priests, beneath thy sway, Shall nature's law and God obey. Then on our earth, complete. Heaven's kingdom shall appear ; Then each shall fellows greet With true fraternal cheer, And fully Nature's grace display, And worship God in Nature's way. Response, 171 ARISE, MY SOUL, ARISE. H. M. Time — Lenox. Arise, my soul, arise From superstition-fear ! — Thy true, divine supplies In Nature's life appear; RESPONSES. 161 i Upon her laws thy surety stands, And these are placed within thy hands. ; They ever work in love j For human nature's need — ^ In earth and heaven above, j All men and angels feed : \ They serve abundantly our race, \ And all that lives, within their place. Then let our nature's prayers In Nature's channels flow, ' And bear away all cares, ' And folly-dreams of "woe;" i And know that "sins" — mistakes, supply ; Life-light to save, that none may die. Thy God within thee reigns ; . Thou art his cherished child : -. His loving care retains • Control of passions wild; — i Behold, with an unclouded eye. Thy nature's God gives full supply ! OM Hym7i in Responding Version. 172 THE ALL-PERFECTING NAME. H. M. Tune — Lenox. O that all earth could see. And, with the angels joined, From superstition free, The real Saviour find ! — Could break from creeds which hide her face, And rest in Mother Nature's grace ! O Mother! thovi art found The joy of highest heaven ! In thee doth love abound. Which to each soul is given ; 163 SONGS OK THE MORNING. Who know thy love salvation have! To understand is to believe ! Thy all-perfecting name Charms all the hosts above ; They see thy gracious aim Successful ever prove ; Tho' transient pains must teach the road, Through hells, unto the heaven abode. Thy name the darkened hears, Half tuned to harmony, While ringing in his ears Is discord's "litany." E'en then in higher powers' employ He finds uncomprehenSed joy. Response. 173 NATURE'S ABUNDANT GRACE. P.M. O Nature ! thy grace, fram the infinite fountain. Flows over our race, overflows every mountain ; Each earthy obstruction, the seeming pollution. It washes away in desolving dilution. Hallelujah ! the stream is abundant forever! Heaven's rays in it beam, and it serves each endeavor. Ler praise to its power most freely be given ; For praise to its power is the anthem of heaven : Around the whole earth let us tell the glad story, Till each human soul shall exult in its glory. Hallelujah ' the stream is abundant forever ! Heaven's rays in it beam, and it serves each endeavor O life-stream flow on ! thy working is glorious' Whate'er acting on thou art ever victorious! At last thy full flow, to each clime, land and nation, Shall fully bestow perfect manliood-salvation : Hallelujah! the stream is abundant forever! Heaven's rays in it beam, and it serves each endeavoi. RESPONSES. 163 When in manhood we stand — all our race on that shore, We'll strike vigorous hands in its serf evermore, Then range the bright fields on the banks of the river, And sing hallelujah forever and ever. Hallelujah ! the stream is abundant forever ! Heaven's rays in it beam, and it serves each endeavor. Old H in Res. Ver. 174 LIFE TRIUMPHANT P. M. Let your glad voices ascend to the sky ! For Nature is life, and her sons ne'er can die ! Dark are the fancies and fears that have bound us, And lurid the hues they have cast on the grave ; But darkness now scatters, the light breaks around us, And shows Nature's power fully able to save : Lift all your voices in triumph on high ! Sing " Nature is life, and her sons shall not die.' Nature and God join our anthems of joy ; Their life is our own, and death does not destroy : Sad seems the hour wlijen we, parting in sorrow, Leave crumbling, dissolving, the form of a friend, But Day- Beams, before us, reveal a to-morrow. When every fond life shall, unfolding, ascend. Lift, then, your voices in triumph on high, For Nature prevails and no life e'er can die. Well may we join with the angels to-day, Since light, dawning on us, has opened the way. Light, as it chases the gloom from before us, Reveals them our kindred — the friends we have mourned. On love-wings celestial now hovering o'er us ; In ripe love and wisdom completely adorned. Join, then, the concert of triumph on high ! For theirs is our triumph ! we never shall die ! Responding Version. 164 SONGS OF THE MORNING. 175 THE SOUL'S JOY IMMORTAL L. P. M. Tune — Greetijield. I'll joy in Nature while I've breath; Assured her power, supreme in "death," Immortal makes my living powers : My days of joy shall ne'er be past, But, rising through all storms at last, My soul with nature's God endures. How blest the man whose open eye Beholds his God, in earth and sky. Dispensing kindness e'en in pain ; He works in manly faith, secure. He rights the wrongs which make us poor, And triumphs o'er the oppressors' train. Her light pours eyesight on the blind — The creed-bedarkened, drooping mind, And gives his morbid conscience peace : It brings full rescue from distress To all whom darkened powers oppress. And gives the prisoners sweet release. I'll joyous work with earthly breath. Nor cease when that is lost in "death," But then my freer, nobler powers, With all obstructions from them cast, Shall freely work in fields more vast While nature's life, our God, endures. Responding Version. 176 I WOULD NOT LIVE ALWAY. 11. I would not live alway ; I ask not to stay Where mists of old errors can darken our way ; The gleams of true soul-light that dawn on us here Invite us all onward to life's higher sphere. RESPONSES. 165 I would not live ahvay, 'mid frettings of "sin " — Where conscience must war Avith the soul-life within ; Where the vague sense of "pardon " scarce quiets our fears, And leaves our thanksgivings embittered with tears. I would not live alway, no welcome the tomb : My flesh worn, and weary, shall find there no gloom ; Each atom, at Nature's new call, shall arise, To build up new forms for the earth and the skies Ah, who would live alway, when Nature and God Thus beckon the soul to its blissful abode. Where the rivers of pleasure flow o'er the bright plains, And love in its joyous maturity reigns : Where brethren, creed-parted, at last all shall meet, Transported with joy all their kindred to greet, And the anthems of rapture exultingly roll, While hope's full fruition encircles the soul. Responding Version. 177 NATURE'S ASSURANCE. 11. I once was a stranger to morn's dawning rays; A feeling of danger held downward my gaze ; Friends bade me look up to the heavens and see. The heavens seemed frowning with darkness on me. I saw, deeply grieving, " God'.s grace could supply But favorites, leaving all others to die." His law " tortured those it neglected to free ;" And, "cursing my fellows, was threatening me." Vague terror was spreading a pall o'er my hours, Whose darkness was shedding a blight on my powers ; 166 SONGS OF THE MORNINUJ. I wished from my conscious existence to flee, But thinning mists broke and the light fell on me. A mountain all glowing with clear open light, Before me was throwing its rays on my sight ; I scaled it ; each leaf of each beckoning tree Revealed nature's God kindly smiling on me. In life's highland regions, I saw that divine Is life ; all its legions ; this portion of mine : That "death" is ascending of spirits set free; And this at the last my own "death-song" shall be. Response. 178 HOW SHALL WE ENLIGHTEN THE DARKENED. 11. O what shall we do that may carry the grace Of morn's dawning rays to our long-darkened race. Till each fellow-soul it completely redeems From all superstition which hides the day-beams. How joyous the soul whom the light has set free ! He sees, loving Nature ! his union with thee ; He walks in the glow of his God's loving face ; And finds his his own nature a fountain of grace. Heaven's laws he can boast, for their glory and power Impel his life-forces ; control every hour ; In soul-elevation he raises his head. And greets the salvation from darkness and dread. Man's wisdom is lord of whate'er gives offense ; The breath of its word casts obstructions from hence : It proves a true saviour, Avell able to do Each soul the great favor of making anew : Evolving, we see that it mounts to its throne ; And manhood made free and its powers being known, RESPONSES. 167 All shadows of sadness its joy soon relieves ; Imparting a gladness that sorrow retrieves. Responding Version. 179 CALL ALL TO SEE THE LIGHT. 11. Ye children of light, now the morning proclaim ; Call all to the sight, till they joy in its name ; With opening eyes, as the mists from them roll. The morn they will prize, and its glories extol. Wide-spread o'er the sky, see its glories now wave ! The breaking mists fly, and in sunlight we lave ; Awaking "creation," beginning to sing, Joys in the salvation the morning doth bring. Man sees that his God ever honors each son ; That, kin to the clod, he is sharing the " throne ;" And, while well unfolding his angelhood germ. Is proudly beholding, he links with the worm. In our opening day we can worship aright The wisdom-display of the infinite might ; Can see that its blessings all-conquering prove. And know that unceasing is infinite love. Old H. in Res. Ver. 180 THE GOD WE WORSHIP. 11. Our God is no " king," but all-glorious Love ; We worship his life-work below and above ; — In labor-devotion we joyfully praise The soul of all being, the light of our days. Resistless the might of the indwelling grace Supplied by that fount to the infinite space ; — A jet of that fountain is every form. Where grace, well evolving, outrides every storm 168 SONGS OF THE MORNING. In law's perfect care, ever seeking the light, Unfolding, each nature maintains its own right : Our follies all teach, and our blunders make plain Our pathway through hells, till our heaven we obtain. Response. 181 BEGONE, UNBELIEF. 11. Tune — Christ in the Vessel. Begone, unbelief ! for the morning is here — Great Nature's relief from the bondage of fear ; — Old dogmas may wrestle, but light will inform ; Our tempest-tost vessel will master the storm. Tho' clouds vail the day, yet her wisdom shall guide ; Our natures obey all the laws that provide ; — Tho' hopes may seem broken and fancies all fail, Great Nature hath spoken, her word will prevail. The creed-power is past e'er forbidding to think ; Mists breaking at last, trouble never can sink ; The soul's "Ebenezer" will doctrines review. Learn Nature's good pleasure and help us all through. True faith, thus, wull save, for its light on our path Will free every slave to old fancies of *' wrath ;" — At last 'twill have taught us ; and faith in the name Of Nature, who wrought us, will lift us from shame. No more we complain of the childish distress — " Temptations " and pain, from " the creeds " grow- ing less ; The 7-eal salvation, through Nature's true word, Sweeps off tribulation, revealing her Lord. Now all that we meet we find works for our good, The bitter makes sweet and well fitted for food ; RESPONSES. 169 Birth, painful at present, will triumph erelong ; And then, O how pleasant faith's conquering song. Responding Version. 182 FAITH'S FOUNDATION. 11. How firm a foundation doth Nature afford For faith ; in her laws, in her workings, her word ; What more could her love unto us have made known Than that in each soul she hath centered her throne ? In every condition and stage of our life ; In infancy's heedless and impulsive strife ; In youth's blundering reasoning and passion's control, Her power on toward ripeness still carries the soul. Fear not when " temptations " shall o'er thee pre- vail ! For lessons of wisdom thy follies unvail ; And the seeming " demon " that " leads thee astray," Is heaven's kind angel revealing thy way. When vainly resisting, compelled, thou shalt go Into seeming gulfs of " sin," darkness, and " woe," The " waters so dreadful and deep," thou wilt prove Mere fogs, which distorted perception and love. E'en then, toward the light of thy nature's true dav Thy passion-vitality forces the Avay. And life's cleansing stream every blight shall efface. And nourish the soul with developing-grace. And thy fiery trials shall only refine The gold of thy nature — the virtue divine ; Tho' painful the while are the flames' Avasting- power, They only the drosses of manhood devour. 170 SONGS OF THE MORNING. And when, in old age, nature's workings shall prove Its ripened maturity's fullness of love, Then life's flowing stream will be checked never- more By pebble-obstructions that lie on the shore. The soul that on Nature has learned to repose Will not find her forces to him proving foes ; That soul ne'er for dogmas its faith can forsake ; Its perfect foundation they never can shake. Responditig Version. 183 TRUE FAITH SERENE AMID CON- FUSIONS. 11. Mid scenes of confusion and folly's complaints, The soul knowing Nature ne'er trembles nor faints ; He finds at her banquet of love there is room ; He knows that with her he is ever at home. When passion's wild billows around him doth rage, And loves turned to hatreds, in warfare engage. He knows these, exhausted by folly's wild roam, Reacting, will seek for their nature's true home. His soul, no more chilled with dark fancies, of "sin" Knows heaven through these blunders at length he shall win ; And that to his aid all his fellows will come. While here he is building a heavenly home. His faith on her laws, now, well grounded and sure, He works, through her aid, every joy to secure ; And tho' sorrow-waves may dash o'er him their foam. He still gains a foretaste of heaven — his home. Responding Version. RESPONSES. ITl 184 COMFORT DIVINE. 10, 11. comfort divine, to know I am thine, Kind Nature, to see thine own life serving mine! 1 jov in thy name, thy grace freely claim, And find its abundance is ever the same. True pleasures abound ; in rapture profound I see their profusion as light opens round. In morning's full glow Ave fully shall know That heaven is with us, unfolding below. O joyous foretaste of the heavenly feast ! Faith yearns for its fullness, and toward it would haste : Its flavor 1 prove, and thus onward I move To the soul-filling banquet of heavenly love. Response. 185 "CREEDS" NO MORE NEEDED. 10, 11. O preach me no more the dark "creeds" of yore ; The time for such fancies with me now is o'er; The light flowing round illumines the ground, And truth undistorted I freely have found. The souls that receive find light will relieve From fears in which all darkened natures must live. My soul, cast away whate'er would delay. Rise ! scale now the mountains and meet the glad day ! No dark one can know what light can bestow — What joy, strength, and comfort within it doth flow ; — Here fully I prove the heaven above United to earth in the fullness of love : 172 SONGS OK THK MORNIXG. Love's labor doth win old "death," "hell," and " sin ;" Transforming-, they help build a heaven within : With rapture I cry : I rise ! never die ! I live in the infinite love, ever nigh ! In daybeams I find that ever are joined Our God and his children, no soul left behind : To all of our race flows freeh' his grace, And all in great Nature may see our Lord's face. His laws' perfect care all kindred do share ; Their blessings find those who to ask never dare. See ! each open eye, see clustering nigh His graces divine in a fullness-supply. Responding Version. 186 FAREWELL TO A FRIEND DE- PARTED. Time — Scotia nd. Thou art gone to the grave, but we do not deplore thee ; No sorrows nor darkness encompass the tomb ; Kind Nature hath shed through its portals, before thee, The light of her truth, which dispels all the gloom. Thou art gone to the grave, we no longer behold thee. Nor tread the rough paths of the world by thy side, But the bright fields of angel life, spreading, in- fold thee, And Ave shall soon pass through the door opening wide. Thou art not in the grave, and its mansion for- saking. RESPONSES. 173 Perchance thy weak spirit in doubt lingered long, But the sunshine of heaven beamed bright on thy waking, And the sound thou didst hear was a welcoming song. Thou art risen from the grave, and the light flow- ing o'er thee, Earth's fogs all dispersing, will prove a sure guide, And from earthly blunders and sorrows restore thee, — Old " death " hath no sting 1 for nought living e'er died ! Responditjg Version. 187 WELCOME TO A NEW-BORN CHILD. Tu tie — Scotia fid. Thou art born to our life, and, while fond ones caress thee. Earth's shadowing sorrov^-s disturb thy repose ; Yet, in first endeavors 'gainst "ills" that distress thee. Young faith labors ably for room mid its woes. Thou art born to our life, earnest strife is before thee — Great toil if thine efforts secure thee a field Where, free from the blight superstition sheds o'er thee, A full human ripeness thy earth-life may yield. Thou art born to our life ; in the terrible raking Of passion's wild conflicts, perchance thou may'st long Find faith's weakened eye its great pole-star mis- taking. Till life's truest conquests seem triumphs of '' wronsr." 174 SONGS OF THE MORNING. Yet this is no life of mere purposeless sorrow — The tempests develop the powers they employ : The storm-day will pass, and a glorious morrow Shall ripen, and give perfect fullness of joy. Counterpart of " Farewell to a Friend Departed" 18• Of those who would "his lambs" devour — We'll superstition's gloom displace. And shed heaven's light upon our race. ] With pious wrath they all reply, i ^^ Shall we forget our God and die r ^ I said we best shall God obey As Jesus wrought and led the way — " RESPONSES. 177 In saving man from present woes; That man's oppressors were his foes. " Ye Infidel /" the crowds reply, '■^ Put man before our God, and die ! " Disheartened now, I turned away; And then I saw a few array, With Jesus, in the armor, bright, Of love fraternal, for the right ; And faith and hope to doubts reply : " We'll save our race ! It shall not die ! " Response to a " Revival Hymn." 191 TYRANNY IS FALLING. Tune — Old Hymn — '■'■Babylon is Fallen." Hail the day so long expected — Dawning day of full release — When, from lawless " laws " protected. Human nature gains its peace ! — Sounding through all lands and nations, Freedom's judgment-trumpets roar: Tyranny is falling I falling ! falling ! Tyanny is falling to rise no more ! Hail, ye long-desponding toilers. Now uprising, in your might. To o'erthrow the world's despoilers And enthrone eternal right ! — Ye shall gain your own true stations, Conquering all that stands before: Tyranny is falling ! falling! falling! Tyranny is falling to rise no more! Hail, ye dauntless champions, facing Scorn, and all reproach, to free From a slavery "disgracing" For a true humanity ! — Persecution skulks behind you ; Honors beckon just before : 178 SONGS OF THE MORNING. Tyranny is falling ! falling! falling! Tyranny is falling to rise no more ! Pharisaic "moral-magnates" Smite each other's cherished fame ; All their vaunted "virtue" stagnates, And their "honors" turn to shame : Shrinking from the light increasing, "Saintly robes" protect no more: Tyranny is falling ! falling ! falling ! Tyranny is falling to rise no more ! Freedom's friends their feelings hiding, Seeking popular renown, Find pretense, their champions chiding. But secures the public frown — Zeal in slurring freedom's leaders Favor lost doth not restore : Tyranny is falling ! falling ! falling ! Tyranny is falling to rise no more ! Despots ask, in haughty madness, "What is this that comes to pass?" Then, in deepening tones of sadnes, Murmer, " Oh ! alas ! alas ! " Hear them cry, in deep vexation, " All our days of power are o'er — Tyranny is falling ! falling ! falling ! Tyranny is falling to rise no more ! " See ! the rays of truth are fiering Wrongs usurping virtue's name ; Let the people, never tiring, Clap their hands and blow the flame ! — Now begins a new creation — The old systems's day is o'er — Tyranny is falling ! falling ! falling ! Tyranny is falling to rise no more ! Responding Version. RESPONSES. 179 i 192 THE GLORY OF NATURE AND OF ' MAN. 8. 7. l Now, through every land and nation, J Comes the glimmering dawning rays \ Of the day of new "creation ;" i Manhood's day of labor-praise. ] While the dawning deepens, nature • j Opens to the wondering thought, As divine unfolding-power i Into forms of beauty wrought. '; Thus the providence, that governs i Through the infinite domain, •< Dwells in angels, in the sparrow, ; In each living thing doth reign. i There from falls it works redemptions — Bears unfolding life along < Till it, ripening, gives expression ; To the grandest seraph-song. 1 Then it sees the Father's glory j In evolving earth and sky ; Sees that this and Mother's beauty Are forever — never die. ■ Well may angels, all around us, To the dawn devote their lays ; ' None beholding e'er, ungrateful, '; Can withhold responding praise. j Once beheld, the opening glory ; Sends its beams through every '• woe," '•■ And reveals to every captive, Soul-releasing power in flow : "; For an all-sufficient saviour ; Morning shows, whose highest throne ' Is the human heart, forever \ True to laws which are its own. ' Response. j 180 SONGS OF THE MORNING. 193 NATURE'S TRIUMPHANT LEAD. 8. 1. Everywhere kind Nature leads us; What have we to ask beside ? All around, and here within us, Nature's laws our footsteps guide. What tho', in our childish efforts, Pain from stumbles oft proceeds? Thus her law-within is gaining Light for equilibrium-needs. Everywhere kind Nature leads us — Well embodied here in man Are her laws, in germ-unfolding ; Here the God that shapes the plan : 'Sins" — our crude mistakes — are serving As the monitors, to teach, Till, in manliness completed, Wisdom's balance we shall reach. Everywhere kind Nature leads us On toward life of manly joy : Tho' disturbing life-conditions Present pleasures may alloy. Nature's vital force, within us, Struggles till the "woe" has passed, And, triumphant, will secure us Harmony — a heaven — at last. Resp07ise. 194 ONWARD, UPWARD, NATURE'S FREEMEN. 8. 7. Onward ! Upward ! Nature's freemen ; — Never more, in meekness, herd Where old dogma-mists can blind you. Hiding Nature's written word ! In the deepening light of morning Nature's God and Law appear. RESPONSES. 181 i J Clearly seen, their smiling features ■ Banish superstition-fear. i Onward ! scale life's mountain regions, ■ Where the fogs all disappear. ' Onward ! Upward ! still reflecting Liglit upon the vales below ; Aiding all advancing fellows To repulse the threatening foe ; In the opening light, surveying Error's forces 'neath your feet, And their weakness well perceiving, Fearless ye their shafts can meet ; Ye will see their breaking forces, Panic-stricken, soon retreat. Onward ! till our race is rescued " From old superstition's power; Till its darkened, greedy minions Timid souls no more devour: When ye boldly push the conflict And pursue them to the light, Error's armies must surrender To your truth-supported might ; And, v/ith you their forces joining. Serve the cause of truth and right. Response. 195 CALL THEM IN, WHOE'ER IS NEEDY, 8. 7. Call them in, whoe'er is needy, To the bounty freely spread By our loving Mother Nature; Fully here may all be fed ; Call them in, the dogma-darkened, Tortured by the sense of "sin ;" Now the opening light of morning They are craving ; — call them in. IS'Z SONGS OF THE MORNING. Call them in, the Jew and Gentile, All, the greatest and the least. Bid their hungry, famished spirits Come to Nature's gospel feast ; Superstition's victims, groping With their soul-supplies unseen, To the all-suffient banquet Freely bid them ; — call them in. Call them in, the "saints," "professors," Starving on their "pious" pride, While our God and Nature's worship — Soul religion — they deride ; Call them with the poor and wretched, Plundered by their "pious" "sin ;" They will make full restitution When enlightened ; — call them in. Call them in, the drooping-hearted, Cowering 'neath the brand of " shame," Which, for love's divinest worship, Creedlings put on lovers' name ; Let all victims of oppression. In the opening light, begin All their wants to fully honor; — All the needy, call them in. Response. 196 LET US BASK WITHIN THE SUN- BEAMS. 8. 7, Let us bask within the sunbeams Of our nature's opening day. Grasp the countless proffered blessings Which the morning gleams display : With the light thus flowing o'er us. We may gather roses sweet While the thorns may never wound us, Never pierce the wandering feet. RESPONSES. 183 All our world abounds with treasures, Freely offered for our use ; All her many dreaded "evils" Come from blunders and abuse: Through the darkness of the ages Of old superstition's night, Her best joys were rarely gathered ; Oft, abused, were made to blight. Human energies thus working, Hindered, struggling, turned to greed ; Love fraternal, hurt by blunders, Soured, and caused the race to bleed ; Greed enslaved to gather treasures ; Loves the passions fierce became When the blinded morals, groping, Sought to curb by curse and blame. But within the flowing sunbeams Of our science-lighted day We may pluck the blooming roses While thorns we turn away. Let us bask within the glories Of our nature's morning light ; Turn to blessings all the "evils" Of old superstition's night. Coiinterparting Response. 197 OUR SECURITY. Glorious things by thee are spoken. Nature, consort of our God ! And thy word can ne'er be broken ; Here Ave have a safe abode : On the rock eternal founded. We have found secure repose ; With thy law of life surrounded There can be no conquering foes. 184 SONGS OF THE MORNING. Ever streams of living waters, ; Springing from eternal love, '^ Well supply thy sons and daughters ; ■J Full, abundant, ever prove. -j Who can faint when such a river Freely all his thirsts assuage? I Grace from nature's God, the giver, ' Never fails from age to age. ■! Round each habitation hovering, God and Nature's laws appear, Nerving human powers, and covering When a danger passes near. Reason's light upon our banner Is defense by night and day ; Works for us in perfect manner; ] Teaches how to truly pray. ,i Responding J^ersion. ' 198 LOVE DIVINE. 8. 1. Love Divine, all love impelling, Joy of heaven, its life's renown, Evermore, within us dwelling, All our lives with wisdom crown : Father, Mother, Vital Spirit, Love's unbounded life thou art ! Let us more thy love inherit ; Fill to fullness every heart. Let thy light, so well beginning From the mists to set us free. Fully save from fear of " sinning" In our strife for liberty : Let it show that only blessings Thy severest judgments prove ; That but kindly love-caressings Are thy powers, below, above. Let, oh, let life's richest treasure Overflow from every breast, RESPONSES. 185 Filling earth with heavenly pleasure, Giving souls divinest rest : Come, almighty to deliver ' Strife and darkness then will flee, And the earth, matured, shall ever Yield the fruits of harmony. Then, in ever-new creation. Life shall flow in labor-prayer, And our souls, complete salvation Find in thine abundant care : Then in real, crowing glory Man shall stand ; and earth shall blaze, While it joins with heaven, before thee, In all nature's concert-praise. Responding Version. 199 NATURE, FOUNT OF EVERY BLESS- ING. 8, 7. Nature, fount of every blessing, Tune my heart to sing thy grace ; Streams of bounties, free, unceasing, Call for songs of earnest praise : Teach me some melodious sonnet, That my soul may rise above Every care that weighs upon it ; Joyous in thy perfect love. Then I'll raise my Ebenezer ; Hither by thy help I'm come ; Knowing that each needed treasure Nature strews around my home. Nature found me when a ranger. Plunged in superstition's flood ; Then she rescued me from danger ; On her firm foundation stood. To her Morning light a debtor Ever I'm constrained to be! 18G SONGS OF THE MORNING. May it soon break every fetter, And from superstition free : Prone to wander, oft, I feel it. Prone to leave the lig^ht I love ; Fully to my soul reveal it ; Then triumphant it will prove. Responding Version. 200 MORNING GOSPEL. 8, 7. 6 1. Now the truth-exploring spirit Sees, responding to its need, Grace divine, which all inherit ; Fully able all to feed ■ This is gospel, Morning gospel. Hungry souls supply your need ! O that all were now possessing All the fullness Nature gives ! — Knew that this, her perfect blessing, Every open hand receives ' Then would never life-endeavor Lack the fullness that she gives. Response. 201 PARTING FROM A SOCIAL CIRCLE. 8, 7 6 1 As we part, let Nature's blessing Give us perfect joy and peace, Knowing that we are posessing All her loving law of grace. This refreshes, well refreshes, For our lives' unfinished race. Grasp her work with adoration For her gosjjel truth profound. RESPONSES 18' That the laws of our salvation In our nature's lives abound ; And be faithful, ever faithful To the truth we here have found. Thus our lives, to labor given, In our mother Nature's way. May create on earth a heaven, Where no sorrow dims the day. Let us ever well endeavor Truth to give its perfect sway. Responding Version. 202 NATURE'S WORD OF PROMISE. All my darkening doubts have vanished ! Nature's voice mine ears have heard ; There I read life's loving promise — There our Mother's sacred word. Chorus. — Thus I'm trusting, fully trusting In the promise I have heard ; In the all-perfecting power Which our Mother's laws afford. All my dread of "sin" has vanished! In the light mine eyes perceive " Sin " is but the blundering vigor Which, when wise, will all retrieve, Cho. — Thus I'm trusting, etc. All my chilling fears have vanished ! For I know that Nature's power — All her laws — protecting forces. Work within me every hour. Cho. — Thus I'm trusting, etc. Joy prevails, the sorrows vanish, And their dwindling shadows fade ; 188 SONGS OF THE MORNING, For the God within is master, Giving every needful aid. Cho. — Thus I'm trusting, etc. All I am, with darkness vanished. Joins with the creative soul ; Nature's laws and forming spirit Will eternally control. Cho. — Thus I'm trusting, etc. Response. 203 LOOK, O BROTHERS! 8,7,4. Look, O brothers ' Morning greets you ! Lovingly her daybeams fall ! Free, abounding, and unceasing, " Open wide your eyes ' " they call : Look, O brothers ! Then will dwindling creeds grow small. Haste, O brothers, toward the regions Of the clearer opening day ! When its beaming grace flows o'er you Morbid fears will pass away : Haste, tho* stumbling, You must stumble while you stay. Response. 204 MORNING GOSPEL'S MESSAGE. 8, 7, 4. Tunc — Greenville, or Nettleton. Anxious souls, now hear the message Morning brings of light and love ; Every sentence offers blessings ; E'en its threatenings teem with love : Listen to it ! E'en its thrcateninjrs teem with love: RESPONSES. 189 Long you've hungered for a gospel — News of gladness to the soul ; Now it comes in Morning's teachings, Scattering mists which round us roll. O how cheering To the long-desponding soul. Hear it, "Ail your 'sins' are saviours;" Fearful hearts now quell your fears : "Tempted" souls, they bring you succor — Pains are monitors, to cheer. Kindly aiding To instruct and give you cheer. "The long -dreaded 'demon' — 'evil,* Is an angel, ever true, Which our God makes sole conductor — Blunders teach and help yovi through ; — Hells are transient ; Blunders teach and help you through. "Not a 'miracle of mercy,' Contravening Nature's laws, But your nature s life evolving. Wisdom cures your folly-flaws;" Hear the gospel — " Wisdom cures your folly-flaws." Responding Version. 205 IT IS FINISHED. 8, 7, 4. Tune — Greenville, or Nettleton. It is finished — night is closing — Superstition-shades withdraw ; Frightful dreams of "God avenging," — "Death" and "hell," no more shall awe It is finished ! All from this may comfort draw. 190 SONGS OF THE MORNING. Tune your harps ye sons of Morning! Tune them for the joyous theme Of a God through nature ruling, Now beheld, in Morning's gleam, Shedding blessings In an all-suppylying stream. Response. 206 MORNING GOSPEL'S CALL. 8, V, 4. Tune — Greenville, or Nettle ton. Come ye superstition-victims, With desponding struggles sore, Morning light is flowing round you, Full of soul-illuming power: Fully able, Fully willing ; doubt no more. Every needy soul is welcome To the flowing light-supplies ; • See ! how easy the condition — -; Only open wide your eyes : , Then enlightened, j Free, "redeemed," your souls shall rise. "1 Let not conscience make you linger ; With its morbid fitness-dream, Morning gospel but requireth i Want receptive to its beam : ] This, within you, \ Works as aspiration's gleam. • Come ye weary dogma-laden. Dreaming of a hopeless fall, Nature's Morning Gospel, better, Offers freely joy to all, Through its righteous 1 Law of light's resistless call 't RESPONSES. 191 Agonizing for a "pardon " While your darkened spirits lie, Nature's God his light is sending In unfailing joy-supply. This will finish Fear, and show you heaven is nigh. God within you is ascending — Aspiration moves your blood ; Venture on him ! venture wholly ! Let no groundless fear intrude : This, your Saviour, Will secure all needed good. Men and angels, now in concert, Join to praise the loving name Of our nature's God, whose justice To his child imputes no blame : Look ! ye fearful ; Look ! and ye may join the same. Responding Version, Note — Omitting the last two lines of each stanza^ we may sing with the above this chorus; Tune — '■'■Turn to the Lord.'' Turn to the light and find salvation From the fears that rack and pain ! Here is full, complete salvation : Peace and joy within it reign. Response. 207 WORSHIP IN THE MORNING LIGHT. 7. Nature's God, we see thee now ! — We no more with trembling bow, For we know our fears were vain ; That no suit thou wilt disdain. 192 SONGS OF THE MORNING. Nature's God, we know thee friend ; Know thy blessings never end ; And thy ever-flowing grace Tunes our lips to sing thy praise. In thine own true, working way We would ever truly pray ; Thus we see, where'er we go, Thou thy blessings wilt bestow. Every view thy works afford Gives some message of thy word ; Aids thy lessons to impart, And with love to warm the heart. When in superstition-mist, Still thy life did us assist — Every impulse did impel 'Gainst life-hamperings to rebel. Freed at last, we know thee now, And no more with trembling bow, For we know our fears were vain ; That no suit tliou wilt disdain. 1 Responditig Version. 208 GROUNDS FOR PERSEVERANCE Now, in Morning light, we sing Liberty that knows no king ; Nature's children, we can praise All her glorious works and ways. We have found our nature's God Where our fathers stumbling trod; They in mists were struggling, we Through the thinning vapors see. Thus our souls, no more afraid. Find no foes our oath invade — RESPONSES. 193 "Demons" of the mists become Brothers of our nature's home. Fearless then we forward go, For we find, above, below, Nature's laws will leader be, And we follow joyfully. Response. 209 NATURE OUTWORKS RIGHTEOUS NESS. 7. Morning comes? the waking soul Finds the mists before him roll ; Sees that God and Nature's grace Works in all for righteousness : Learns there is no "inbred sin ;" Hears their laws command, "Be clean ; " Sees befoulments all remove. Cleansed by the unfolding love ; Sees her laws, as God desires, Yield whatever man requires; That to his own hands they've given Power to build himself a heaven. Response 210 COME, MY SOUL, TO PRAYER. 7. Come, my soul, thy suit prepare, Nature always answers prayer, Real prayer — the earnest play Of our powers in nature's way. Nature, more than priest or king, Full supplies to all can bring; And, her flowing grace is such, None can ask, aright, too much. 194 SONGS OF THE MORNING. Then, O Nature, I begin : Freedom ask from sense of " sin ;" Power to see our nature's right Thus to blunder on to light. On thy loving laws I call, Knowing they suffice for all, And, within their free control, "Serve the body and the soul. Oh, within the dawning day, Teach me how to truly pray Labor-prayer, which well supplies Blessings free from earth and skies ! Then each spring of life shall send Prayerand praise, whose streams shall blend; Wisdom's labor all shall be, Which co-operates with thee. Responding Version, 211 ROCK OF AGES. T. i Rock of ages — Law Divine — Nature's Law, thy strength is mine ! Firmly now I stand on thee ; From the dogma-quicksands free. While old superstition raves, Dashing round her fiercest tvaves. Here, within the dawning day. Blinding mists all melt away ; Superstition-fears give place To the faith in Nature's grace ; "Sins" I see mistakes alone. For which Nature's laws atone. Nothing more of strength I need. E'en tho' envy, mammon, greed, RESPONSES. 195 Despot forces all combine, Thinking thee to undermine ; Firm, undaunted, I remain, Knowing all their strength is vain. On, at duty's every call, I Avill move, and fear no fall, And, tho' yielding up my breath, Triumph o'er illusive "death;" Rock of ages — Law Divine — Nature's Law, thy strength is mine ! Responding Version. 212 MORNING WARMS OLD DOGMA'S CHAMPIONS. T. 6 1. Dogma's champions, you relent ! — Mists dissolve in daybeams' flood. And the " holy zeal " is rent Which would shed the "doubters" blood: What has love fraternal done ? O'er your creeds a victory won ! Now your brother-hand would feed Those who slight your God and " praver ; " Persecution, to succeed. Plays deception everywhere ; And the despot-skill supplies Victims few for sacrifice. Your old "morals" die ! in vain Would your souls revere their Avord ; The old "duties" give you pain ; Human love has these ignored ; Thought, befogged, scarce plays its part, But a daybeam finds your heart. Give it room ! oh, give it play ! It Avill Avarm your present hours. 196 SONGS OF THE MORNING. And, for fuller opening day, Strengthen all your manhood powers ! Then, from false ideals free, God in darkest souls you'll see. Response. 213 BROTHERS, TURN! 7. Brothers, turn ; why will ye try From the light to- hide the eye? Brother, light is seeking thee — Seeking all from fogs to free — To release from morbid fears, Superstition's woes and tears ; Why, ye blinded brothers, why Will ye to avoid it try ? Brothers, turn ; why will ye try ? Nature's God is asking why ; He within your souls desires New supplies to vital fires ; — All the manhood-nature craves Light, which from soul-dwarfing saA^es; Why, ye needy brothers, why Will ye to avoid it try? Turn ! oh, turn ! why will ye try ? All your wants are asking why ; All your sorrows, all your fears. All your hopes of manly years ; — Reason's morning light, in flow. Nature's God would make you know ; Why, ye darkened brothers, why Will ye to avoid it try? Response. 214 NATURE, MOTHER OF MY SOUL. Nature, Mother of my soul, Let me on thy bosom lie RESPONSES 197 When the surging Waters roll, While life's tempest rages high : Guide me, glorious Mother, guide When the storms are sweeping past; Then from duty ne'er I'll hide, But the helm control at last. Other reffuge have I none ; I no other need but thee ; Let, oh let thy life enthrone Manly energy in me ! All the help my nature needs To my aid thy working brings, Till my growing soul succeeds In developing its wings. Plenteous help in thee is found To illumine all within. Showing truth and love abound, Freeing from the dream of "sin." Shed, oh shed it over all. Till they know their natures pure, And old superstition's thrall Shall no more on earth endure ! Responding Version. 215 LITAXV CHANGED TO LIGHT. 7. Nature, when on bended knee We were bowing, scorning thee. When, "repentant," to the skies Manhood lifted streaming eyes ; For his life's divinest flow Fearing an "avenging foe," Nature's life thy soul-supply Changed to light our litany. By thy law, which, through all years, Joy evolves from griefs and fears, 198 SONGS OF THK .\I(JK.\1N(;. Making every brief distress Help from folly's wilderness ; Making dreaded "tempter's" power Give us victory every hour, Till our souls are lifted high From old dogmas' litany : By the conflicts with despair Of our souls' unconscious prayer While our blindness Ijeld, in scorn, Manhood's life "depraved," "forlorn," By the crosses, thorns, and cries Of the manhood-sacrifice. Mists are driven from the eye — Superstition's litany. Every suffering creature's groan Human nature makes its own ; Love fraternal strikes to save ; It will free each struggling slave ; Thus our nature's loving Lord Ever will his aid afford — Give our need's unconscious cry Light instead of litany. Response. 216 LOVE'S DIVINE LIFE PREVAILS. 7. In our Morning's dawning light Prison walls we mount above. For the senses opening sight Sees divine the life of love : Powers of darkness, crying "stay," Hydra-persecutions rear ; Dogma-cant and despot-sway Wake no overpowering fear : Outworn, dying moralisms Strike no " reverential dread ; " RESPONSES. 199 Churchly power desolves in "schisms," Manhood rises ; lifts its head : See ! where outer thought assents To the code of monkery, Intuition this resents, Strikes to make their natures free. We would aid the opening powers ; Helping them to act aright — - Taming wildness which devours. By reflecting morning light ; We can join no darkening bands, Who would hide life's forming-cause ; We with reverential hands Touch the theme and teach the laws. Vain we know the childish thought To promote morality, Any real virtue sought, By withholding light to see : Aspiration bravely strives While her efforts bruises yield ; Even then her virtue thrives ; And at last it wins the field : Nature's central love repressed, Finds, as vital powers increase, That, as passion wild expressed, Bursting forth, it gives release : Nature struggles till she gains Freedom's equlibrium flow; Thus she harmony obtains — Thus creates a heaven below. Response to "Aloralistic " Persecutors. . J, 217 MORNING MISSIONARY-HYMN. 7, 6. Through all our highland regions Where daybeams light the skies, 200 SONGS OF THE MORNING. "< Earth's weary, toiling legions -I Against their tyrants rise, J And, struggling to resist them, .2 As light flows o'er the plains, 1 Call on us to assist them '; In striking off their chains. What tho' with plenty, teeming, Our beauteous world o'erflows, Greed, w4th its legal scheming, ; Spreads o'er it want and woes ; In vain with lavish kindness , Fond Nature's wealth is strown ■ While, robbed and kept in blindness, The workman has no home. \ Shall we, who know how blighting . -j Is foul monopoly. E'er cease to aid in fighting To set the people free? Or heed the cynics ever Who, as " reformers," seek To slur each true endeavor For freedom's cause to speak ? No! full emancipation To all the world declare, Till through each land and nation Its echoes fill the air; Till every honest toiler His rights shall fully gain, And the would-be despoiler Shall ply his arts in vain. Respotise. 218 ONE TRUE WORD FOR JESUS. 7,6. Now, one true word for Jesus, No cant of darkening creeds. RESPONSES, 201 A word of recognition Of his true life and deeds Chorus, — A truthful word for Jesus ; Proclaim it day by day To all the souls benighted, Who now his cause betray. His doctrine — loving justice To all our human kind — Preach loudly till it reaches The pharisaic mind. Cho. — A truthful word, etc. With manly zeal and courage, His gospel Avell proclaim. Till despots cease oppressing Their fellows in his name. Cho. — A truthful word, etc. Declare it our first duty To break the cruel bands Imposed by greed and priestlings On human hearts and hands. Cho. — A triithftd word, etc. Indorse the words of Jesus, Which fully give to all Respect, fraternal honor. However low they fall. Cho. — A truthful word, etc. Take up the cross of Jesus ; Despise reproach and "shame," Which " pious " error's magnates Cast on you in his name. Cho. — The truthful word for Jesus Speak boldly every day, Till error's victims, lighted. His law of love obey. Response. 203 SONGS OF THE MORNING. 219 FEAR AT NATURE'S GOSPEL GATE. 6. Before the open gate Of Nature's gospel, mild, With trembling I did wait, Kind Nature's fearful child — ^ Oppressed with creed-taught fear -^ Of " penalties" and " sin," ; Her voice I could not hear, : Which bade me enter in. ^ Within the misty view, '■ Our nature's God appeared l Distorted, dark, untrue, And greatly to be feared ; The smiling angels seemed ' " Malignant ' demon ' foes," And morbid fancy dreamed ^ Of "wrath" and "vengeful woes." Awhile my spirit stood ] In superstition-plight, - Then came the dawning flood ,- Of nature's Morning light; \ I saw the "demon wiles," J Which seemed the "lures to 'sin,'" 1 Were beckoning angels' smiles, ' And, fearless, entered in, ' I found our nature's God, j And all his angel bands, i Instead of "vengeful rods," i Extended loving hands. ' Thus, joying in their love, My soul in triumph sings, I And to the world would prove i The truth the morning brings. j RESPONSES ^Oo 220 JOYING IN NATURE. 6, 9. Tune — Rapture. O how happy are they Who kind Nature obey, And have learned to confide in her love ! O what tongue can express The sweet comfort and peace Which her laws in their harmony prove ! That sweet comfort is mine, For the favor divine I have found working there for my good ; And, content, I believe Every "avoc" 'twill retrieve, And I bathe in the life-giving flood ! 'Tis a heaven below Nature's grace thus to know. And the angels can do nothing more Than its fullness to meet. And in harmony sweet The great Mother of All to adore. O the glorious hight Of the perfect delight Which great Nature's clear light can afford ! Of its fullness possessed. We can labor with zest, And rejoice in the aid of her Lord. Nature all the day long Is the theme of my song ; O that all her clear light could but see ! Then, old creeds cast aside, Perfect faith would abide. And the natures of all would be free. Responding Version. 304 SONGS OF THE MORNING. 221 THE FREE SOUL'S ASPIRATIONS. 6, 5, More manliness give me — More vigor within — To rise above suffering And fancies of " sin ;" — Let Reason — my Saviour — His light, love, and care, Show Nature unfolding Full answers to prayer. A larger faith give me To trust in our Lord — His life, law, and glory, In Nature, his word ; That tears and vain sorrows, And all morbid grief, In Nature's revealings May find their relief. Full consciousness give me That all life is pure ; That ne'er on the spirit A stain can endure ; Then for thy great " kingdom " More fitted I'll be, And find, loving Nature, A heaven with thee. Response. 222 THIS WORLD IS NOT ALL FLEET- ING SHOW. This world is not all fleeting show. For man's illusion given : Who feels his heart with love aglow, Dispelling fear, begins to know The true delights of heaven. RESPONSES. 205 Who wakes to see our opening day, With feelings calm and even Beholding its sublime display Of truth and beauty, well can say, Earth hath the light of heaven. Who looks with open eyes and mind, Whence blinding mists are driven And goblin fancies cast behind. With joy unspeakable doth find That this, our earth, is heaven. Response. 223 THE VICTIM OF PLUNDER. Tune — Exile of Erin. There woke to the light the poor victim of plun- der, And lo ! from his features soon vanished the chill With which, long despairing, he had struggled under The " laws " of old despots, who robbed him at will : As the Day-Star in glory now rose o'er the ocean, Its rays soon attracted his eyes' glad devotion ; And then, in the flow of new-kindled emotion. He sang the bold anthem of justice for all. "Tho' hard is my lot," said the poor Avandering stranger, *' Despoiled and enslaved from the day of my birth, I shall have a refuge from famine and danger — The workman shall yet have a home on the earth ! Then never again shall his soul cringe and cower, And bow to the despot, or yield to his power. But in peace and plenty shall spend each sweet hour. And sing in full freedom of justice for all. ^OG SONGS OF THE MORNING. "Ah ! long have I dreamed of the day which is nearing ; And long have I wondered if e"er it should be ; But, lo and behold ! now its dawn is appearing! — The workmen are rising in true majesty : Hurrah ! see their banners now proudly float o'er us ! See ! in wild dismay tyrants shrink from before us, While truth in her might now aids to restore us The rights of the people — true justice for all." Response 224 WORKMEN, ROUSE. Tune — Brnce" s Address. Workmen, rouse ! in every land, Ye who toil with head or hand. Sons and daughters, take your stand If you would be free ! Legal " robbers — men of prey. — Steal your heritage away To support their pomp and sway ; This is slavery ! Who at their behest would toil — Never once attempt to foil Despots who their homes despoil, — Let them bow the knee ! Who would battle for the right. Who for equity would fight. Let him rise ! and, with his might. Strike Monopoly ! Tho' in rage the tyrant raves, Swear by all your martyred braves You his meek, submissive slaves Never more will be ! RESPONSES. 207 Banish plundering "laws" from earth, And enthrone its real worth ;* Give to every child, from birth, Perfect liberty ! Response. 225 RESCUE THE SUFFERING. Rescue the suffering, Seemingly "perishing," Ever assist the desponding to save ; Light give the erring one, Lift up the fallen. Teach them respect for the natures they have. Chorus. — Rescue the suffering. Seemingly "perishing," Tho' you from Pharisees Censure receive. Tho' in the deepest sloughs Hopelessly sinking, Loaded with scorn, disrespected by men. Give them a brother's hand. Lovingly aid them, Then they will rise into manhood again. Cho. — Rescue, etc. Down in the darkest heart, 'Neath the stained surface. Treasures lie burried that love can restore ; Touched by a loving hand, Wakened by kindness, Cords nearly broken will vibrate once more. Cho. — Rescue, etc. Rescue the suffering ; Duty demands it — 208 SONGS OF THE MORNING. Duty to self — to the life of the soul ; Love, true fraternal love Linked with our fellows, Ever conducts to a heavenly goal. Cho. — Rescue, etc. Response. 226 THE JOYOUS TO-DAY. Tune — The Sweet By- And- By. Our old earth is as fair as the day, Could we see, in the clear open light. The divine love and wisdom display Of our God in his up-building might. Chorus. — In the joyous to-day We shall see when the fogs are no more ; In the joyous to-day We shall see when the fogs are no more. We shall sing when the fogs are no more ; When the dark lingering mists disappear ; We shall find that our sorrows are o'er ; We shall know that a heaven is here. Cho. — In the joyous, etc. Then, our earth fully ripened, the race Shall no more go to war and destroy. But, in Nature's developing-grace, Love and wisdom their powers will employ. Cho. — In the joyous, etc. Then old "death" shall no more be a "foe," Who shall " rack us with harrowing pain," But shall kindly assistance bestow Till the angelhood crown we obtain. Cho. — In the joyous, etc. Counterpartin^ Response. RESPONSES. 209 227 TAKE THE FORT. Tune— Hold the Fort. Comrades, see ! the gray is spreading O'er the Eastern sky I Morning dawns, the fogs are breaking, Light falls on the eye ! Chorus. — Take the fort from error's forces ; Error's armor fails ; Superstition shrinks, retiring. Morning light prevails! Waking from their morbid dreaming. Reason leading on, Human souls are now perceiving Error's power is gone. Cho. — Take the fort, etc. Nature's banner, see ! 'tis streaming. And her bugle-call Soon shall waft triumphant music To the ears of all. Cho. — Take the fort, etc Tho' it fiercely ruled for ages. Superstition dies : More and more the light is falling On the open eyes. Cho. — Take the fort, etc. Response. 228 LIGHT COMES FLOWING ON. Tune — John Brow7i. Awaking manhood rises free from all its dreamy fear, With senses opened freely Nature's truths to see and hear. 210 SONGS OF THE MORNING. Withdrawing all its reverence from the creeds that interfere As light comes flowing on. Chorus. — Glory, glory, hallelujah ! Glory, glory, hallelujah ! Glory, glory, hallelujah ! The light comes flowing on. And tho' the priestly forces seek lobar the coming day. And on our morning prophets all their bigot-wrath display, Their prison walls no more suffice to hide the deepening gray As light comes flowing on. Cho. — Glory, glory, etc. In half-despai ring efforts, persecution now must vail Itself in false pretenses when the truth it would assail ; Its weakening joints are showing through its bor- rowed coat of mail As light comes flowing on. Cho. — Glory, glory, etc. We spurn its coward vengeance — we will" boldly take our stand Against all lawless "legal" acts profaning free- dom's land — To manly courage branded "crime" we'll give the cheering hand As light comes flowing on. Cho. — Glory, glory, etc. We welcome home our martyr friends — the heroes of to-day — The conquerors that tho' in chains keep bigot- foes at bay, And help us raise our eyes in joy to meet the grand display Of light now flowing on. Cho. — Glory, etc. Response. DOXOLOGIES. 1 L. M. To nature's God let praises flow ; He dwells with man on earth below ; His reign is love — no monarch's throne ; His life in earth and heaven is one. Res}. jnsi 2 C. M. Let God, the Father, Mother, Son, Be everywhere adored : Their life in earth and heaven is one — The Human and its Lord. Response. 3 C. M. To Parent Soul and Human Child — The God whom we adore — We give the homage of our souls, And shall for evermore. Response. 4 C. M. The God of nature be adored, Whose ever-forming breath Speaks in her Law-Eternal word, Evolving life from "death : " We praise the p>ower which in the sun And earth is all divine — All life, the high and low, is one, And men's with angels' join. Response. 312 SONGS OF THE MORNING. 5 S. M. Ye angels, long unknown, Now with us here below, Your loving worship is our own ; Your converse now we know. 6 H. M. To God our Father's throne — The human heart — we raise The homage of each son, In lives of labor-praise : Our every power to this we bring, And heaven responds while thus we sing. Response. 7 8. 7. Praise the God who gives salvation. Through his law of boundless love Working in us new creation — Making follies teachers prove — Teachers giving explanation When our impulse-life would rove ; Law Divine ! our adoration All thy workings ever move. Response. END OF VOL. I. NATHANIELVAUGHAN PRIEST AND MAN. A FREETHO UGHT NO VEL. BY FREDERIKA MAODONALD. ATJTHOK OF THE " ILIAX) OF THE EAST," " XAYIER AND I," ETC., ETC. THR£E VOLUMES IN ONE. Extra cloth, beveled; black and gold back and side stamps. 12mo, 404 pp »1.25 The charic era are set before us by a few graphic and able touches, not as puppets, but as living beings.— Pall Mall Gazette. Power, eloquence, and originality characterize " Na- thaniel Vaughan " to a degree very unusual among mod- ern novels.— Illustrated London News. Address. THE TR UTU SEEKER, 'i\ Clinton Place, New York city. PRICE REDUCED TO $1.00. The BRAIK and the BIBLE. OR, The Conflict between Mental Science and Theology. By Edgar €. Beall, with a preface by Robert O. 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