/?ev ^Ji.y/o/ep 
 
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t 
 
 fliiatanatba: 
 
 ^be IRev. 3F, 1R. Iboleman, 
 
 Rector of^Christ Church, 
 Cedar Key, Fla. 
 
 Behold the Bridegroom conieth, go ye out to meet 
 Him.— St. Matt, xxv-6. 
 
33518 
 
 _ TSi^^l 
 
 Librfciry of <:;pnar«<M 
 
 Vvo Copies '^FCF*- €0 
 AUG 11 1900 
 
 i£C(-No copy. 
 
 0:1D£R OiyiS!ON, 
 SEP 11 1900 
 
 i+nfct. 
 
 ^ rk i- r> Q Copyrighted, 1900 
 
 bybbo BY 
 
 GOTTSCHALK PRINTING CO., 
 
 Saint IvOuis. 
 
U; 
 
 To the beloved ones of youth 
 and age, and parishioners of 
 present and former years, this 
 little volume is lovingly dedicated 
 by the author. F. R. H. 
 
Go forth little book, imperfect indeed, 
 And do thy best work, in sowing good seed; 
 And grant, O My God! that nothing herein 
 May sink to the heart, whose fruit will be sin. 
 
t 
 
 MARANATHA 
 
 And Other Poems. 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 This little volume is sent out into the 
 world with modest expectations; but with 
 the earnest hope, that it may accomplish 
 SDmething, however little, in preparing 
 tlie world for the coming of the Lord. 
 
 F. R. H. 
 
t 
 
 Maranatha, 
 
 Canto I. 
 
 Shadows. 
 
 Whom the Lord loveth, He chasteneth.— //^i^. xii. 6. 
 I. 
 
 LEND your ear, O gentle Christian ! 
 " As at quiet evenfall, 
 Ancient rocks, in woodlands olden 
 Seem to listen in the starlight 
 To the distant waterfall; 
 Hear me as of old, the princes 
 Stopping in the dance to hear, 
 Listened to the aged minstrel 
 Telling some wild, moving story 
 Of the distant, shadowy 3^ear. 
 O'er his silver harp strings bending, 
 With a skillful touch and strong. 
 Till as wild winds move the forests 
 Were their hearts moved by the spirit 
 Sweeping through the tide of song. 
 
SHADOWS. 
 
 II. 
 
 I will tell of gentle Manaen 
 
 And the lovely Mitylene, 
 
 How the}^ lived and loved and suffered, 
 
 How afar in pain they wandered 
 
 B}' the cruelty of men; 
 
 And I'll sing of Jesus' Kingdom, 
 
 Of her sorrows, of her grace, 
 
 Of her oneness, when her sorrows 
 
 As the fingers of the angles 
 
 Fit her for the Prince of Peace. 
 
 For the Lord is as the Bridegroom, 
 
 Waiting aye His church beside; 
 
 x\nd the growing into oneness, 
 
 Is the Royal Bridegroom taking 
 
 To Himself His spotless Bride; 
 
 And the endless round of feasting 
 
 When shall come the nuptial day, 
 
 Is a rapturous joy exceeding 
 
 Every yearning, prayer and pleading, 
 
 In the Spirit inward feeding 
 
 On the Life of God alwa}^ 
 
 III. 
 
 Bright amid the hills and forests 
 Stood a little city fair. 
 Marked b}'' glittering domes and steeples. 
 Where from out the churches' belfry 
 Pealed the daily call to prayer. 
 
 IV. 
 
 On a hill that to the southward 
 Rises in a robe of green. 
 
SHADOWS. i^ 
 
 Dwelt an old man with his loved ones, 
 With a sainted wife, and walking 
 As an angle walks with men. 
 Loved and honored, Alian Ruel, 
 Was the well-know^n name he bore. 
 Long he lived among his people, 
 Fond of doing deeds of mercy. 
 For the outcast and the poor ; 
 Comforting the sick and needy. 
 Helping in their great distress. 
 Laid he up his store in heaven 
 Daily heaping up his treasures. 
 By his works of righteousness ; 
 Seeking for the frail and erring 
 Who have wandered from the way, 
 Pressing on with gentle yearnings, 
 Tracing ev'ry mark and footprint 
 Where their wandering feet might stray 
 
 V. 
 
 Many w^ere the good man's riches ; 
 Rich in every noble deed; 
 All the people 'round about him 
 Loved him as they loved a father, 
 For the kindly things he did. 
 Yea ! he was a faithful Christian, 
 Not a whited sepulchre. 
 Love to him was real, earnest, 
 Was the Life, w^as alms and labor 
 Strengthened by unceasing prayer; 
 Was the very Life of Jesus, 
 Born the human soul wathin. 
 Walking in the paths of angels, 
 
10 SHADOWS. 
 
 Doing good ; the Christ Life giving ^| 
 
 To the poor, dead souls of men. 
 
 VI. 
 
 Much he had ; he knew to use it 
 For his own and others' good ; 
 Knew denial, hardness, roughness, 
 How a mortal's brightest jewels 
 Are the lost reclaimed to God ; 
 Knew how watching, prayer and fasting 
 Are the means to conquer sin. 
 To perfect the Life of heaven, 
 Might resistless, matchless graces. 
 In the chastened souls of men. 
 
 VII. 
 
 He was born into the Kingdom, 
 Born of God, by him upreared 
 To the full and deep conception 
 Of the vieajiing 2i\\A p7'oportio?i 
 Of the everliving JVofd; 
 Of the Word, the germ resplendent. 
 Whence eternal Life proceeds. 
 Life of Life, of God's own essence, 
 Giving strength to ri.se and follow 
 Where the bleeding Savior leads. 
 
 VIII. 
 
 Constant as the sun in rising. 
 Never failing, day by day. 
 Went he as a beam of sunlight 
 With his tender wife and daughter 
 To the Church of God to pray ; 
 Leading on with wary footsteps 
 
SHADOWS. 11 
 
 All along the narrow road, 
 
 Through the darkness, traps and dangers, 
 
 Through the snares of evil angels, 
 
 To the Light and Life of God. 
 
 IX. 
 
 'Round the city, through the valley. 
 Flows a river bright and free. 
 Sparkling as the smiles of children. 
 Over rocks, through ancient forests, 
 Onward to the boundless sea. 
 Brightly mirrored in its bosom 
 Beauteous clouds moved gently on ; 
 In its depths, as in the heavens 
 Flaming stars of evening sparkled. 
 And in glory rode the moon ; 
 As within the Christian bosom 
 Christ the Lord, eternal Love, 
 With the hosts of heavenly powers 
 'Round about Him is the image 
 Of the reign of God above. 
 
 X. 
 
 In the heart as in the river 
 Light and beauty most are seen 
 When the gush of life is over, 
 And God's image is reflected 
 In the chastened souls of men. 
 
 XI. 
 
 By the river wave the forests. 
 And the shadows fall apace, 
 As beside Life's stream eternal 
 Shadows are, where rest the angels 
 
12 SHADOWS. 
 
 Laden with the gifts of grace. 
 From the branches o'er its margin 
 Wild birds sing their sweetest la3's, 
 Build their nests beside the waters, 
 Teach their eager, little nestlings, 
 Sweetest songs of other days. 
 Here they sing those songs primev^al. 
 Aye the same and sweetly sung, 
 As the deep things of the Father 
 Coming on through generations, 
 Echoed down from tongue to tongue. 
 Brightly clad in varied plumage, 
 Flying through the quiet sky, 
 Droop they on the wing to nestle. 
 Choose this of all other places 
 As the meetest for their stay. 
 
 XII. 
 
 Calmly winds forever onward 
 By the rocks, the flowing stream, 
 By the mighty oaks and elm trees, 
 Through the valley, wild and lovely, 
 As in some enchanting dream. 
 From the valley, green as emeralds. 
 Graceful hills in verdure rise 
 Far above within the cloudlands. 
 Till they seem in gold and azure 
 Eden or a paradise. 
 
 XIII. 
 
 On a lawn above the river. 
 Where the birds at evening come. 
 In the center of a garden, 
 In the midst of shade and flowers 
 
SHADOWS. 13 
 
 Stood the quiet, woodland home. 
 
 Modest, peaceful, nothing lordly, 
 
 Back upon the hill it stood, 
 
 High above the little city. 
 
 High above the winsome valley 
 
 Like a bird's nest in the wood. 
 
 O'er it ran the running roses 
 
 Mingled with the columbines. 
 
 Till the porch and eves were covered, 
 
 And the windows thickly curtained 
 
 With the branches of the vines. 
 
 In it Allan dwelt, and Mary, 
 
 And their daughter Mitylene ; 
 
 To and from it passed the angels, 
 
 And unseen, though ever present. 
 
 Walked the gentle Nazarene. 
 
 In these hearts His throne was builded, 
 
 Whence His Light was shed abroad, 
 
 Unseen spirits fair attended, 
 
 And the fondly loving household 
 
 Rested in the peace of God. 
 
 XIV. 
 
 Mary, gentle wife of Allan, 
 Lovelier grew as time passed on. 
 O'er her aged, palid forehead 
 Radiant graces of the Spirit 
 Rested as a living crown. 
 From her placid, Christ-like features 
 Beamed a lovely, heavenly grace ; 
 Holy thoughts like high born spirits, 
 Came to many a sinful bosom 
 Winging from her loving face. 
 
14 SHADOWS. 
 
 XV. 
 
 Sweet indeed are age's wrinkles 
 If the cares from which they come, 
 Like the cares of gentle Mary 
 Are to seek the lost and erring, 
 And to bring the wandering home. 
 Like an angel walked this woman 
 'Mong the vicious sons of men. 
 Calling gently to the lost ones, 
 Twining cords of love about them, 
 Till they wept and left their sin. 
 
 XVL 
 
 Allan's home was ever happy 
 By this gentle spirit blessed, 
 Ever lovely, bright and peaceful; 
 Here the aching heart had respite 
 From its strugles and unrest. 
 Bright as sunlight in the valleys 
 On the tall trees, fair and green. 
 Bright as morning o'er the moorland, 
 Making all the heavens lovely, 
 Was the gentle Mit3'lene. 
 Lovely were her auburn tresses 
 As the twilight set with stars. 
 As the melting shades of evening, 
 By the glorious light divided 
 Into streams and golden bars. 
 
 XVII. 
 
 White as on the lofty mountains 
 
 Is the fleecy, driven snow 
 
 Were her graceful neck and shoulders. 
 
SHADOWS. 15 
 
 Fair as painters paint an angel 
 Winging to the world below. 
 Sylph-like, free, o'er lawn and woodland 
 Wandered she, a thing of light. 
 Innocent, she sang and warbled. 
 And along the shaded pathway 
 Pressed the stones with restless feet. 
 
 XVIII. 
 
 But as aye the limpid river, 
 Sparkling through the woodland scene, 
 Quiet grows, and like a mirror 
 Shadows back the earth and heaven, 
 So the life of Mitylene. 
 All the sweetness of the maiden 
 Ripened into woman's grace. 
 And the holy light of heaven 
 Was reflected back in beauty 
 From her peaceful, loving face. 
 
 XIX. 
 
 When the softened hues of evening 
 Melted into heavenly scene. 
 Where a cliff hangs o'er the river, 
 She was wont to sit at twilight 
 As some lovely wildwood queen. 
 
 XX. 
 
 There was one who fondly loved her, 
 
 In the little town below. 
 
 In her heart she bore his image. 
 
 And within held such sweet converse, 
 
 As no other heart may know. 
 
16 SHADOWvS. 
 
 Manaen Hobah in his childhood 
 Won the gentle Mitylene. 
 Their fond hearts were bound together; 
 Never had the princely Jacob 
 Truer to his Rachael been. 
 
 XXI. 
 
 They would tread life's way together, 
 
 Be it bitter, be it sweet; 
 
 Yea, they thought not of its sorrows, 
 
 Of its wounds and painful bruises, 
 
 Of the thorns, to tear the feet. 
 
 Hearts so young ne'er comprehended 
 
 Why that way is ruby red, 
 
 How the glittering jewels on it 
 
 Are the crimson blood drops flowing. 
 
 Which the wounded heart has shed ; 
 
 How a way erected in us 
 
 Reaches to the realms above, 
 
 How the inner man ascendeth 
 
 Through the bitter ways of sorrow, 
 
 To the perfectness of love. 
 
 XXII. 
 
 Forty moons, and then the nuptials ; 
 
 Then the starting point of life ; 
 
 Then should Manaen claim the maiden, 
 
 Press her fondly to his bosom 
 
 And forever call her wife. 
 
 But, O God! Thy wa3^s are hidden; 
 
 Fearful is the way we tread, 
 
 Could these loved ones, through the future, 
 
 Have foreseen the coming sorrows, 
 
 Would they have delayed to w^ed ? 
 
SHADOWS. 17 
 
 XXIII. 
 
 As a deacon, consecrated 
 
 To the Christ by word and vow, 
 
 Loving hands in benediction 
 
 Rested on the brow of Manaen 
 
 As the sunlight on the snow. 
 
 Twice the earth through changing seasons 
 
 Floated slowly 'round the sun 
 
 And the gentle youth advancing, 
 
 Bore the hoh^ priestly office. 
 
 By his studious labors won. 
 
 XXIV. 
 
 Now enriched with heavenly knowledge. 
 With a loving heart aflame, 
 Yearned the glowing Life within him, 
 To the Western darkened red men, 
 Forth to bear Messiah's name. 
 E're the rosy light of morning 
 Should lead on the coming da}', 
 Westward from his home and loved ones, 
 Whirling wheels should bear him onward 
 To his distant field awa3\ 
 
 XXV. 
 
 As the evening sun was sinking 
 O'er the hills and woodland scene, 
 'Long the narrow, shaded pathway 
 Passed the youth for tender meeting 
 And adieu to Mitylene. 
 Autumn all enrobed in glory, 
 Bright with colors manifold 
 
1^ SHADOWS. 
 
 Swept along the hills and valleys, 
 And in touching, gave the forests 
 Rosy leaves and leaves of gold. 
 
 XXVI. 
 
 O'er the cliff, an aged elm tree 
 Stood in gold and emerald green, 
 Stretching out its leafy branches 
 As a swarth}^ Indian servant 
 Holds her shade above the queen. 
 In the roots a moss}' arm-chair, 
 Porm'd by nature's skill sublime, 
 Seemed a throne of ages olden, 
 By some race, long since forgotten, 
 Ivcft a relic of their time. 
 
 XXVII. 
 
 In the mossy chair reclining, 
 
 Fairer than the sylvan scene. 
 
 Weary from a forest ramble. 
 
 With a wealth of leaves about her 
 
 Slept the gentle Mit3dene. 
 
 All that day her heart was troubled 
 
 With the painful thought, that when 
 
 Morning should light up the heavens, 
 
 Winged and fleet, the train unconscious 
 
 Far should bear her Manaen. 
 
 XXVIII. 
 
 Westward, where in liquid glory 
 Sank the sun into the night. 
 Heaven's pearly portals opened, 
 
SHADOWS. 19 
 
 And through golden fields the angels 
 
 Seemed to move enrobed in light. 
 
 Golden clouds, as flaming chariots, 
 
 Seemed to bear them on their way, 
 
 With their silver wings extended 
 
 And their garments softly trailing, 
 
 Radiant with receding day. 
 
 Seemed they too to come as watchers, 
 
 Lest the darkness should prevail, 
 
 As the shining hosts of Jesus 
 
 Watch against the "Prince of this World," 
 
 And the gloomy gates of hell ; 
 
 As they came to guard the maiden, 
 
 All unconscious while she slept, 
 
 And as loving, sleepless spirits 
 
 Guard the Church — the Bride of Jesus — 
 
 Watch and ward around her kept, 
 
 Touching with their wings the forests, 
 
 Flooding hill and vale with light. 
 
 Beating back the coming shadows, 
 
 Lest the fair and weary maiden 
 
 Sleeping should be lost in night. 
 
 XXIX. 
 
 To the westward, by the river, 
 Narrow grows the rugged scene, 
 Where the hillsides run together, 
 And a path abruptly rising, 
 Winds the mighty rocks between. 
 Broken by the crags and climbing 
 Over ragged cliffs and bold, 
 Runs it where in living beauty. 
 From the rocks the wild vines cluster 
 
20 SHADOWS. 
 
 Into wreaths of green and gold, 
 Like the path of life and dut}', 
 Loveh^ but most hard to wend ; 
 Full of labor, toiling upward, 
 And through many a hidden danger, 
 Leading to a blissful end. 
 
 XXX. 
 
 Rising from the rugged hillside, 
 From the narrow point below, 
 Dotted with great elms and cedars 
 Spreads a lawn, where in the springtime 
 Wild birds, singing, come and go. 
 Eack a pace, the home of Allan 
 In its modest beauty, stood 
 Near the border of the forest, 
 Overhung with vines and flowers 
 And the shadows of the wood. 
 
 XXXI. 
 
 'Long the narrow, shaded pathway, 
 Manaen walked with thoughtful tread ; 
 Golden leaves like winged spirits, 
 Moving on the wind before him, 
 O'er the rugged hillside sped. 
 Where the mossy rock was shaded 
 By the elm tree, tall and green. 
 Passed he near the root-formed armchair 
 Where amid the leaves reclining 
 Slept the gentle Mitylene. 
 Heeding not, absorbed, unconscious, 
 Moving on with downcast eye, 
 B}' his step a rock was loosened, 
 
SHADOWS. ' 21 
 
 Which, with rapid bound descending, 
 Crashed the sleeping fair one by. 
 
 XXXII. 
 
 Startled b}^ the noise, the maiden 
 Springing from her moss}' chair, 
 With a frightened gaze, uncertain, 
 Trembling, and with heaving bosom. 
 Stood as stands the timid hare. 
 Manaen, roused as if from dreaming. 
 Turning, heard her startl'd cry 
 And beheld the frightened maiden 
 Looking on the vale before her, 
 Standing in the act to fly. 
 
 XXXIII. 
 
 With a gentle voice assuring. 
 
 Spake he to allay her fear: 
 
 I, it was, he said, whose footstep. 
 
 From its bed a rock unloosened. 
 
 All unconscious thou wast near. 
 
 As if nature would remind me 
 
 Of a presence I should own. 
 
 And that 'long our rugged pathway 
 
 God hath placed His holy angels 
 
 When we seem the most alone. 
 
 XXXIV. 
 
 Reassured, the lovely maiden 
 Turning with a troubled air. 
 Thought her of a dream of anguish, 
 Which had passed before her vision 
 
22 SHADOWS. 
 
 Sleeping in the rustic chair. 
 True it is, she said, that angels 
 Seem to hover o'er our way, 
 And as startling as the crashing 
 Of the rock your step unloosened, 
 Sometimes are the words they say. 
 Even now oppressed and weary 
 From a ramble in the wood, 
 As I slept beneath the elm tree 
 Seemed to come a holy angel 
 Winging from the throne of God. 
 
 XXXV. 
 
 'Long the lawn and crag}^ hillside 
 All the day my feet have strolled, 
 Where wdth magic touch the Autumn 
 Has in leaves the topaz painted. 
 And the garnet set in gold. 
 With the gathered wealth about me. 
 In the mellow, softened air. 
 Somewhat weary from the ramble, 
 In the shadow of the elm tree 
 Sat I in the mossy chair ; 
 And I knew not of my sleeping 
 Till the noise my slumber broke. 
 When, as one is glad escaping 
 From some overwhelming danger, 
 Startled, from the dream I woke. 
 
 XXXVI. 
 
 In my sleep I seemed to ramble 
 O'er the hillside gathering leaves, 
 And to thee, as now beside me. 
 
SHADOWS. 23 
 
 From afar, I sought to bring them 
 As the farmer brings his sheaves. 
 Up and down the hills I wandered, 
 By the rocks, all free from fear, 
 Gathering leaves that moved before me 
 As the hbsts of ruined spirits 
 Driven from the succor near. 
 
 XXXVII. 
 
 Long I gathered up my treasures 
 And beside thee laid them down, 
 While with wondrous skill thy fingers 
 From the fairest and the brightest, 
 Wove a beauteous, queenly crown. 
 Then I thought that o'er the nations 
 Christ the Lord in peace did reign, 
 That the golden wealth I gathered. 
 Woven by thy ready fingers. 
 Was to crown the Church His queen. 
 Then with gladdened zeal I wandered 
 Through the forest everywhere, 
 As I gathered priceless jewels, 
 Tinted by the touch of heaven. 
 For the Bride of Christ to wear. 
 
 XXXVIII. 
 
 When through deep'ning shades I wandered 
 
 Farthest from thy side away, 
 
 Lo! the azure sky was darkened. 
 
 And a dreadful gloom, appalling. 
 
 Shut me from the light of day. 
 
 Chasms yawned about my footsteps, 
 
 Where no ray of light was shed, 
 
24 SHADOWS. 
 
 All bewildered, in the darkness, 
 Death, or danger seemed to threaten 
 Any way my feet might tread, 
 lyoud upon the raging tempest, 
 Winged with anguish, rose ni}^ cr}-, 
 Loud the winds as angr}- demons 
 Raved in fur}^ screamed and shouted, 
 As they heard and sent repl}'. 
 
 XXXIX. 
 
 Then I thought that thou wouldst seek me, 
 And through all the dreadful night, 
 'Neath a mighty rock I cowered. 
 Peering through the fearful darkness, 
 Waiting, watching for thy light. 
 Yea! with folded hands, beseeching, 
 Down I fell upon the sod 
 Praying for thee and thy coming. 
 Till ni}^ wailings winged and rapid 
 Reached the distant throne of God. 
 
 XL. 
 
 Then, anon in heavenly beauty 
 
 By me stood a radiant form; 
 
 In his light the darkness vanished. 
 
 And the power of his presence 
 
 Stilled the fury of the storm. 
 
 In his eyes were love and meekness. 
 
 But his glittering form was flame. 
 
 And the glory of his visage 
 
 With a sense of sin and weakness 
 
 Filled with fear my trembling frame. 
 
SHADOWS. 25 
 
 XLI. 
 
 Down upon the earth before him, 
 Pulseless as the pallid dead, 
 Full of fear, in bitter anguish, 
 Overcome with awe, and speechless. 
 Prostrate at his feet I laid; 
 Then he touched me, and in glory 
 Of the blush of closing day, 
 Lo! I saw thee as a Bridegroom 
 With beloved ones about thee 
 Coming down the lighted way. 
 And the angel said unto me: 
 "Thus shall Manaen be restored 
 A7id thine eyes shall rest upon him, 
 When ilUi mined by the Spirit, 
 Thou shalt see the Christ the Lord^ 
 
 XLII. 
 
 Then it was thy passing footstep 
 Loos' d the rock from out its bed, 
 And the noise of its descending 
 Roused me, and from sleep awaking, 
 Passed the vision from my head. 
 x\nd there now remains a sorrow; 
 All my heart is filled with fear 
 That thy going is forever; 
 That mine eyes shall not behold thee 
 Till the coming Christ is here. 
 
 XLIII. 
 
 But the Christ is never absent — 
 Answered Manaen — by the side 
 Of the daughter fair of Zion 
 
26 SHADOWS. 
 
 Has He waited through the ages 
 For his well beloved Bride. 
 But about her, gloomy, dreadful. 
 Midnight darkness has prevailed. 
 She, o'erwhelmed with fear, forgetful 
 Of His presence, in her anguish 
 Has an absent Lord bewailed. 
 
 XLIV. 
 
 He is spirit and His presence 
 By no eye of flesh is seen. 
 Through the dark and troubled ages. 
 As the wind blows where it listeth. 
 Moves He through the hearts of men. 
 By His Light He lifts the shadows, 
 As the dawning of the da3% 
 While the dreadful forms of evil, 
 Moving on the wings of darkne'^s, 
 Pass forevermore away. 
 By His presence Life eternal 
 Springs the human soul within; 
 And the Life, with might resistless 
 Overcomes the death within us. 
 Lifts the fallen race from sin, 
 
 XLV. 
 
 Through this Life we grow in oneness 
 
 With the everliving Lord. 
 
 Thus is wrought the great Atonement: 
 
 Through Her oneness with the Bridegroom 
 
 Holy Church is One with God. 
 
 Quickened souls behold Messiah 
 
 As a warrior clothed in Light, 
 
SHADOWS. 27 
 
 Driving from the sleeping nations 
 All the dreadful forms of evil 
 And the shadows of the night. 
 Oh! that holy church could see Him 
 From the East unto the West 
 Flashing as the lightning flashes, 
 But the eagle-visioned only, 
 Can perceive the coming Christ. 
 
 XLVI. 
 
 Thus to me thy dream betokens 
 Naught of anguish, naught to fear; 
 But, that now our e3'es are holden. 
 And that thou with spirits vision 
 Soon shall see the Savior near; 
 That the time is now upon us 
 When the Church shall see the Christ, 
 When all nations, bound together, 
 Shall forever and forever 
 Be enfolded in His breast. 
 
 XLVII. 
 
 May the loving Father grant it, 
 Said the gentle Mitylene; 
 But I fear, thou going from me 
 There shall come some fearful sorrow 
 As a gulf to roll between; 
 That a dreadful storm uprising 
 Shall the lowering sky o'erspread, 
 And the raging of the tempest. 
 Filling all my life with shadows 
 Burst in fury on my head. 
 Even now o'er all our country 
 
28 SHADOWS. 
 
 Clouds are rising in the sk}', 
 Making princely statesmen tremble, 
 And their gloomy forms betoken 
 Woes unknown and dangers nigh. 
 
 XLVIII. 
 
 Spirits from the realms of darkness 
 O'er the nation's councils reign, 
 And the sable Prince of evil 
 Moves among them and his forces 
 Are not marshalled oft in vain. 
 O, M}' Country! Hope of Nations! 
 Beacon for the bound to see! 
 Ma}^ the Father send His angels 
 And forever from th}^ heavens 
 Drive the dark'ning gloom awa^^ 
 
 XLIX. 
 
 Though th}' dream distress betokens, 
 
 Troubles pass and then are o'er, 
 
 Said the 3'OUth, and when departed 
 
 Thou wilt be restored unto me 
 
 And the Christ reign evermore. 
 
 God is good. Then come the sorrows 
 
 Which shall try the hearts of men. 
 
 It is blessedness supernal 
 
 For our ej^es to see the Bridegroom 
 
 Coming with His Bride to reign. 
 
 To His own God sends no sorrow 
 
 Which He gives not strength to bear. 
 
 When He leads us through the furnace, 
 
 By the flame He purifies us, 
 
 And Himself walks with us there. 
 
 ^ 
 
SHADOWS. 29 
 
 L. 
 
 Trials are the angel's fingers 
 Burning from the throne on high, 
 Bearing costly, priceless jewels. 
 When the heart from sin is cleansed, 
 All the Ivife to beautify. 
 We can trust a love so perfect 
 As the boundless love of God. 
 Though it be in flame to tr}^ us, 
 It is but to purify us, 
 And His Holv will is .srood. 
 
 LI. 
 
 Now through pearly gates departing 
 Moved the traiHng robes of light, 
 While o'er hill and vale advancing. 
 Holding up the star of evening. 
 Came on silent wing the night. 
 
 LII. 
 
 Allan Ruel sat dejected 
 On his porch, his mate beside. 
 Pondering some evil tidings. 
 Anxious lest for home and countr}^ 
 Sorrows dread and woes betide ; 
 When advancing through the garden 
 Manaen came with Mitylene, 
 Laden with the wealth of Autumn, 
 Leaves of gold and royal purple, 
 Nature's rubies set in green. 
 
30 SHADOWS. 
 
 LIII. 
 
 But each loving heart was saddened, 
 E'en the gentle Savior's light 
 Seemed to sink behind the hilltops, 
 As the glowing sun departing 
 Sinks into the gloom of night. 
 Anxious thoughts upon each forehead. 
 Came with man}- shades of care, 
 As the wings of some dark spirit 
 Hovered o'er the loving household 
 And malignant lingered there. 
 
 LIV. 
 
 Oh! how strange! said Alian Ruel, 
 
 That within us there should be 
 
 Spirits vision deep, unfathomed, 
 
 Eyes with strength to look through heaven. 
 
 Yet with these, men do not see. 
 
 Vast in number, mights and powers 
 
 Beat us with incessant wings, 
 
 Move upon life's hidden currents. 
 
 As the wind upon the ocean, 
 
 Or as sounds on beaten strings. 
 
 Yea, they pass and lighth^ touching 
 
 With their wings some hidden cord, 
 
 Fill the soul with light from heaven. 
 
 Till we tremble as the aspen, 
 
 And in rapture, look on God. 
 
 Winging down through generations, 
 
 Through the struggling mass of men 
 
 Touch they loving hearts and form them 
 
 Into that eternal Kingdom 
 
 Where with Christ, God reigns in men. 
 
SHADOWS. 31 
 
 Yet, the herd of men as cattle, 
 Weary and unconscious, plod. 
 Brushed b}^ passing wings of angels, 
 Stupid, thoughtless, uiipeixeivijig , 
 Through the dzcelling place of God. 
 
 LV. 
 
 Darker powers, cruel, sleepless, 
 Formed for purpose vast and high, 
 Move through hidden ways, as serpents. 
 By their fangs make known their presence 
 When the woe designed is nigh ; 
 Or they enter through life's currents 
 To the presence of the soul, 
 Through the secret ways unguarded. 
 And by subtile spells, resistless, 
 Win the heart and gain control. 
 
 LVI. 
 
 Through the highways of the Kingdom 
 Of the everliving God, 
 March the^^ on as Roman cohorts. 
 And God's temple in our bosoms, 
 By their daring feet are trod ; 
 Or they move abroad as tempests. 
 Through the multitudes of men. 
 Sweeping over mighty nations. 
 Driving them in fury, beating 
 As the winds beat on the main ; 
 As the tempests hurl the ocean. 
 Wave on wave, against the shore, 
 Hurl they vast and well drilled armies 
 'Gainst the bulwarks of the nations, 
 Unrelenting evermore. 
 
32 SHADOWS. 
 
 LVII. 
 
 For some hidden purpose, powers 
 Marshalled thus with peerless skill, 
 Swa}' the thoughtless of our people, 
 Who unknowing and unwilling, 
 Work through life the Father's will. 
 War shall sweep our wretched countr}- 
 As the storm sweeps o'er the main, 
 We shall see in wreck and ruin, 
 Ho\T that subtile, unseen spirits 
 Rule the destinies of men. 
 
 LVIII. 
 
 Soon our ears shall hear the bugle 
 And the beating of the drum ; 
 These shall be to us the voices, 
 Which shall reach our startled spirits 
 When the hosts of darkness come. 
 But when spirits strive the victors. 
 Rise aloft o'er fields of blood, 
 Trample chains and broken fetters, 
 And above the crimson ruin 
 Build the Kingdom of the Lord. 
 Wrong may triumph for a moment ; 
 In the end it ever fails. 
 While as light dispels the darkness 
 Over ever 3^ form of evil. 
 Evermore the right prevails. 
 
 LIX. 
 
 Thus in sadness passed the evening ; 
 Every heart oppressed with care. 
 Anxious thoughts as from the darkness 
 
SHADOWS. 33 
 
 Came to every loving bosom, 
 And in silence brooded there. 
 Fond adieus with apprehension, 
 From unwilling lips, were passed, 
 While forebodings of disaster, 
 lyike the threat 'ning clouds of summer, 
 In their hearts their shadows cast ; 
 And the gentle loving maiden. 
 Weeping and by fear oppressed, 
 Breathing earnest prayers to heaven. 
 Stood with marble head reclining 
 Sadl}^ on her loved one's breast. 
 
 LX. 
 
 When the rosy wings of morning 
 O'er the hills and forests spread, 
 Manaen on his loving mission, 
 Full of noble Christ-like yearnings, 
 As on wings of lightning sped. 
 And his heart refused to listen, 
 While within in mornful strain, 
 Spoke his thoughts of coming anguish. 
 How the years should pass as ages 
 E're the loved he meet again. 
 
t 
 
 Maranatha. 
 
 Caxto II. 
 
 The War. 
 
 Ye sliall hear of wars and rumors of wars.— Matt. xxiv. 6. 
 
 Now there came a time of anguisli 
 As no living eye had seen; 
 Cruel spirits, formed for evil, 
 As a flood swept o'er the nation. 
 Through the angry hearts of men. 
 In the gloom of gath'ring tempests, 
 Princely men, who knew not fear, 
 Labored to avert the danger. 
 Came together, as the heroes 
 Gather when the foe is near. 
 Alian's household, meekh* conscious 
 Of impending grief and woe, 
 Faithful, worked among God's people 
 All intent the living Gospel, 
 As the seed of life to sow. 
 
36 THE WAR. 
 
 II. 
 But the country's sky was darkened. 
 Man 5^ a strange, mysterious form 
 Moved imseen in dreadful power, 
 Lowered o'er the face as shadows 
 Of the fierce, impending storm. 
 Subtle, wroth, the prince of darkness, 
 Spread his wings upon the blast. 
 Stirred the hearts of sinful people. 
 Swept unto the western ocean, 
 ^orth and South and East and West. 
 
 III. 
 Some there were who saw him rising, 
 And proclaimed him far and wide ; 
 Eut to Spirits men are blinded. 
 Though the}^ flood the world and sweep it 
 As an angr}' ocean tide. 
 Men who weigh in scales the heavens, 
 Measure worlds and map the sky. 
 Seeing, see not, while God's legions 
 Onward in their mission speed them 
 Through the azure depths on high. 
 
 IV. 
 Deathless spirits dwelling in us, 
 Swaying ever}' race of men, 
 Ruling in affairs of nations, 
 Guiding endless generations, 
 With but leaden eyes are seen. 
 Great men think that kings and statesmen 
 Bring on war and make the peace ; 
 That the forces of destruction 
 Whirling on in wreck and ruin, 
 
THE WAR. 37 
 
 At their wilful bidding cease; 
 And the}' know not of these powers 
 Divelling in the heart itnclean^ 
 Sweeping downward through the ages, 
 That with single aim unerring 
 Guide the destinies of men. 
 Drive the world with whips of scorpions, 
 Make of words a flaming sword, 
 Leading on through lust the millions, 
 While behind the whole unfathomed, 
 Is the unknoivn ivill of God. 
 
 V. 
 
 So the fiend with darkened pinions, 
 Through the crowds of maddened men 
 Moved the mass as winds in summer 
 Gather angry clouds and drive them 
 Onward o'er the surging main. 
 Wildh^ wildl}^ did he sway them 
 As the waves by tempests borne, 
 'Till a thoughtless, self-willed people 
 Riven with opinions varied 
 Raged as breakers 'round Cape Horn. 
 Mighty armies led by Spirits 
 Thinner than the yielded breath, 
 Stronger than the wrath of tempests 
 Moved along the nation's highways 
 In the dreadful march of death. 
 
 VI. 
 
 Not a home but bitter anguish 
 In some gastly shape was there; 
 Want and woe, some dying loved one, 
 Or the shadowy form that rested 
 
38 THE WAR. 
 
 Ever in the vacant chair. 
 And the hosts that stood as barriers 
 'Gainst the shell and burning shot, 
 Firm against advancing legions, 
 Thinking of their homes and loved ones, 
 Faced the foe and fainted not. 
 While around beleagured cities, 
 Brazen guns with sulph'rous breath, 
 Roaring as ten thousand demons, 
 To their tender and beloved ones 
 Sent on wings grim words of death. 
 
 VII. 
 
 Then the smoke of burning cities 
 
 Rose in lurid blackness high; 
 
 Loud the bitter cries of anguish 
 
 From the weak and helpless rising 
 
 Pierced beyond the distant sky. 
 
 Loveh' matrons, stainless virgins, 
 
 Strangers to the touch unclean, 
 
 Sinking as a fading flower 
 
 Died with broken hearts, dishonored 
 
 By the brutish lust of men. 
 
 Blood from arms too weak and aged 
 
 For the labor of defence, 
 
 Stained the shameless swords of soldier^ ; 
 
 Fathers in the sight of loved ones 
 
 Murdered, died without offence. 
 
 Homes 'ere long so bright and happy 
 
 Burned to cinders in the flame, 
 
 And the glow along the heavens 
 
 Seemed the blushes of the angels 
 
 For the blot on freedom's name. 
 
THE WAR. 39 
 
 VIII. 
 
 Homeless, wretched, some were driven: 
 
 Wand'rers strange lands within; 
 
 Some were worn away in prisons; 
 
 Some by shameless sale of virtue 
 
 Bought their freedom by their sin. 
 
 All these wrongs, these woes and sorrows 
 
 At the last will rise again. 
 
 A^ain attempt 'twould be to tell them; 
 
 As a fearful, horrid vision 
 
 Shall the}^ meet the gaze of men. 
 
 Let us then in peace forgetful 
 
 Hide them; throw love's mantle o'er; 
 
 Shut them from the aching vision; 
 
 Pray that God will lift His people, 
 
 That thej' learn to war no more; 
 
 That the havoc of the sabre 
 
 And the cannon's roar shall cease; 
 
 That the Kingdom of Messiah 
 
 Spreading over all the nations 
 
 Shall forevermore bring peace; 
 
 That the love of God may guide us 
 
 Through the cycle of the years, 
 
 And forever from all faces 
 
 Move the drooping wings of sorrow 
 
 And the burning flow of tears. 
 
 IX. 
 
 THE MISSION. 
 
 Far away into the Southwest, 
 Where the red men dream of blood 
 Manaen Hobah, lovins^, vouthful. 
 
40 THE WAR. 
 
 Through the forests sought their rude huts 
 
 With the blessed Word of God. 
 
 In a grand majestic wildwood, 
 
 Hidden by the solemn shade, 
 
 Near a lovely, limpid river, 
 
 With the dwellers of the forest, 
 
 All alone his home was made. 
 
 X. 
 
 On a lofty rock that towered 
 
 O'er the vale, the town and flood, J 
 
 Built of logs hewn by the wild men, 
 
 Piled in tasty, rural beauty 
 
 Stood the little church of God. 
 
 From the forest came the red men, 
 
 From the town the people all 
 
 To the modest, rustic temple. 
 
 As to Mar's Hill came from Athens 
 
 Those who listened to St. Paul. 
 
 XI. 
 
 Manaen labored daily with them 
 As a teacher in a school; 
 Not in preaching polished sermons. 
 Full of wit and classic beauty, 
 Labored, studied, made by rule; 
 Rich in fancy, bright, poetic. 
 For the finer sense of men. 
 Soaring upward as an eagle 
 Far above the common people 
 Plodding in a world of sin; 
 Full of sound, of gesture, action, 
 Word}^ pictures for the weak, 
 
THE WAR. 41 
 
 Which the simple take for Gospel, 
 Look upon as things of wonder, 
 As a little god did speak; 
 Preached as cr3^stal snowflakes falling 
 On the crowded, sloppy street, 
 Flashing in the air a moment, 
 Melting, or unnoticed, trodden 
 By the heedless, trampling feet; 
 Preached as if the gifted preachers 
 Knew not of the Christ as King, 
 Of His Kingdom built within us, 
 Of the virtues, mights, and powers 
 Pl_ving ever on the wing; 
 Knew not of the inner being. 
 Endless Life, Eternal Love, 
 Of the Living Christ begotten. 
 Growing in His perfect image 
 In the Life of God Above, 
 Knew not how the soul is saved 
 From the rule of death and sin. 
 How the Kingdom is within us. 
 And that God and all the Angels 
 Divell the loving heart within. 
 
 xn. 
 
 Not by tableaux, sacred concerts. 
 Suppers, grand bazars and fairs 
 Thought he to build up the kingdom, 
 Built of living stones and precious, 
 Wrought by labors and by prayers ; 
 Not by sweetly warbled solos 
 Sung for gold and not for God, 
 Sung as if the heavens degraded 
 
42 THE WAR. 
 
 To the vileness of man's level 
 
 Waited ready to applaud. 
 
 Well he knew, though others knew not, 
 
 Hard to learn — that far away. 
 
 Loved, adored in worlds unnumbered 
 
 God regardeth not the worship 
 
 Sung by sinful lips for pay. 
 
 Not b}^ him were wealthy sinners 
 
 Honored merely for their gold ; 
 
 For he wept to see in Zion 
 
 Men who would betray and sell her 
 
 As the dying Lord was sold. 
 
 Men who rent the pews for lucre: \ 
 
 Sexton's, choir's, priest's reward; j 
 
 And within the light of heaven, 
 
 W^ith their monkeys and their organs 
 
 Grind before the throne of God. 
 
 XIII. 
 Means b}^ faithless men invented, 
 Used the gaping crown to win. 
 Gloss and gewgaw to attract them, 
 To amuse but not to bless them 
 Entered not his heart within. 
 Yea, to him the hoi 3^ Gospel 
 Was g-/ad tidings of Christ's reign. 
 Joyous news of Jesus' Kingdom, 
 Growing up in heavenly beaut}^ 
 In the new born souls of men. 
 Faith was but the heart's reception 
 Of the tidings brought by Christ, 
 Of the everlasting Kingdom, 
 By the icord and Holy Spirit 
 Growino: in the human breast. 
 
THE WAR. 43 
 
 XIV. 
 
 Lo ! the Church has now forgotten 
 That the life by Jesus brought, 
 Is to faithful men committed 
 Through the ivord by perfect teaching, 
 Line on line as fesus taught; 
 That the word embodies Spirit ; 
 That a life is born within ; 
 That the word by Christ committed 
 Is the living form of spirit ; 
 Is Himself conveyed to men ; 
 That the way of life is hidden, 
 And the straight gate hard to find. 
 They must see who guide us to it ; 
 Untaught men can not be teachers, 
 Nor the blinded lead the blind. 
 Oh! The shame! That Christ hath sent us 
 Every poor, dead soul, to reach. 
 While despite the high commission 
 Through the years of midnight darkness 
 Holy Church hath failed to teach; 
 Or in teaching, teacheth vaguely. 
 Deepening, aye, with mists the night, 
 Till the famished soul, bewildered. 
 Falls or wanders through the darkness 
 Further from the Way of Light. 
 
 XV. 
 
 "Come and learn from me, my people!" 
 Manaen said, "for, lo! I bring 
 From the very courts of heaven 
 Tidings of Messiah's Kingdom; 
 Of the presence of the King. 
 
44 THK WAR. 
 
 Of that peerless, heavenly Kingdom, 
 B}^ the prophets long foretold, 
 Symbolized in mj^stic worship, 
 Pictured forth in glowing visions, 
 From the shadow}^ times of old. 
 I will tell how round about us, 
 Fair and glorious, though unseen, 
 Mov^e the living, princely powers 
 From the pearl 3^ gates of heaven. 
 Through the chastened hearts of men." 
 
 XVI. 
 
 God Himself is Love eternal. 
 And the winged hosts that move 
 Through the glittering worlds unnumbered. 
 Peerless, deathless and persistent. 
 Are the powers of His Love. 
 He is Life and Spirit's essence; 
 Without body, parts, or form, 
 Is the Life that filleth all things; 
 Moves the circling hosts of heaven, 
 Guides the earthquake and the storm. 
 Quickens thought, gives secret impulse, 
 Drives the sap through leaf and tree. 
 Paints the hues of morn' and even'. 
 Through the hidden, pearl}^ caverns, 
 Drives the currents of the sea. 
 Shaping ends, adjusted wisely. 
 For some, grand design unknown. 
 Making all the heavenly forces 
 Moving in their sep'rate channels 
 Work as many parts of one; 
 Driving from the worlds of heaven 
 Him whose being is to mar 
 
 I 
 
THE WAR. 45 
 
 Love and Truth and lieavenl}^ oneness, 
 For against this form of evil 
 Angels and Archangels war. 
 
 XVII. 
 
 Love-made flesh is God incarnate, 
 Jesus, of the Virgin born, 
 Root from out the stem of Jesse, 
 Star arising out of Jacob, 
 Resting on the brow of morn'. 
 This is He, the World's Messiah, 
 Holy Prophet, Priest and King — 
 Love made flesh to flesh imparting 
 'Love, to be our Life forever, 
 Is the tidings that I bring, 
 Is the Gospel of the Kingdom, 
 For the living Christ shall reign 
 By the heavenl}^ hosts attended, 
 As Jerusalem descended. 
 Rising in the hearts of men. 
 As the wind blows where it listeth, 
 So b}^ teaching, day by da}^ 
 In the bosom of God's children 
 Rise the bulwarks of that Kingdom 
 Which shall never pass away. 
 Holy Church is the expression, 
 Outward, of what is not seen, 
 Of that everlasting Kingdom 
 Which the Lord of Life and Glory 
 Buildeth in the hearts of men. 
 
 XVIII. 
 
 They, the Sent, who preach the Gospel 
 Sow the living Word 2.?> seed; 
 
46 THE WAR. 
 
 They, who in their hearts, receive Him, 
 By the Life proceeding from Him, 
 Speak their deep Faith in the Creed. 
 For the Gospel \s "glad tidings." 
 And the Creed, the "I beheve;" 
 And the endless Life that springeth 
 From the germ of heavenly knowledge 
 Is the Love God' s Childi^en Live. 
 
 XIX. 
 
 This is Life and Resiirrection\ 
 Is the real Paschal Blood, 
 That which flowed upon the altar, 
 Was the symbol, plain and perfect. 
 Of the endless Life of God. 
 They, who in this icorld of soi'row, 
 Shall this heavenly Life t^eeeive; 
 Shall not die, but live forever, 
 As ci'ithin the JVo?ids iinniunbered, 
 All the hosts of heaven live. 
 
 XX. 
 
 In this Kingdom is a priesthood, 
 Pure in heart, with snowy vest; 
 Like Melchisadec of Salem, 
 In this priesthood, as a body 
 Ministers the living Christ; 
 Priest forever and forever. 
 Yea. A Prophet, Priest and King: 
 As a Prophet, Life imparting, 
 As a Priest, through Life atoning, 
 Reigning in the Life, a King. 
 Judging men in daily trial 
 
THE WAR. 47 
 
 By their strength to do and bear, 
 Wreathing from the thorns that pierce them- 
 In tlie strife — the crowns of glor}' 
 Which forevermore they wear. 
 
 XXI. 
 
 In a glowing, living temple, 
 Built of precious stones and tried, 
 Working still the great atonement, 
 Sprinkling Life, the Blood celestial, 
 Ministers the Crucified. 
 Burning from His inmost bosom. 
 Winged with flame, the Living Word, 
 As the seed of Life eternal. 
 Sinking in the heart receiving 
 Grows into the Life of God. 
 
 XXII. 
 
 And the saved are born of water; 
 
 Symbol of the cleansing Wave, 
 
 Of the washing of God's Spirit, 
 
 Of the cloven flame that cleanses. 
 
 And alone from death can save. 
 
 But the Life comes not from water; 
 
 Water is the open door; 
 
 Through this door, the soul begotten. 
 
 Enters Christ's eternal Kingdom, 
 
 And is born forevermore. 
 
 If we bring our little children 
 
 Through this door, ere yet the Seed 
 
 Of eternal Life be planted. 
 
 They are born — the Life upspringeth 
 
 And finds utterance in the Creed. 
 
 They, ere yet they know the power 
 
48 THE WAR. 
 
 Of the flesh and sleepless foe, 
 Shall receive the Life within them, 
 And into the perfect image 
 Of the lyord of Life may grow. 
 The}^ shall yearn for heavenl}" manna, 
 Bread that cometh from above. 
 And expanding by the feeding, 
 Show themselves the born of heaven 
 B}' their tender deeds of love. 
 
 XXIII. 
 
 They who love their dead may bring them 
 Through this door unto the King. 
 From His lips the Life shall reach them, 
 And the Spirit's touch shall quicken 
 All their loving hearts may bring. 
 He is Life and Resurrection. 
 The}' are dead who have no love. 
 Where He is, the Spirit quickens, 
 And the Life thus born, becometh 
 One witli all the Life above. 
 
 XXIV. 
 
 From the living Christ the Spirit 
 
 Through the Bishop's blessing flows, 
 
 And the inner Life unfoldeth 
 
 Into grace and heavenly beaut}', 
 
 As the opening of a rose. 
 
 Life is energy and power; 
 
 Life Divine is Love most true; 
 
 Life that Jesus died to give us 
 
 Is the strength b}' which the weakest, 
 
 Noble deeds of Love may do; 
 
 Is the strenofth to toil and suffer 
 
THE WAR. 49 
 
 For a fallen brother's good; 
 Strength to triumph over evil, 
 Bringing both ourselves and others 
 Into ojieness icith the Lord. 
 
 XXV. 
 
 He who gave the Life unto us 
 Bids us watch and fast and pray, 
 Lest the feet unused to hardness 
 Through the snares of evil angels 
 Turn aside and miss the way. 
 Life eternal, grows by feeding, 
 Endless Life, on deathless food. 
 They who would abide forever 
 Cannot live, except by feeding 
 Daily on the Life of God. 
 
 XXVI. 
 Slain for men from everlasting, 
 Was the Lamb on whom we feed. 
 They who bear the Christ within them, 
 Feed upon Him, in the Spirit, 
 Eat the Paschal Lamb indeed. 
 He who looked on Jesus walking 
 Said, "Behold the Lamb of God!" 
 Of the Paschal Lamb while eating, 
 Jesus said, 77^w is i^/r body !" 
 Of the Life,^ ''This is My blood." 
 He, indeed the Bi^ead of Heaven 
 Is the Lamb on whom we feed. 
 For the Truth by Him committed 
 Is the Bread that came from heaven. 
 
 *The blood and the wine, were both symbols of the 
 Divine L,ife. 
 
50 THE WAR. 
 
 Bod}^ which is "meat indeed." 
 
 Yea! The blood the High Priest sprinkled 
 
 On the lintel of the door, 
 
 Was the life and so the symbol 
 
 Of that lyife through which we enter 
 
 Into rest forevermore. 
 
 XXVII. 
 
 They who feed, must feed in spirit ; 
 Reach the heavenl}^ food by praj^er ; 
 Keep the way of Life by watching ; 
 Lift the soul into God's presence ; 
 Feed upon His essence there. 
 Bread and Wine of old were sjmibols 
 Eaten with the Paschal Feast, 
 Taken when the Lamb was eaten. 
 Meant to show that in our feasting 
 First we feed upon the Christ. 
 Blood is of the Life the symbol ; 
 Wine is symbol of the blood. 
 Bread is Truth that came from heaven, 
 Truth in which the Life abideth 
 As the ver}^ Blood of God. 
 
 XXVIII. 
 
 W^ith the Christ unseen and noiseless 
 Is a radiant, sleepless train. 
 Shining in the light of heaven, 
 Moving with a might resistless 
 'Gainst the hidden foes of men. 
 Living souls b}' them uplifted 
 In their snowy vestments bright, 
 Rise aloft through all the ages 
 
THE WAR. 51 
 
 As the gathering stars of heaven. 
 Sparkling o'er the sky at night. 
 
 XXIX. 
 
 But, athwart the way that leadeth 
 
 Unto Life and Peace and Rest, 
 
 In a region thick with darkness, 
 
 Reigns with death the Prince of this World, 
 
 As the dreadful Antechrist. 
 
 Here his minions, thin and subtile. 
 
 Daring, crafty and unseen, 
 
 Sleepless, watchful, wise as serpents, 
 
 Make their cruel habitations 
 
 In the thoughtless hearts of men. 
 
 There they bind the soul with fetters 
 
 Which no eye of flesh may see ; 
 
 Lead mankind, unthinking, stupid, 
 
 And from Life and endless blessing 
 
 Turn their stumbling feet away. 
 
 XXX. 
 
 Through the Kingdom's courts they wander, 
 
 Where the false are named for God, 
 
 And the heartless priests and rabble. 
 
 Through all coming time descending, 
 
 Crucify for aye their Lord ; 
 
 Tear the holy church. His body ; 
 
 In it pierce again His breast ; 
 
 Turn with hidden wiles the people. 
 
 And into eternal darkness 
 
 Lead them from the Life of Christ. 
 
 Yea! They make themselves a priesthood, 
 
 Touched of hell and set aflame. 
 
52 THE WAR. 
 
 In the hate, the life of devils, 
 In its zeal, to darkened nations 
 Bear the}' Death in Jesus' name. 
 
 XXXI. 
 
 And the}' raise against Christ's altars, 
 
 Altars in the name of Christ. 
 
 Where God'spriestsgo with the "tidings" 
 
 Of the Life and of the Kingdom, 
 
 Go the priests of Antechrist. 
 
 Bold, they teach what Jesus taught not; 
 
 Loud, the Holy Church deride. 
 
 He who mocked and scourged the Savior 
 
 Hath no tender touch of pit}' 
 
 For the sorrows of the Bride. 
 
 XXXII. 
 
 But the Living Word un weary, 
 Through the darkness of the night, 
 Full of Love, alert and sleepless, 
 'Gainst the gloomy force of evil 
 Leads the heavenly hosts in fight. 
 Where the poor soul in her bondage 
 Feels the galling of her chain, 
 Weeping in her bitter anguish, 
 In the terror of the darkness. 
 There He leads His glittering train, 
 Where the blessed Light descending 
 Falls 2ipon the open door; 
 Where alone she waits and watches. 
 At her cry the Savior enters. 
 And abides, fore verm ore. 
 
THR WAR. 53 
 
 XXXIII. 
 
 All along the wa3^s and byways, 
 Hosts on hosts these souls arise, 
 Shining in the train of Jesus, 
 Back through all the bygone ages, 
 Through the temple of the skies. 
 Thus the nations shall be gathered 
 From the rule of death and sin; 
 High above the tops of mountains 
 Shall arise the endless Kingdom, 
 And the ransomed dwell therein. 
 In the time e'en now upon us, 
 Through the nations there shall be 
 Blazing in a flood of glor\' 
 Holy Light, the light of heaven, 
 Which the quickened soul ma}' see. 
 Even now the Angel's trumpet 
 Soundeth on the midnight air, 
 And the beating wings of Spirits 
 Move above the sleeping nations 
 In their radiant beauty fair. 
 Yea! Behold the Bridegroom Cometh, 
 And the holy church beside 
 Waiteth till the angel's fingers 
 With the fairCvSt gems of heaven, 
 Have adorned His beauteous Bride. 
 
 XXXIV. 
 
 As the gentle, loving teacher 
 
 Of the heavenly Kingdom taught. 
 
 Sleepless rose the forms of darkness. 
 
 Skilled in every art of evil. 
 
 And against his teaching, fought. 
 
54 THE WAR. 
 
 Some were there to scorn and hate him, 
 
 As were some to hate the Lord; 
 
 Who reviled the truth he taught them; 
 
 In the person of the servant 
 
 Spurned the EverHving Word: 
 
 Called him bigot, godless churchman, 
 
 And the church they called "the Beast." 
 
 Yea, the preachers from their pulpits, 
 
 Spoke against the youthful teacher 
 
 As he were the Antechrist. 
 
 "Yea!" they said, "this godless churchman 
 
 Vital piety hath none; 
 
 He unchurches other churches, ' ' 
 
 All forgetful they that Jesus 
 
 Hath but one church, only one. 
 
 Yea! this is His living body. 
 
 Through it runs His Life Divine, 
 
 If from this the}- have departed. 
 
 Who can more than this unchurch them, 
 
 Cut them from the living vine." 
 
 XXXV. 
 
 Wroth, they called the Church of England 
 
 "Harlot," "Beast," a "Branch of Rome"" 
 
 For they knew not that her Bishops, 
 
 With a holy, high commission 
 
 From the living Christ have come; 
 
 That her white-robed lines unbroken 
 
 Are a network, not a chain. 
 
 Running through the sinful nations. 
 
 As the "NET" that Jesus spoke of. 
 
 Woven for the souls of men. 
 
 Knew not how, from out her bosom, 
 
THK WAR. 55 
 
 Hoh' bishops forth were sent, 
 
 Long before the lawless Roman 
 
 Ever set his daring footstep 
 
 On the rocky shore of Kent; 
 
 Knew not how old England struggled 
 
 For the very faith they claim, 
 
 How her Eauds, her Ridleys, Cranmers, 
 
 Numbered with the hosts of martyrs. 
 
 Died the death to keep the same. 
 
 How, in wounds and pain, they wrung it 
 
 From the Roman's bloody hands. 
 
 How, with bleeding hearts, her children 
 
 Hold it up, a thing of beauty 
 
 For the lighting of all lands. 
 
 XXXVI. 
 
 Some there are whom truth, devotion, 
 
 Eove and duty never win. 
 
 Satan, in the garb of heaven. 
 
 Ever findeth easier access 
 
 To the poor, weak hearts of men. 
 
 XXXVII. 
 
 They, who hated Manaen Hobah, 
 Zealous, cruel, sought his fall, 
 As the forty men in compact. 
 Bound themselves in secret conclave 
 For the ruin of St. Paul. 
 Woe ! to them, unloving, wayward. 
 Who, in maddened zeal, would tear. 
 In the name of Christ, His Kingdom, 
 Rend the Church, the seamless garment 
 
56 THE WAR. 
 
 Woven for the Lord to wear. 
 Yea! before the King of Israel, 
 For the child the two complain, 
 She, the mother, yearned unto it. 
 But who feigned to be the mother, 
 Would have had it rent in tivain. 
 
 if i 
 
t 
 
 Maranatha, 
 
 Canto III. 
 
 The Woodman. 
 
 Be not forgetful to entertain strangers, for thereby 
 some have entertained angels unawares.— He b., xiii 2. 
 
 I. 
 
 Now the war was wildly waging 
 O'er the country far and near; 
 Through the towns the tramp of soldiers, 
 And the nois}' shock of battle 
 Filled the aching heart wath fear. 
 Words of love from absent dear ones 
 Often came by trusty hand 
 Through the hostile lines of soldiers, 
 As if borne by unseen Spirits 
 Through the dangers of the land. 
 
 II. 
 
 Once at eve a rugged woodman, 
 Seemingly distressed and poor, 
 Worn and weary from the distance, 
 As he came to ask for lodging 
 
58 THE WOODMAN. 
 
 Stopped at Allan Ruel's door. 
 
 ' Round the hearth the loving household 
 
 Sat with anxious hearts oppressed. 
 
 Binea Hobah fearing evil 
 
 Had detained the pen of Manaen, 
 
 For the evening was their guest. 
 
 III. 
 
 Knocking gently stood the woodman, 
 With a weary, downcast eye, 
 Standing in the deepening shadows 
 With an anxious look, uncertain, 
 Waiting meekly, for reply. 
 Allan entering from the garden 
 Found the stranger at the door 
 And with kindly words addressed him. 
 Thinking of the gentle Savior, 
 In the person of His poor. 
 "Give me" said the weary woodman. 
 "Food and lodging for the night, 
 For ni}' feet refuse to bear me, 
 And the shadowy wing of darkness 
 From ni}' pathwa}' shuts the light." 
 
 IV. 
 
 "Many days my feet have wandered 
 Worn and weary from the West. 
 And I fear my strength would fail me, 
 Ere I could by further seeking 
 Find the wanted food and rest." 
 "Thou art welcome," answered Allan; 
 "He who for the strang^er cares 
 
THE WOODMAN. 59 
 
 Has himself the greater blessing, 
 Thus he sometimes entertaineth 
 Holy Angels unawares. 
 
 V. 
 
 Every art the gentle household 
 
 Tried the stranger guest to please. 
 
 Kindly things the good can think of, 
 
 By each tender heart were spoken 
 
 Meant to make him feel at ease. 
 
 As the evening passed the stranger 
 
 Rising from the ample cheer 
 
 Spoke in loving words, of Manaen, 
 
 When surprised each one expectant 
 
 Waited all intent to hear. 
 
 "Do ye know of Manaen Hobah?" 
 
 Said he— "by the Spirit blest, 
 
 Bearing tidings of the Kingdom, 
 
 And the Life Divine imparting 
 
 To the red men of the West?" 
 
 Ere they spoke he brushed a tear drop 
 
 From the fountain of the eye, 
 
 Saying in his deep emotion: 
 
 "I had rather be that young man 
 
 Than the proudest King to be." 
 
 VI. 
 
 "I have marked him in his walking 
 'Mong the sinful sons of men. 
 Followed through the vale of sorrow 
 Whence he sought to bring the wand'rer 
 Back into the fold again; 
 Heard him calling through the woodlands. 
 
60 THE WOODMAN. 
 
 By the caverns dark and deep ; 
 
 Traced his footsteps o'er the mountains, 
 
 And from savage paws of lions 
 
 Seen him wrest the helpless sheep 
 
 Through the slums where evil spirits 
 
 Fill the sinful heart with woe, 
 
 Hide the narrow path of duty, 
 
 As the sunlight through the valleys 
 
 Dail}^ would his footsteps go. 
 
 Lost and stray the frail and erring 
 
 Ever weak and prone to fall 
 
 Heard afar his tender calling, 
 
 As the sheep upon the mountains 
 
 Hearken to the shepherd's call. 
 
 Ever and anon a frail one 
 
 Heard the voice with lifted head, 
 
 Saw afar the gentle shepherd 
 
 And from hidden foes and dangers 
 
 Unsuspecting turned her tread." 
 
 VII. 
 
 "Chief among his works of mercy 
 Was to plant the Eife within; 
 For the Eife is more than body. 
 As the body more than raiment. 
 And shall never die again. 
 Yea! The Gospel of the Kingdom 
 Taught he as within a school, 
 Till in fair and full proportion, 
 Deeply felt and comprehended 
 It was planted in the soul. 
 Planted as the wheat and growing 
 To perfection by the Word, 
 
THE WOODMAN. 61 
 
 Seeds were dropped in other bosoms, 
 Till the very world be planted 
 For the sickle of the Lord." 
 
 VIII. 
 
 "All along the little valley 
 Has the gentle young man been, 
 Till the people living in it 
 Have imbibed the loving spirit 
 Of the lowh^ Mazarine. 
 Through the gloomy vale of sorrow, 
 Moving with a noiseless tread 
 Press the unseen feet of angels. 
 And newborn, rise souls immortal 
 From the darkness and the dead." 
 
 IX. 
 
 "Christ, the I^ife arrayed in glory, 
 I^eading on the heavenly train. 
 Goes among the dead and dying 
 Where the lost for help are crying 
 And restores to Light again. 
 Rising like the stars at midnight 
 O'er the darkened world of sin ; 
 Through the brightness of their rising, 
 Other streaming eyes beholding. 
 See the way and walk therein." 
 
 X. 
 
 "Then the gentle Savior, leading, 
 Goes before them in the way. 
 And they learn, that Life eternal 
 
62 THE WOODMAN. 
 
 Is the might to do and suffer, 
 As the Christ on Calvary. 
 Holy Light over vale and woodland 
 Shines the living soul within, 
 Penetrates the hidden chambers, 
 While the endless Kingdom cometh 
 Daih^ in the hearts of men." 
 
 XI. 
 
 Here the touching story ended. 
 And the Woodman drooped his head 
 As afar his spirit wandered. 
 And in peace, among the blessed 
 Held communion with the dead. 
 Still I hear the words he uttered 
 As he brushed the tear away, 
 Saying in his deep emotion: 
 "I had rather be that young man 
 Than the proudest King to be." 
 
 XII. 
 
 As the story was related 
 
 Every heart was glad to hear ; 
 
 As it ended Binea Hobah, 
 
 Full of deep, restrained emotion 
 
 Drew the rugged stranger near. 
 
 "This" — he said — "this noble teacher 
 
 Is my own beloved son." 
 
 All you see before you know him, 
 
 And his gentle manners for him 
 
 In each heart a place has won. 
 
 O'er these hills and through these valleys, 
 
 Far and near his feet have trod, 
 
THE WOODMAN. 63 
 
 As a faithful, loving shepherd 
 Watching o'er the sheep and bringing 
 Wand'rers to the fold of God. 
 For the lost who walk in darkness 
 Through the forests of the West, 
 Hath he left his home and kindred, 
 Zealous in his love, to bring them 
 To the bosom of the Christ. 
 
 XIII. 
 
 Long our hearts have yearned for tidings, 
 
 In our fear foreboding ill; 
 
 P'or the dreadful war is cruel, 
 
 And his ready pen and loving. 
 
 Unrestrained, would not be still. 
 
 "Is it long since you have seen him? 
 
 Has he peace and is he well? 
 
 Or doth an}^ danger threaten? 
 
 Hath he secret foes about him? 
 
 Of his present cans'tthou tell?" 
 
 XIV. 
 
 "It is long," replied the Woodman ; 
 "When I left, 'twas early spring, 
 Kre the leaves had clothed the forest, 
 While with chilly blasts of autumn, 
 Only now these words I bring. 
 Then indeed no danger threatened. 
 For the horrors of the war 
 Had not crossed the peaceful prairies. 
 Yea! We only heard the echoes 
 From the bloody fields afar. ' ' 
 
64 THE WOODMAN. 
 
 XV. 
 
 "Lo! I bear no evil tidings, 
 But themselves have taken wing, 
 And I thought had come before me. 
 For the air re-echoes evil. 
 And the winds such tidings bring. 
 While upon ni}' journey passing, 
 Yea! 't was but the other da}^ 
 At an inn I met a townsman. 
 Who upon some secret mission 
 Passed unknown along his way. 
 As we sat that night together, 
 Tearful news he had to tell. 
 How a sorrow, unexpected, 
 Came upon the peaceful mission, 
 How the town a woe befell." 
 
 XVI. 
 
 "Through the quiet region passing. 
 From a hostile city near. 
 Led by white men, vile and cruel. 
 Came a band of whites and negroes. 
 Gloating in the spoils of war. 
 The}^ who hated Manaen Hobah, 
 Wrought by bolder hands, their sin. 
 For the bribed the vicious leader. 
 Who with hope of spoil and plunder. 
 Led his band the town within. 
 
 XVII. 
 
 Knowing not, the loving people 
 Gathered in the house of pra3'er. 
 And the zealous teacher taught them, 
 
THE WOODMAN. 65 
 
 Of the King and of His Kingdom, 
 Of the princely powers fair. 
 Yea! He stood among his people 
 With his loving heart aglow, 
 Hearing them and asking questions. 
 Till the shadows from the mountain 
 Rested on the vale below. 
 Eagerly his people listened, 
 When, arising from the plain, 
 Came a sound of trampling horsemen. 
 And, anon, with surly features, 
 Rushed the band of armed men. 
 
 XVIII. 
 
 'Round the church, with glitt' ring sabers, 
 Drawn, as if they faced a foe. 
 Scowled they on the startled people, 
 And, obedient to their orders, 
 Suffered none to come or go. 
 When the morning o'er the mountains 
 Softly rose in peace again. 
 Darkly 'gainst the blush of heaven 
 Rose the smoke that told the ruin 
 Wrought that night by beastly men. 
 
 XIX. 
 
 They who loved the gentle Manaen 
 
 And the blessed ways of Light, 
 
 Learned that some who scorned his teachings 
 
 Were the guides, who, through these spoilers 
 
 Wrought the horrors of that night. 
 
 They had branded him a rebel. 
 
 For his southern birth had been 
 
QQ THE WOODMAN. 
 
 Wrong enough to serve their purpose, 
 Though his strong and loving teaching 
 And his power were his sin. 
 
 XX. 
 
 Flaming torches, burning, hissing, 
 
 By the heartless band were placed 
 
 Which through hallowed aisle and chancel, 
 
 B}' the sacred desk and altar. 
 
 Laid the rustic temple waste. 
 
 Hands upraised alone in blessing 
 
 Fast they bound with twisted cord, 
 
 As the Jews and Roman soldiers 
 
 Crowned with thorns the loving Jesus, 
 
 Bound and led away their Lord. 
 
 Then beyond the distant prairie, 
 
 Far away with weary tread. 
 
 Uncomplaining, meek and Christ-like, 
 
 To some dreary, unknown prison 
 
 Was the lonely captive led. 
 
 XXI. 
 
 They who listened to the Woodman 
 Heard with heaving sighs of pain, 
 With a grief too deep to utter, 
 And from eyes unused to weeping 
 Burning tears ran down like rain. 
 None the bitter, crushing anguish 
 Of that wretched night ma}^ know. 
 Mute with grief was Binea Hobah, 
 Through his aged, aching bosom 
 Swept a flood of speechless woe. 
 
THE WOODMAN. 67 
 
 But within no other bosom 
 Was the piercing pang so keen 
 As the fierce, heartrending anguish, 
 Tearing as a sweeping tempest 
 Through the heart of Mitylene. 
 
 XXII. 
 
 None could say a word to comfort, 
 For no word could bring relief. 
 Ever}^ heart was bowed in silence, 
 As the branches of the willow, 
 By the overwhelming grief. 
 Sorrow brooded as the midnight 
 O'er the hopes of former years. 
 Cast a pall upon the future, 
 Filled the air with dreadful shadows, 
 And the loving hearts with fears. 
 Slowly passed the long, sad moments 
 Through the silence of the night. 
 Sleep departed, and their Spirits, 
 Peering through surrounding darkness. 
 Waited for the dawn of light. 
 
 XXIII. 
 
 On the morrow gentle Allan 
 
 For the stranger fearing, lest 
 
 He were poor and might be needing, 
 
 Filled a purse, and with his blessing. 
 
 Gave it to his unknown guest. 
 
 "This," he said, "in love is given 
 
 Unto Jesus crucified, 
 
 Who, to plant the Life of heaven. 
 
 Living Love in every bosom. 
 
68 THE WOODMAN. 
 
 On the shameful cross has died. 
 Take it with thee, kindh' use it 
 When in need, it may do good. 
 If with plenty God has blessed thee, 
 Then unto some needy brother 
 Give it in the name of God." 
 
 XXIV. 
 
 Kindly was the gift accepted, 
 With a radience from high 
 Beaming from His form and features, 
 Thus in tender words and loving, 
 Made the rugged guest repl}": 
 "Unto thee I came a stranger, 
 All unknown, 3'ou took me in; 
 I was hungry and you fed me, 
 Thirst}' and to drink you gave me, 
 Princely, in my need have been. 
 Deeds of love done to God's children 
 In the crying time of need 
 Live forever and forever. 
 On the heart of God recorded, 
 Done unto the Christ indeed. ' ' 
 
 XXV. 
 
 "Be not faithless, but believing, 
 For the will of God is good, 
 Clouds that overcast the heavens 
 Are the pinions of the angels 
 Laden with the gifts of God. 
 You shall see the gentle Manaen. 
 He, the Lost, shall be restored, 
 And the maiden shall behold him. 
 
THE WOODMAN. 69 
 
 l]7u')i ilhimined by the Sphif 
 She shall sec the Christ the Lord. ' ' 
 
 XVI. 
 
 Then the Woodman from his bosom 
 Took a beauteous, polished stone. 
 "This," he said, "I give a token 
 Of the endless love I bear thee. 
 Take it, keep it as thine own. 
 When another shall be given 
 Which shall seem alike to thee. 
 Closely fit the two together; 
 In the words upon them written 
 Thou the living Christ shalt see. '' 
 Kind adieus received and given. 
 Passed the Woodman from the sight, 
 While upon the troubled household 
 Slowly settled down their sorrow, 
 Deep'ning as the shades of night. 
 
 XXVII. 
 
 A Change. 
 
 As upon the great Atlantic 
 Storm clouds gather in the sky. 
 And abroad the vivid lightning 
 Leaping from the vaults of heaven, 
 Shakes the caverns of the sea, 
 And the muttering waves with clamor 
 Angr}^ seek the distant shore. 
 Rolling on, in foam and blackness, 
 Bearing every bark before them 
 On to shipwreck and to woe. 
 
70 THE WOODMAN. 
 
 So three 3'ears of dreadful tumult 
 Of the war had passed awa}^ 
 x\nd the loved ones of 1113^ story 
 Scattered were, forlorn and wretched, 
 As the shipwrecked on the sea. 
 
 XXVIII. 
 
 All the lovely home of Allan, 
 Wrecked and ruined, sere and brown, 
 Was a heap of cindered rubbish, 
 And the stillness of the ruin 
 Was the sorrow of the town. 
 It was said, a time of anguish 
 Came upon the city fair, 
 That a roving band, for plunder, 
 Came at night and burned the dwelling, 
 And the loved ones perished there. 
 Binea Hobah heard a rumor 
 That his Manaen had been slain, 
 That his heart's blood wet the prairie. 
 And his bones, unknown, unburied. 
 Bleached upon the Western plain. 
 And there came no tidings from him. 
 From his own, or foreign lands. 
 Or withheld by some official. 
 Who retained them for a purpose, 
 Came not to his aged hands. 
 
 XXIX. 
 
 Rumor, cruel and unfriendly 
 Told, how at the close of day 
 Came a woodman bearing tidings, 
 And unseen, at early dawning 
 
THE WOODMAN. 71 
 
 With the shadows passed awa}-; 
 
 How the loved ones of ni}' story, 
 
 Sympathizing with the foe, 
 
 All unworthy and disloyal. 
 
 Clothed and fed the secret agents 
 
 In their passing to and fro. 
 
 How the woe that came upon them 
 
 Was the sword in Justice's hand, 
 
 Only lifted up to punish 
 
 Those who careless of their dut^' 
 
 Sinned against their native land. 
 
 XXX. 
 
 Weary moments, sorrow freighted; 
 In a long, long, cheerless train. 
 Passed away as Israel's children 
 Wandering from Bael Zephon, 
 Through the Red Sea, over the plain. 
 Time departed; yet, no tidings! 
 None the loved and lost had seen! 
 And the vines crept over the ruins, 
 As the tendrils had been guided 
 By the hand of Mitylene. 
 Flitting birds came down at evening, 
 Singing, as they came to tell 
 How they saw- the cruel soldiers 
 Burn the peaceful home to cinders, 
 How the flames lit up the vale. 
 
 XXXI. 
 
 springtime came with mirth and beauty, 
 And the Winter came with snow. 
 
72 THE WOODMAN. 
 
 In the Summer moved the shadows 
 Where the gentle, loving maiden 
 Years agone would come and go. 
 Then there came a gladsome Springtime, 
 When the lawn was green and fair, 
 And the shadows fell in softness 
 All along the silent pathwa^^ 
 By the elm tree and arm chair. 
 
 XXXII. 
 
 Then there came a noiseless footstep 
 With a solemn, silent tread. 
 Came a beauteous, palid maiden. 
 As some fair angelic Spirit 
 Of the saintl}^ blessed dead. 
 With a mien subdued and placid. 
 Down the shaded wa\' she trod, 
 As within herself she struggled 
 With her heart, subdued to bring it 
 Fashioned to the will of God. 
 
 XXXIII. 
 
 Resting in the mossy arm chair, 
 Far away her spirit roved 
 With the swiftness of an angel. 
 Passing over seas and nations, 
 Seeking for the much beloved. 
 Then it came again unto her, 
 For the search had been in vain. 
 Nowhere could it find her Manaen, 
 Winging through each far off nation, 
 And o'er every distant main. 
 
THE WOODMAN. 73 
 
 XXXIV. 
 
 Then with white hands meekly folded, 
 Fairer than the snow is fair, 
 With her eyes upturned and pleading, 
 And her poor heart bruised and bleeding 
 Turned she to her God in prayer. 
 
 XXXV. 
 
 "Father! In Thy Mercy hear me ; 
 
 Let ni}^ prayer be not in vain! 
 
 Bring, O Bring the lost one to me 
 
 As Thy blessed son, the Bridegroom 
 
 Coming for His Bride again ! 
 
 If it please Thee, Holy Father, 
 
 That my poor heart suffer still. 
 
 Give me grace to bow submissive, 
 
 Knowing that to be most blessed 
 
 Is to do and bear Thy will ! ' ' 
 
 Though Thou leadest through the furnace, 
 
 And the heat be seven fold; 
 
 Where Thou leadest Thou art present, 
 
 And the poorest of Thy children 
 
 To Thy loving hand may hold. 
 
 By the furnace Thou dost fashion 
 
 Whom Thou lovest like to Thee ; 
 
 Turn the melting gold to fineness. 
 
 And by biting flame, consuming. 
 
 Ever drive the dross away. 
 
 He who made the worlds of beauty 
 
 Glitter through the halls of night 
 
 Cannot err, when by His Spirit 
 
 P'ashons He the Soul immortal. 
 
 Evermore to shed His Lisfht. 
 
74 THE WOODMAN. 
 
 Through the burning fiery furnace 
 
 Though we pass unwiUing feet, 
 
 Holy Light and heavenh' beauty 
 
 Only come from out the burning, 
 
 As the pure gold from the heat. 
 
 May my heart submissive, bending, 
 
 Meekl}^ learn to do and bear, 
 
 Till by doing and by bearing, 
 
 All my life is crowned with jewels, 
 
 Such as holy angels wear. 
 
 It is better, O My Father! 
 
 To have strength to love Thy will. 
 
 Strength to bear it, strength to do it, 
 
 Than to have all earthly sweetness, 
 
 And to drink it to the fill. 
 
 Hear, O Father, then my pleading ; 
 
 All along life's bitter way 
 
 Lead Thou me with Light unfailing, 
 
 Till through darkness, toil and danger 
 
 At the last I rest in Thee. 
 
 XXXVI. 
 
 Thus the loving prayer was ended, 
 And with noiseless step and light. 
 Passed away the palid maiden. 
 And anon, along the pathway 
 Crept the shadows of the night. 
 
t 
 
 Marantha. 
 
 Canto IV. 
 
 The Exiles. 
 
 Lo! I am with you always.— S/. Matt., xxviii, 20. 
 
 Rising from the silver waters 
 Spreads a beauteous land and bright. 
 Mountains overtopping mountains, 
 Reared aloft between two oceans, 
 Pierce the golden realms of light; 
 Wondrous powers, moving softly 
 On their radiant wings unseen 
 Through the lovely shaded valleys 
 Rear the living forms of beauty 
 To the heavy gaze of men; 
 Sprinkling with their restless fingers 
 Lovely flowers here and there. 
 As they spread them in the pathwa3" 
 Of the ever-living Father, 
 From the shining worlds afar. 
 From the earth the palm uplifting, 
 And the Mangoe dark and green, 
 
76 THE EXILES. 
 
 Beauteous forms of life unfolding, 
 As for better, nobler creatures 
 Than the sinful sons of men. 
 Through the azure depths of heaven 
 Move the}' fleecy clouds of light, 
 Lead the shining worlds unnumbered, 
 As the forces of Christ's Kingdom 
 Moving 'gainst the shades of night. 
 
 II. 
 
 Men unthinking, dull, unconscious, 
 
 As the worm beside the wa}' 
 
 Dwell among celestial powers, 
 
 Brushed b}^ beating wings of angels, 
 
 Knowing not, unapt to see. 
 
 In and through and round about them 
 
 Dwelleth God, enrobed in Light, 
 
 All unknown, while through and through them 
 
 Pass unheeded hidden forces 
 
 Moving with resistless might. 
 
 III. 
 
 To this land from out the distance, 
 
 Crowding on the surging flood. 
 
 Come the waves as living creatures 
 
 Lifting up their hands and falling 
 
 Suppliant at the throne of God ; 
 
 As they wept with great hearts bleeding 
 
 For the sinful race of men. 
 
 As they saw the woes impending. 
 
 Saw the death without an ending, 
 
 And the impious tribes of sin ; 
 
 Saw the foe with aspect dreadful, 
 
THE EXILES. 77 
 
 In the Church, with iron rod, 
 Dark, relentless and persistent, 
 Prince malignant, o'er the people 
 Reigning in the room of God ; 
 Saw him and in pity pleaded, 
 lyest the hope of men should fail ; 
 Lest the foe should so oppress them. 
 That their Light go out in darkness, 
 And the gates of hell prevail. 
 
 IV. 
 
 As the temple's wall uplifted, 
 Range on range the mountains high 
 Touch the starry roof of heaven, 
 And the milk}^ clouds as spirits 
 Wander through the azure sky. 
 As a solemn miserrere. 
 Zephyrs whisper, light and thin. 
 And their passing through the forests 
 Make the tiny leaves to tremble 
 As the hearts of sinful men ; 
 Make them tremble as hereafter. 
 When the graves give up their dead, 
 Men look back in fear and tremble 
 In dismay, too late repentant 
 For the thoughtless lives they've led. 
 
 V. 
 
 In a vale where green clad mountains 
 Seem a pathway to the sk}^ 
 And the softened hues of evening 
 Hide the dwellings of the angels 
 From the longing of the eye ; 
 
78 THE EXILES. 
 
 B}' a rushing mountain torrent, 
 In the deepness of a vale, 
 Cultured, gentle, meek and Christ-like 
 Gathered by a common sorrow, 
 Strangers in their exile dwell. 
 Many fearless, noble spirits. 
 Clothed upon by weaker clay. 
 Princely men and gentle women, 
 Strong and resolute to suffer 
 Waited in this land, awa3\ 
 Here the gentle race of Aztecs 
 Dwell in peace in vale and wood 
 Following imperfect teaching, 
 Hidden by a veil of darkness 
 From the blessed truths of God. 
 
 VI. 
 
 In their midst, a thing of beaut3% 
 
 Fair and bright the sweet Church stood. 
 
 Daily from the ancient belfry 
 
 Called the bell as if an angel ; 
 
 Called and led the flock of God. 
 
 This fair temple long deserted 
 
 In the woe of other days. 
 
 In compassion for their sorrow 
 
 Had been given to the exiles 
 
 For the tuneful voice of praise. 
 
 For the Christ had journied with them, 
 
 Ever unseen, by their side 
 
 Leading hosts of high-born Spirits 
 
 Where they met, within their temple 
 
 Morning and at even-tide. 
 
 Filled with Life, the heart's devotion 
 
THE EXILES. 79 
 
 Rose upon the air awa}-, 
 As a part of heaven's worship, 
 Floating through the azure cloud-land 
 At the dawn and close of day, 
 Flooding all the vale with music, 
 Upward towards the distant sky, 
 Rising o'er the lofty mountains. 
 Trembling on the wings and pressing 
 To the throne of God on high. 
 
 VII. 
 
 He who read the holy service 
 In his grey locks meekly stood, 
 As his silver head were whitened. 
 And his loving features lightened. 
 By his nearness unto God. 
 It was Allan, Allan Ruel, 
 Leading to the realms of da}-, 
 Whether in his home beloved 
 With the dear ones of his bosom, 
 Or with strangers far away. 
 
 VIII. 
 
 In this village was a custom 
 
 Handed down from other da3\s. 
 
 Long observed by priest and people. 
 
 As a parable enwoven 
 
 In the fabric of their ways; 
 
 In the holy Advent season — 
 
 Kept by all — a joj^ous feast 
 
 Pictured forth the church triumphant, 
 
 Clothed in heavenly light and beauty. 
 
 Made forever one with Christ. 
 
80 THE EXILES. 
 
 IX. 
 
 From the maidens of the villiage, 
 
 In the bright Ascension-tide, 
 
 When the holy church's service 
 
 Tells us of the Bridegroom's coming, 
 
 One is chosen for the bride. 
 
 But the Bridegroom, none must know him 
 
 Till he comes the bride to claim; 
 
 When the priest of God revealing, 
 
 Shall disclose unto the people 
 
 The beloved and well-known name. 
 
 If there be no plighted loved one. 
 
 Then the bride must wed the Christ; 
 
 If there be, then doubly married, 
 
 In the person of her loved one, 
 
 I^eans she on the Savior's breast. 
 
 X. 
 
 From the service learn the people 
 
 That the Christ God's only Son, 
 
 To Himself and in the Father 
 
 Shall unite, though now asunder, 
 
 All God's people into one; 
 
 That the growth in heavenly graces 
 
 Is the robing for the feast ; 
 
 That the love all men enfolding. 
 
 Is the church in oneness gathered 
 
 To the bosom of the Christ. 
 
 Yea! They learn, and loving, listen 
 
 Through the flowing Christian year, 
 
 While the voices of the seasons 
 
 Crying through the midnight darkness, 
 
 Tell us that the Lord is near. 
 
THE EXILES. 81 
 
 XI. 
 
 In her chamber, chosen virgins 
 Place the jewels on the bride, 
 While on wings the fleeting moments 
 Pressing onward from the future 
 To the long forgotten glide. 
 In the gathering shades of evening, 
 Through the darkness comes the groom. 
 Eager with his comrades, ready, 
 That with music, mirth and gladness 
 He may bear his loved one home. 
 
 XII. 
 
 On the way still other virgins 
 
 With their lamps, the oil beside, 
 
 W^eary with the long delaying 
 
 Sleep, until the trumpet's warning 
 
 Calls them forth to meet the bride. 
 
 Each one waits, with oil provided 
 
 In her vessel, for dela}^; 
 
 Thus to teach that for Christ's coming 
 
 Every soul must be well furnished. 
 
 Without lack, while yet 'tis day. 
 
 When anon the twain are wedded, 
 
 Then along the mountain heights 
 
 Runs the cry: ' 'The Bridegroom cometh' ' 
 
 Then from sleep arise the virgins 
 
 And in gladness trim their lights; 
 
 Thus we learn that heavenly knowledge 
 
 Lights the narrow, thorny way, 
 
 That the church must come through darkness 
 
 To the royal habitations 
 
 And the light of endless day. 
 
82 THE EXILES. 
 
 XIII. 
 
 Long had passed the fleeting season 
 Of the bright x\scension-tide. 
 And the tender, loving maiden 
 Had been chosen from the strangers 
 As the meetest Advent Bride. 
 She beloved by all her comrades 
 Was the gentle Mit3'lene. 
 Dwelling with her loving parents, 
 Working with them in their exile, 
 Meekly for the good of men. 
 He Who chast'neth whom He loveth 
 Had not spared the chast'ning rod, 
 Till her young heart turned as meekly 
 As the heart of Jeptha's daughter 
 To the blessed will of God. 
 
 XIV. 
 
 Sorrow hung her drooping pinions 
 Thrown in shadows o'er her face, 
 And a heavenly benediction 
 Touched her fair and lovely features 
 With a soft angelic grace. 
 In the temple of her bosom 
 High-born Spirits, sent of God, 
 Ministered the Life eternal, 
 Where upon a throne erected 
 Reigned in Light the risen Lord. 
 Her sweet Spirit bowing meekly 
 Followed where His feet had lead, 
 Building the eternal kingdom. 
 Filling up with him the number 
 Of the living from the dead. 
 
THE EXILES. 83 
 
 XV. 
 
 In the sultry days of summer, 
 When upon the air unseen, 
 Pestilence, disease and anguish. 
 Hung with beating wing, but noiseless 
 O'er the saddened homes of men. 
 Sent of God to check or chasten. 
 Lest the thoughtless feet should stray, 
 And forgetful of the ending. 
 Of the Life or Death impending 
 Should forever miss their wa}'. 
 Sent to some to scourge and turn them, 
 Some to gather to their rest. 
 Some to bring unto their portion 
 With the false and unbelieving 
 Who reject the love of Christ. 
 
 XVI. 
 
 In a rustic, vine-clad cottage, 
 In a garden by the wood. 
 Restless in a burning fever 
 Laid an aged, Christian Aztec, 
 Chastened by the hand of God. 
 Here unseen, the loving Savior 
 With the heavenl}^ host had been; 
 Here, as if herself an angel. 
 With the morning, or the evening, 
 Came the gentle Mitylene. 
 
 XVII. 
 
 Once she sat beside her patient 
 When returning health and light 
 
84 THE EXILES. 
 
 Lit his features, as the morning 
 Bursting sweetly o'er the mountains 
 Drives away the shades of night. 
 In her heart the thought had risen 
 Of her Manaen, and the eye 
 Of the sick man saw her sorrow. 
 As a cloud had cast a shadow, 
 Passing through the sunlit sk}^ 
 
 XVIII. 
 
 "Why," said he, "Should one w^ho comforts 
 
 Others in their sore distress 
 
 Bear alone some secret burden, 
 
 Which another by the sharing 
 
 Might remove or make it less?" 
 
 "It indeed," she said, "is blessed 
 
 All God's holy wall to bear, 
 
 But thyself, to be more blessed, 
 
 Reachest forth thy heart to help me 
 
 And the deepest grief to share." 
 
 XIX. 
 
 "Listen then unto my stor}-. 
 Though the proffered help be vain. 
 It may while away a moment, 
 And the tear that falls in pitj^ 
 Is a soothing balm for pain. 
 In our home, myself and parents. 
 By a green wood dwelt alone, 
 And a dear one, Manaen Hobah, 
 Was the son of our next neighbor, 
 Loved and honored in the town. 
 We in childhood played together, 
 
THE EXILES. 85 
 
 Children each the other won. 
 Our young hearts were bound together, 
 As two vines with twining tendrils 
 Grown together, seem but one. 
 
 XX. 
 
 Long we loved and long were happy 
 In our wretched land away, 
 Living fondly for each other. 
 And we hoped to tread together 
 Hand in hand, life's thorny way. 
 Then a storm swept o'er our country 
 As a tempest o'er the sea, 
 And our home was wrecked and ruined ; 
 Friends and loved ones far were driven, 
 Helpless to this land away. 
 
 XXI. 
 
 Manaen Hobah, faithful, loyal 
 To the blessed church of God, 
 Won the hatred of the erring, 
 Who, unloving, have departed 
 From the oneness of the Lord. 
 Suffered he most cruel sorrows 
 From the hate of sect and clan, 
 Some have said was foully murdered. 
 With this sad and painful story 
 Long I wept for Manaen, 
 Then in prison did I .suffer 
 From a tyrant's cruel hand, 
 For my own dear bleeding people 
 In the fierce, unequal struggle 
 Surging o'er our fated land. 
 
86 THE EXILES. 
 
 XXII. 
 
 When relieved, I labored fondl}^ 
 
 With a lo3'al heart and true, 
 
 For the sick and wounded, dying, 
 
 Of my own poor stricken people, 
 
 As I thought my Lord would do. 
 
 Once among the dead and dying, 
 
 Where I labored day by day, 
 
 P'rom a wasted, palid stranger 
 
 Heard I of my poor, lost Manaen, 
 
 In the savage wilds, away. 
 
 Then with aching heart I wandered 
 
 To the red men of the wood ; 
 
 But no tidings came of Manaen. 
 
 Some there were who said the prairies 
 
 Long ago had drank his blood. 
 
 XXIII. 
 
 Then with one, an aged red man 
 
 As protector by the wa}-, 
 
 Up and dow^n the vales and mountains 
 
 Looked I for the loved and lost one. 
 
 Where his wand'ring steps might stray. 
 
 "Know you not of Manaen Hobah 
 
 From the land from which I came ? 
 
 Do his footsteps press these mountains ?" 
 
 Or from others coming, going, 
 
 "Have 3''ou ever heard his name? 
 
 Do you know him ? Have you seen him 
 
 In the countr}^ far or near ? 
 
 Have you heard of any stranger 
 
 Wandering in lonely exile 
 
 Driven by the cruel war?" 
 
THE exii.es. 87 
 
 XXIV. 
 
 Then the sick man, careful, fearing 
 Lest he rouse a hope in vain, 
 Said as memory touched a fountain 
 "Listen while I tell a story, 
 Yet, thy footsteps to detain. 
 Here, in Autumn, in the evening, 
 When the rosy, colored light, 
 Rested on the quiet woodlands. 
 And the golden clouds and fleecy 
 Floated o'er the mountain height. 
 Shadows as the wings of Spirits 
 Hung above the vale and wood. 
 Overspread the quiet cottage, 
 Where beside the vine-clad window. 
 In the softened light I stood. 
 Evening, with her trailing garments. 
 Crowned with golden stars of light 
 Hovered o'er the vales and mountains 
 And with twinkling, jeweled fingers 
 Op'd the chambers of the night." 
 
 XXV. 
 
 "Then with weary footsteps pressing 
 
 Came a stranger to my door, 
 
 Came a young man, strong but wayworn, 
 
 And his gentle, manly features 
 
 Many marks of sorrow bore. ' ' 
 
 * 'Give me, stranger' ' — said the wand'rer, 
 
 "Food and lodging, for distressed 
 
 Is my heart, my limbs are aching, 
 
 And my body used to hardships 
 
 Faints for wanted food and rest." 
 
88 THE EXILES. 
 
 "Come" said I, "for wear}- strangers 
 Welcome, from afar, or near, 
 Ma}^ the merc^- of the Father 
 Ever give me strength to gather 
 And provide them food and cheer. 
 Through the evening, talking little. 
 Seemed his spirit far away. 
 As it sought some loved and lost one. 
 And unmindful of the body 
 Hasted, nor could brook delay." 
 
 XXVI. 
 
 "As the evening passed, perceiving 
 That I saw and felt his woe 
 Plied he me with earnest questions 
 Of all strangers in the countr}^, 
 Of those passing to and fro. 
 Then he told me of his sorrows. 
 Of the one he loved and lost. 
 How in foreign lands she wandered, 
 While her own, her native country, 
 As the sea, was tempest tossed. 
 Yea ! He told me how in dreaming 
 Came the heavenly forms of light, 
 How he saw the holy angels 
 Bearing his beloved one to him 
 In the visions of the night." 
 
 XXVII. 
 
 "As to name ni}^ mem'ry fails me, 
 Yea ! He told me not, I ween. 
 But the loved one whom he sought for. 
 Mentioned fondly in his storj^. 
 
THE EXILES. 89 
 
 Was some gentle Mit3'lene. 
 This indeed may be thy lost one, 
 And with feet that will not rest, 
 Guided by the hand of Heaven 
 He will surel}^ come and finding, 
 Clasp thee to his loving breast." 
 "Where he wanders, may the angels 
 Ever keep a w^atchful guard 
 Where are foes, or hidden dangers 
 May he ever rest securely 
 Underneath the wnngs of God." 
 
 XXVIII. 
 
 "Is it long since thou hast seen him ? 
 May he not" she said "be found? 
 May not still his footsteps linger 
 In some quiet woodland village 
 In the lovely vales around?'' 
 "It is long, but God is loving ;" 
 Said the sick man — "It may be 
 That wathin the way he wandered 
 Is the impress of his spirit. 
 Which a trace and guide may be." 
 
 XXIX. 
 
 "Wilt thou tell me" said the maiden, 
 
 "Of the dream and forms of light? 
 
 How he vSaw God's holy angels 
 
 Bearing his beloved one to him 
 
 In the visions of the night ?' ' 
 
 "Go this time," he said "to-morrow 
 
 I wall try the dream to tell ; 
 
 Now^ my failing strength forbids me, 
 
90 THE EXILES. 
 
 And the growing shadows warn me 
 That delay would not be well. 
 But your asking now reminds me 
 Of a package and the name, 
 It was brought me by a neighbor 
 Who had found it off the highway, 
 In the path the stranger came. 
 On the mantel thou wilt find it, 
 And a picture thou mayst know. 
 At the least these may inform us 
 Whether he, the wear}^ wand'rer, 
 Was th}' Manaen or no.'' 
 
 XXX. 
 
 On the package, plainly written, 
 
 Manaen 's well known name was seen, 
 
 For it was most highly valued, 
 
 And the picture was the image 
 
 Of the lovely Mitylene. 
 
 "This is Manaen" said the maiden, 
 
 "I myself am Mitylene. 
 
 Oh! How blessed the assurance 
 
 That the Father's hand doth lead me 
 
 Where those weary feet have been ! 
 
 May I take these treasures with me ? 
 
 For they seem by heaven sent 
 
 In the deepness of ni}' sorrow 
 
 Lovingl}^ to guide my footsteps. 
 
 In the way m}' Manaen went." 
 
 ' 'Take them with thee, ' ' said the sick man 
 
 "Search and all the message see. 
 
 When again, thou com'st to me. 
 
 If the dream is there recorded 
 
 Kindly bring: and read to me." 
 
THE EXILES. 91 
 
 XXXI. 
 
 So the loving maiden, gladdened, 
 Sought with lighter heart her home ; 
 Tender eyes that waited for her, 
 At the lightness of her footsteps 
 Brightened as they saw her come. 
 Flitting birds seemed 3'et to linger, 
 Floating downward on the wing. 
 As they, seeing, felt her gladness, 
 And through all the leafy forests 
 Only could their gladness sing. 
 In the West the hues of twilight 
 Lovelier grew than e'er before, 
 As the Angels had descended 
 And to lift the gloom of darkness 
 Opened wide, the heaven's door. 
 
 XXXII. 
 
 As with rapid tongue her story 
 Poured she into eager ears, 
 Hopes as rays of light from heaven 
 Touched within the hidden fountains 
 Till the eylids rained with tears. 
 
 XXXIII. 
 
 All that night through paths of Eden, 
 Lighted up with heavenly beams, 
 Through the cooling, shaded bowers. 
 She, beneath the wings of angels. 
 Walked with Manaen in her dreams. 
 Long before the birds awakened. 
 Singing through the dewey wood. 
 
92 THE EXILES. 
 
 While the sky was still uncurtained 
 Rose her soul, on snowy pinions 
 Worshiping and praising God. 
 Ere the ros}^ blush of morning 
 Rested on the mountain height, 
 New-born hopes on wings arising 
 Leading filled the way before her 
 With a holier, sweeter light. 
 On their restless wings attendant, 
 Went they with her through the day 
 When again she sought her patient, 
 As a winged band before her, 
 Led the}' through the shaded way. 
 
 
t 
 
 Maranatha, 
 
 Canto V. 
 
 The Dream. 
 
 It shall come to pass, afterward, that I will pour out 
 my Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daugh- 
 ters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, 
 3'our young men shall see visions.— yoe/, ii, '28. 
 
 I. 
 
 Now again the fair attendant, 
 Feeling some great blessing near, 
 Meekly sat beside her patient 
 Who with wistful eyes awaited 
 Longingly, the dream to hear; 
 For the writing he had rescued 
 Was the very dream indeed; 
 Knowing this he bowed as humbly 
 As would any lowly mortal 
 Listening to an angel read. 
 "Thou shalt hear angelic teachings,' 
 Said the maiden, "for it seems 
 That the wond'rous truths of heaven, 
 Framed by angels into pictures. 
 Often reach the soul in dreams." 
 
94 THE DREAM. 
 
 II. 
 
 "Lo! I came," so wrote the dreamer, 
 "Weary, at the close of da}' 
 To my cottage in the woodland, 
 'Mid the tall trees of the forest 
 Hidden from the world awa}-. 
 There upon my couch reclining 
 Thought I of the way of Light; 
 How the host of men, unheeding. 
 Pass the beauteous gate of heaven 
 To the gloomy vale of night. 
 
 III. 
 
 As I thought, a grateful slumber 
 Soothed my aching heart to rest, 
 And my painful, deep emotions 
 Sank as troubled waves subsiding 
 Softly on the ocean's breast. 
 Then there came a holy angel 
 Brightly vested from the sk}^, 
 As the fairer Light of heaven, 
 From the pearly gates descending, 
 Rested on me where I la}-." 
 That bright veil that shuts the vision 
 From the glorious realms of Light, 
 Rolled he back as rosy morning 
 From the shaded walks of Eden, 
 Rolled the curtain of the night. 
 
 IV. 
 
 Then I saw a hol}^ virgin 
 Clothed in beauty as the day. 
 
THK DREAM. 95 
 
 Crowned with twelve bright stars and walking 
 
 Through the flow'ry paths of Eden, 
 
 In the solemn twilight grey. 
 
 Then again, within a mansion 
 
 Roofed with stars and filled with light, 
 
 In a chamber, rich and beauteous, 
 
 Stood the fair and holy virgin 
 
 In the vision of the night. 
 
 V. 
 
 Radiant, winged forms attended 
 Where with glitt'ring feet she stood; 
 Armed and strong, in might resistless, 
 Moved in peerless ranks about her 
 Legions of the hosts of God. 
 Many voices rich as music 
 Floating through the heavens said, 
 "This is She, the Royal Virgin, 
 Daughter well belov'd of Zion, 
 Whom the Lamb of God shall wed." 
 
 VI. 
 
 When in softened light, the evening 
 
 Over hill and vale afar. 
 
 Floating on her golden pinions. 
 
 Through the azure depths of heaven 
 
 Left the pearly gates ajar. 
 
 From His starry halls descending 
 
 Through the shadows of the night. 
 
 By the heavenly host attended, 
 
 Came the heavenh' Bridegroom, resting 
 
 On the radiant wino:s of Lieht. 
 
96 THE DREAM. 
 
 VIL 
 
 lyong within the lighted mansion, 
 Through the spacious halls and wide 
 Waited He, while in her chamber 
 Angels with their burning fingers, 
 Decked the person of the Bride ; 
 Cleansed her loveh' form with hyssop, 
 Ev'r}' stain with burning ray, 
 Ev'ry darkened spot, or wrinkle, 
 Bv'ry blemish from her person 
 Took forevermore away. 
 
 VIII. 
 
 On the pathway of the ages. 
 
 As departing moments swept, 
 
 Sinking wearied into slumber, 
 
 Undisturbed by noise or clamor, 
 
 Multitudes, unnumbered, slept. 
 
 By their burning lamps reclining. 
 
 Overcome b}' long delay. 
 
 Virgins called to meet the Bridegroom ; 
 
 Thus while waiting long and wearied. 
 
 Slumbered on the narrow wa}'. 
 
 Some were well with oil provided, 
 
 Some with lamps, but no supply. 
 
 All forgetful that at midnight 
 
 They will miss the Bridegroom's coming, 
 
 When in need they go to bu}-. 
 
 IX. 
 
 While I looked, in gloom appalling 
 As the blackness of the night. 
 On a sable throne and horrid, 
 
THE DREAM. 97 
 
 Wise and subtile sat a dragon, 
 Darker than the gloom of night. 
 At his feet the royal virgin, 
 With her garments trailed in blood, 
 With her jeweled hands enfolded, 
 Raised her streaming e3^es to heaven 
 Pleading in her tears with God. 
 
 X. 
 
 But the dreadful, sable Monarch 
 Scowled upon her from his throne, 
 And his minions in their anger 
 Full of hatred, fierce and cruel 
 Trode her beauteous robes upon. 
 "This is she, in pride presumptions. 
 Who would o'er the nations reign," 
 Said the false priests and false prophets. 
 As the}^ trode her robes and jewels 
 With the trampling feet of swine. 
 
 XI. 
 
 There they scoffed and spat upon her 
 And upon the knee would fall. 
 Striking with their palms and mocking, 
 As the crowd that mocked the Savior 
 In the common judgment hall; 
 Shouting as the rabble shouted 
 When they led Him on to die; 
 Wagged their heads and looked upon her 
 As upon the fainting Jesus 
 On the hill of Calvary. 
 None there was at hand to save her, 
 None to pity her distress, 
 
98 THE DREAM. 
 
 Given to the tempter's power 
 Till the coming time appointed 
 For the succor and redress. 
 
 XII. 
 
 From the dark abyss arising, 
 Fearful in their dreadful might, 
 Seven Spirits, wise and subtile. 
 Conscious of malignent power 
 Rose, as shadows of the night. 
 
 XIII. 
 
 PRIDE. 
 
 Unto one erect and haughty. 
 
 As the leader of the band, 
 
 Was committed such strange power, 
 
 That in every generation 
 
 Milhons perish by his hand. 
 
 He it is that paralizes 
 
 All the powers of the soul, 
 
 Turns the eyes forever outward. 
 
 Lest they see the subtile forces 
 
 Which the hidden thoughts control , 
 
 Suffers not his feeble captives 
 
 Helpless in his iron sway. 
 
 Ought to know of love and duty, 
 
 Light and Life and heavenly Wisdom, 
 
 Which the born of God may see. 
 
 Lo! he fills the hving chambers 
 
 Of the helpless soul with night. 
 
 Draws a sombre curtain over. 
 
 Hides the beauteous ways of heaven 
 
 From the lifting of the sight. 
 
THE DREAM. 99 
 
 XIV. 
 
 LUST. 
 
 To another strength was given: 
 
 Fair, seductive to portray 
 
 To the mind such scenes of softness, 
 
 To arouse such inward burnings 
 
 As may turn all feet astray. 
 
 And the Soul within her chamber 
 
 All unconscious of the w^oe, 
 
 Sits as David at his window, 
 
 While the lovely hurtful visions 
 
 Work within the overthrow. 
 
 XV. 
 
 COVETOUSNHSS. 
 
 To another strength was given, 
 Still for ruin, woe and pain. 
 To arouse a flame consuming, 
 A remorseless, deathless yearning 
 For the heaping up of gain, 
 Yearning, which is all absorbing, 
 W^hich for gold all blessing yields ; 
 Wrongs the widow and the orphan, 
 And defrauds the honest hireling 
 Whose hard labor reaps his fields ; 
 Yearning which will rouse the nations 
 To a strange remorseless strife, 
 And for gold to fill their coffers, 
 Make them sack great towns and cities. 
 Prodigal of human life. 
 
100 THE DREAM. 
 
 XVI. 
 ENVY. 
 
 And another had the power, 
 Meanest of the cruel clan : 
 To corrupt the living fountains, 
 Poison all the deep emotions 
 Rising from the heart of man, 
 Till the soul debased, corrupted, 
 Grieveth for another's gain, 
 Pines in hate of others' blessings, 
 Labors as a slave to mar them, 
 Happy in a brother's pain. 
 
 XVII. 
 
 GLUTTONY. 
 
 Still another had the power 
 What is beastly to unbind ; 
 Drown the soul in self indulgence, 
 In excess of eating, drinking, 
 Sink the hope of humankind, 
 Till besotted, base, corrupted 
 Sleep they in a dreamless sleep 
 That no loving voice can waken, 
 Though it be the cry of Jesus 
 Calling for the wand 'ring sheep. 
 
 XVIII. 
 
 MURDER. 
 
 Blackest of the clan another. 
 Foul and dreadful where he stood, 
 Had the power, base and cruel, 
 
THK DREAM. 101 
 
 To arouse the soul and drive it 
 On to horrid deeds of blood, 
 Till as born of hell and perfect 
 In the deep excess of sin, 
 He had turned his face forever 
 To the darkest ways of evil, 
 Madly prone to walk therein. 
 
 XIX. 
 
 SLOTH. 
 
 Still another, O, how dreadful ! 
 All the being could control, 
 Had the power, strange, resistless. 
 To congeal life's hidden currents. 
 As the night-mare of the soul, 
 To oppress it with inaction. 
 Burden wdth a pond'rous load. 
 Till the powers born of heaven 
 Fail wath holy Light to lead it 
 'Long the narrow^ w^ay to God. 
 Not for joy and peace eternal. 
 Heavenly Life, nor fadeless crown, 
 Nor from wrong to rest forever. 
 For beyond this vale of sorrow, 
 Would it feel the biting thorn. 
 
 XX. 
 
 Then away the dragon flying, 
 Hidden save from quickened sight. 
 Over all the wiles of evil 
 Clothed himself and those about him 
 In the deepest shades of night. 
 
102 THE DREAM. 
 
 High above the hosts of evil 
 Towered he with lowering crest, 
 Reigning with malignant power 
 In the open light of heaven, 
 As the dreadful Aniechrist. 
 
 XXI. 
 
 THE FOUR POWERS. 
 
 With him four unhol}' spirits 
 
 Born of endless darkness came, 
 
 Clothed with strength to cloud the vision, 
 
 And above the sleeping nations 
 
 Darkness spread in Jesus' name. 
 
 In the panopl}' of heaven 
 
 Others moved along Life's way, 
 
 Fearful, in their hidden power 
 
 To deceive the soul, unguarded, 
 
 And to lead her steps astray. 
 
 XXII. 
 
 Where the virgin stood bewildered, 
 There with hidden guile replete. 
 Moved these subtile, \\\\y spirits 
 And the doctrines, foul of devals, 
 Strewed as jewels at her feet ; 
 Or in winning wiles beside her, 
 Crafty, watchful, led they on 
 Where the fruits of evil knowledge 
 Hung in fair and golden clusters. 
 Through their devious ways unknown. 
 
THE DREAM. 103 
 
 XXIII. 
 
 Then, alas! The virgin thoughtless, 
 Weakly ate at their behest, 
 When behold ! The Prince of Darkness 
 Reared aloft his throne within her. 
 And her thoughtless footsteps turning, 
 Led her from the love of Christ. 
 Then along the ways of evil, 
 Walked she on with willing feet. 
 And unto the golden clusters, 
 Stretching forth her hand and taking, 
 Lifting to her lips, did eat. 
 Then within and round about her 
 Lo! A dreadful darkness came, 
 And a lurid flame was kindled, 
 While the spirits, foul, exultant, 
 Led her through and through the flame. 
 Loud she cried in bitter anguish 
 Bathed in burning, flowing tears ; 
 Raised her folded hands to heaven ; 
 Pleaded with her eyes uplifted. 
 Through the dreary tide of years. 
 Down through long and gloomy ages, 
 In the melting heat she burned ; 
 Biting flames coiled round about her, 
 And a seething lake was swelling 
 Ev'ry wa}^ her footsteps turned. 
 Loud and sad her bitter wailings 
 Pierced unto the distant skies 
 And the radiant hosts of heaven, 
 Resting on the wing to listen. 
 Pitying, wept to hear her cries. 
 
104 THE DREAM. 
 
 XXIV. 
 
 Then the Lord, as once when sleeping 
 On the bosom of the deep, 
 Heard the wailing of her anguish 
 And arising came unto her. 
 As if wakened from a sleep. 
 As He stood in love beside her 
 In the burning flame, behold! 
 All her features glowed and glistened. 
 And the Life made perfect in her. 
 Glittered as the burnished gold. 
 Fair and clean her flowing vestments 
 As the driven snow grew^ white, 
 While descending and ascending. 
 From and to the gates of heaven. 
 Came and went the forms of light. 
 
 XXV. 
 
 Fairer than the dawn in Eden, 
 Ere the fruitful birth of sin; 
 Lord of Life, the seven-fold Spirit 
 Winging from the throne of heaven 
 Led the shining, heavenl}^ train. 
 
 XXVI. 
 HOLY FEAR. 
 
 Hol}^ Fear, with wings extended 
 As a flaming, burning star. 
 In the Light of God effulgent. 
 Winging came in princely armor 
 As a peerless man-of-war. 
 Unto Him a strength was given, 
 
THE DREAM. 105 
 
 111 the darkness of the night 
 To descry the forms of evil, 
 Gloomy, subtile, strong and hidden, 
 'Long the narrow way of Light, 
 To arouse the soul that slumbers. 
 Show the dangers on the way. 
 Lest the heedless feet should stumble, 
 Lest the glittering snare enticing. 
 Turn the thoughtless heart astray. 
 
 XXVII. 
 TRUE GODLINESS. 
 
 Next came one in form majestic. 
 Beauteous, fairer than the light. 
 Strong to lift the soul and fill it 
 With the love of truth, exceeding 
 All the force of Satan's might. 
 That through gloomy realms of darkness 
 It may walk with feet secure, 
 Though it fall, 3^et ever rising. 
 Though it stoop to help the fallen, 
 Still remaining ever pure; 
 Cleansing every spot and blemish 
 By the washing of the blood, 
 Of that blood, the Life transmitted, 
 Symbolized in blood of victims, 
 [ 'ery Life of Christ, of God. 
 
 XXVIII. 
 KNOWLEDGE. 
 
 Next a Spirit full of power 
 To light up the heavenly way 
 
106 THE DREAM. 
 
 Stood aloft in shining vestments, 
 Beaming with celestial beauty, 
 Which no e3^e of flesh may see; 
 Filling all the living chambers 
 Of the new-born soul with Light, 
 Till it sees the matchless powers 
 Of the Savior's endless Kingdom, 
 Overcoming death and night. 
 Sees the radiant forms of heaven, 
 By the carnal world unseen. 
 Giving Life to souls unnumbered, 
 By it building up the Kingdom 
 In the new-born hearts of men, 
 Sees the wa^^ of Life and dut}^ 
 Shining as the Truth of God, 
 Marked with foot-prints of the Savior, 
 And adorned, as if by rubies, 
 B}^ the flowing of His blood; 
 Sees it winding through the darkness, 
 Through the hidden ways of sin; 
 Sees the countless, prowling demons 
 Sleepless as the stars, and watching 
 'Gainst the helpless souls of men; 
 Sees it winding hard and narrow, 
 Rugged, rough, as all untrod, 
 As no mortal's daring footsteps, 
 Fearless, could assay to walk it 
 To the rest and peace of God. 
 
 XXIX. 
 
 GHOSTLY STRENGTH. 
 
 Next another flaming Spirit, 
 As a giant armed for war, 
 
THE DREAM. 107 
 
 Clothed with power as a raiment, 
 Towered in His strength resplendent, 
 As the bright and morning star. 
 By His might the soul awakened, 
 Flooded by eternal day, 
 Gazing on the path of duty 
 Has the strength to rise and walk it 
 All along its bitter way ; 
 And with grace Divine and matchless, 
 Knowing God's most holy will, 
 Fearless, will, unyielding do it, 
 Trusting, will bow down and bear it, 
 Dying, yet undoubting still. 
 
 XXX. 
 
 COUNvSEL. 
 
 Next above the hosts celestial 
 
 Towered one with brow serene, 
 
 Beauteous as no pen or pencil. 
 
 As could never tongue portray Him, 
 
 As no mortal eye hath seen 
 
 By His strength the Soul bewildered, 
 
 Seeking how God's will to do. 
 
 Learns to do it as He wills it. 
 
 As within the highest heaven 
 
 Holy angels know to do. 
 
 Learns to walk by heavenly counsel, 
 
 Learns to labor and be still. 
 
 Guided by the seven-fold Spirit, 
 
 By the Word of Life and Wisdom, 
 
 In the working of God's will. 
 
 Turned by Truth and heavenly guidance 
 
108 THE DREAM. 
 
 Ever to the ways of Love, 
 Doing good and bearing evil, 
 As the holy high-born Spirits 
 Work the will of God above. 
 
 XXXI. 
 
 UNDERSTANDING. 
 
 Then resplendent, fair and glorious 
 As from many stars the light, 
 Mingled in a beam effulgent. 
 Rose aloft another Spirit, 
 Shining in celestial might. 
 B}^ His power deep, unerring 
 All the will of God is seen, 
 How to bear it, how to love it, 
 How in tenderness to work it 
 'Mong the d3'ing sons of men. 
 By His might the soul exalted 
 Treads the perfect way of God, 
 Sees the snares and cunning ambush, 
 And with swords and shining armor 
 Presses on the thorn3^ road. 
 Caring nothing for the wounding, 
 Nor the crimson blood that flows. 
 Nothing for the toil and roughness, 
 Nothing for the fair allurements 
 Of the. subtile, watchful foes ; 
 Knowing that the pain and bleeding 
 Which befall us on the way. 
 Work us out a joy exceeding 
 Every hope and every pleading, 
 In the light of perfect day. 
 
THE DREAM. 109 
 
 XXXII. 
 
 WISDOM. 
 
 Ivike a seven-fold Sun in brightness, 
 
 Shining with a flaming sword, 
 
 Fairest of the host and perfect. 
 
 Rose the last and most exalted 
 
 Of the powers of the Word. 
 
 By His strength the heavens were builded 
 
 And the earth was framed below. 
 
 By Him too the Word eternal 
 
 Builds His everlesting Kingdom, 
 
 Worketh Satan's overthrow. 
 
 Happy is the soul perfected 
 
 Where this Spirit dwells within. 
 
 Full of life aloft he soareth, 
 
 'lyong the narrow wa}^ he flietli 
 
 From the darkened world of sin. 
 
 Unto him the pain and anguish 
 
 Are the blessings of the way. 
 
 With an eye alike an eagle's. 
 
 Far be^'ond the goal he pierceth 
 
 To the glories of the sky. 
 
 Yea! He sees the coming Savior 
 
 In the clouds that so affright ; 
 
 When the raging storm is fiercest, 
 
 Sees he most the radient powers 
 
 Winging from the realms of light. 
 
 XXXIII. 
 
 Moving on these radiant Spirits 
 Bearing each a priceless gem. 
 Brought them to the holy Virgin 
 
110 THE DREAM. 
 
 And in living beauty placed them 
 
 In her royal diadem. 
 
 Then, on wings of Light, attended 
 
 By the radient hosts of God 
 
 Rose the Virgin from the burning, 
 
 And in living beauty rested 
 
 On the bosom of her Lord. 
 
 He the Lord of glor}' folded 
 
 His beloved to his breast; 
 
 For the Church in all the nations. 
 
 Had by passing through the furnace, 
 
 Come to Oneness with the Christ. 
 
 From the shinning worlds unnumbered 
 
 Peans rang through all the sk}^ 
 
 Holy bands of white-robed angels 
 
 Shouted through the starry heavens 
 
 "Glor}^ be to God on high." 
 
 XXXIV. 
 
 Loud and long the hosts of heaven 
 
 Through the worlds unnumbered cried 
 
 Halleluiah ! Halleluiah ! 
 
 Shout, O earth ! The Lord of glory, 
 
 Taketh to Himself His Bride ! 
 
 As the angels' shout reechoed 
 
 Through the starry realms of day, 
 
 From my sight the vision faded 
 
 As the glory of the twilight 
 
 Passes into night awa}^ 
 
 XXXV. 
 
 Then unto the holy angel 
 
 With a trembling voice I cried, 
 
 "Tell me, O, Thou bright winged spirit ! 
 
THE DREAM. HI 
 
 Of the wondrous, heavenly vision, 
 Of the Bridegroom and the Bride." 
 
 XXXVI. 
 
 With a voice Hke melting music, 
 
 Thus the holy angel said : 
 
 "She, made beauteous in the burning, 
 
 Is the Daughter fair of Zion, 
 
 Whom the Lamb of God shall wed. 
 
 Those dark forms of night about her 
 
 Are the powers dread of God, 
 
 Who from ev'ry spot and blemish 
 
 Shall with flame and burning cleanse her 
 
 Ere she wed the living Lord. 
 
 They, the radiant forms attendant, 
 
 Are the Spirits from on high. 
 
 Who, descending from the Father, 
 
 Shall with Light adorn her person. 
 
 And with graces glorify. 
 
 Yea ! With many a tear of anguish 
 
 Shall the Bride her jewels wear ; 
 
 On her brow the gems most precious 
 
 Must be set in midst of burning. 
 
 By incessant watch and prayer. 
 
 Ev'ry earthly spot and carnal 
 
 By the Life, the real blood 
 
 Must be washed until her person 
 
 With the Light of God shall glisten 
 
 As the person of her Lord. 
 
 XXXVII. 
 
 For the Life grows perfect only 
 
 As the earthly ties decay. 
 
 'Tis by passing through the burning 
 
112 THE DREAM. 
 
 That the niati}^ forms of evil 
 Loose their hold and fall away. 
 Heavenl}^ graces, radiant, priceless 
 Must the Life within adorn. 
 Power w^hich alone can lift her 
 Into Light and Life and Glory 
 Is in deep affliction born. 
 Thus, b}' touch of burning fingers, 
 While without awaits the Son, 
 Thus, by sorrow deep and fearful. 
 Trials long and sad and tearful. 
 Are the Church and Christ made one. 
 
 XXXIX. 
 
 They, the sleeping Virgins waiting, 
 
 Stored with oil for all the night 
 
 Are departed Spirits, ready 
 
 For the Bridegroom, though He tarry 
 
 Till the coming morning light. 
 
 Who the knowledge of the Kingdom 
 
 Deep in thoughtful minds have stored; 
 
 Who the truth have comprehended, 
 
 And in light, from Truth uprising, 
 
 W^alk the narrow way to God. 
 
 Whose deep knowledge fills the pathway 
 
 Ever with increasing light. 
 
 And adown descending ages 
 
 Swells the flood, that from the nations 
 
 Lifts the sombre gloom of night. 
 
 XL. 
 The}^ with empty lamps and waning, 
 All unfurnished for delay 
 Are the souls whose faith decayeth, 
 
THE DREAM. H; 
 
 When the Bridegroom long delayeth 
 And from duty fall away; 
 Who the knowledge of the Kingdom, 
 Deep and perfect, have not stored 
 And have never comprehended 
 All the fullness of the meaning 
 Of the coming of the Lord. 
 
 XLI. 
 
 He, the Bridegroom long hath tarried, 
 Waiting His belov'd beside ; 
 But anon, when they are married, 
 lyo! He comes with hosts of angels, 
 Bearing hence His radiant Bride. 
 He, the Christ is only absent 
 From the carnal sense of men, 
 As within some distant region. 
 But indeed, is ever by us. 
 Walking with us, though unseen ; 
 Absent, though forever present. 
 Far awa}^ though ever near ; 
 Absent from the vile and faithless. 
 Present to the well beloved, 
 Through the rolling Christian year. 
 When He comes in clouds descending, 
 They, with lamps and vessels full. 
 With their shining lights resplendent 
 Shall arise, and enter with Him, 
 To the jo3's unspeakable. 
 
 XLII. 
 
 The}^ the poor, the foolish Virgins, 
 Where the Truth lights not the path, 
 
114 THE DREAM. 
 
 Cannot see the way that leadeth 
 Unto rest and peace eternal, 
 Through the Life, that springs from Faith, 
 The}' must dwell in "outer darkness" 
 Where the Faith sinks into night. 
 The}^ who eat the ''Bread of Heaven,'" 
 And shall live the Life forever, 
 Walk by Faith and not by sight. 
 
 XLIII. 
 
 If men sleep without the knowledge 
 Out of which the P'aith must spring, 
 When they wake, they wake in darkness; 
 And remembrance of their folly 
 Evermore remorse shall bring. 
 Heavenly Knowledge, stored by others, 
 Cannot give our lamps their light. 
 If men fail in time of buying 
 When their unfed lights are dying. 
 To them comes the gloom of night. 
 It is not a time for buying 
 When the open doors are shut, 
 W^hen too late men seek for knowledge, 
 Though they stand without and knocking, 
 Cr}' aloud, they enter not. 
 
 XLIV. 
 
 Now the holy angel flying 
 Brought me at the close of day 
 Midway of the hoh' city, 
 Where of old the temple glittered 
 O'er the mountains far awaj'. 
 There, beside the hill of David, 
 
THE DREAM. 115 
 
 Where the jeweled throne had stood, 
 
 Over 'gainst the ruined temple, 
 
 Spoke he of the endless Kingdom 
 
 And the hidden things of God. 
 
 ' 'Long, ' ' he said, ' 'has been the struggle, 
 
 Fearful the relentless strife, 
 
 But the time hath come, that Jesus 
 
 Shall lead forth in glorious triumph 
 
 All the radiant hosts of Life." 
 
 XLV. 
 
 Wars and fightings, strife and discord 
 Noise and clamor, all shall cease. 
 Evil shall depart forever ; 
 And among God's ransomed children 
 Shall forevermore be peace. 
 Antechrist,-the moster dreadful, 
 Sitting now the Church within 
 Shall be driven from the Kingdom 
 Through the ways of endless darkness 
 With the cruel tribes of sin. 
 And the Churches now dissevered 
 Shall forevermore be one. 
 Men shall all be knit together. 
 Tender, loving, high exalted, 
 In the Father by the Son. 
 
 XLVI. 
 
 Here in wonder and emotion. 
 With my hands enclasped I stood, 
 Gazing into heaven's vastness. 
 Through the welling tears arising, 
 Worshiping and praising God. 
 
116 THE DREAM. 
 
 As I stood, soft strains of music 
 
 Rose in sweetness from the plain, 
 
 Whence advancing in her beauty, 
 
 With a shining host about her 
 
 Came the loveh' Mitylene ; 
 
 Came into my arms, extended, 
 
 And the holy angel said : 
 
 ' 'So the Church made clean by chast'ning, 
 
 Clothed in Light and queenly beauty, 
 
 Shall the Royal Bridegroom wed." 
 
 XLVII. 
 
 Real in its life, unto me 
 Did the heavenly vision seem ; 
 But the deepness of emotion 
 Roused me from my heavy slumber, 
 And I found it but a dream. 
 Though, not all a dream, the Father 
 B}' the vision would portray 
 Good things coming in the future, 
 Hidden from the light and thoughtless, 
 Which the well beloved see. 
 
 XLVIII. 
 
 When the maiden ceased her reading, 
 Sitting upright on his bed. 
 All aglow with deep emotion 
 Calling up the past, the Aztec, 
 Thus in tender accents said : 
 "Yea ! This is the dream he told me 
 As within my willing breast 
 Planted he the seed eternal, 
 Out of which in heavenly beauty 
 
THE DREAM. 117 
 
 Springeth forth the lyife of Christ. 
 This is then th}^ loved and lost one, 
 And the Father's hand will guide, 
 Where in deep and tender yearning 
 In the midst of flame and burning 
 He will find his chastened bride. ' ' 
 
 XLIX. 
 
 Rising as it were from dreaming 
 Spoke the lovely Mit3dene, 
 "This is Manaen, I will seek him 
 Where his weary footsteps pressing 
 In the valleys fair have been. 
 Lo ! This is the Father's guiding 
 And my hopes are not in vain ; 
 Is not this the voice of heaven 
 Comforting, as ever telling, 
 That ni}^ Manaen comes again ?" 
 So with loving heart and thoughtful 
 Through the noontide of the day, 
 Through the pathway o'er the mountain, 
 To the cottage of her parents 
 Went she gladly on her way. 
 
 Weeks had passed ; The gentle Aztec 
 Well restored, away had gone. 
 While his humble, peaceful cottage 
 In the cozy little garden 
 Stood deserted and alone. 
 Far, the maiden, yearning, hopeful. 
 Sought for tidings day b}" da}' . 
 Where were traces of the wand'rer, 
 
118 THE DREAM. 
 
 There, with loving heart, she followed 
 
 Eagerly along the way. 
 
 Winged hopes, like doves from Noe, 
 
 Went with strength to breast the main, 
 
 But without the branch of olive 
 
 Ever came with pinion drooping, 
 
 Back unto her heart again 
 
 Yea! She knew not that the Aztec 
 
 Grateful for her kindl}- care 
 
 Even now alone was wand' ring, 
 
 Seeking for the gentle Manaen 
 
 Through each lovely vale afar ; 
 
 All intent to find and bring him 
 
 Ere the coming Advent-tide, 
 
 That the wand'rer unexpecting. 
 
 As the Bridegroom should be wedded 
 
 To the chastened Advent Bride. 
 
 (^ 
 
t 
 
 Marantha. 
 
 Canto VI. 
 
 The Bridegroom Cometh. 
 
 In such an hour as ye think not. the son of man 
 cotneth. — St. Matt, xxiv, il. 
 
 Over now the hills of Judah 
 Crowned with jewels swept the night, 
 While the darkened w^orld, unconscious, 
 Knew not that the Bridegroom cometh 
 Only on the wings of Light. 
 Down the pathwa}' of the ages, 
 All along, the virgins sleep, 
 Weary and oppressed by waiting, 
 While full many watching, longing, 
 Still their anxious vigils keep ; 
 Yet the loving Bridegroom lingers 
 Patientl}^ the church beside, 
 While the angels' burning fingers 
 Place the fair and costly jewels 
 On the person of the Bride. 
 Oh! How long, how long she bideth 
 
120 THE BRIDEGROOM COMETH. 
 
 Ere her Oneness with her Lord ! 
 Ere enrobed in perfect beauty 
 Leads she with the ro3^al Bridegroom 
 All the radiant hosts of God. 
 
 IL 
 
 In the little Aztec village 
 
 Loud and full the sweet bell swung, 
 
 While the loving people listened 
 
 To the mellow tones of gladness 
 
 As unto an angel tongue. 
 
 Now the deepened shadows rested 
 
 Far and wide o'er vale and wood ; 
 
 And the starr}^ hosts of heaven 
 
 Moved on glittering wings, in silence 
 
 Round the distant throne of God. 
 
 III. 
 
 Gathered on the road ascending 
 O'er the rugged mountain side 
 Chosen virgins of the village 
 Waited for the Bridegroom's coming 
 With the beauteous Advent Bride. 
 Long the}^ waited and the midnight 
 Led her shining train away 
 As a band of radiant Spirits 
 Through the silent halls of heaven 
 Leading on the coming da3\ 
 Wearied by their anxious watching 
 Long the lovely virgins slept, 
 While alone the sleepless powers 
 Passing through the quiet heavens, 
 Silently their vigils kept. 
 
THE BRIDKGROOM COMETH. 121 
 
 IV. 
 
 In her chamber, sad but lovely, 
 Mit3'leiie, longing stood. 
 As the chastened Church o'ershadowed 
 By the dark wings of the angels, 
 Making ready for her Lord. 
 Round about her gentle maidens 
 Beauteous as the morn and fair ; 
 Skillful with their ready fingers 
 Twined a thorny crown, and placed it 
 O'er her coils of braided hair. 
 As the crown the soldiers platted 
 Rested on the Savior's brow, 
 Symbol of the crown of glory 
 That the faithful wear forever, 
 Made of thorns that pierce us now, 
 Teaching that the Church triumphant 
 Wears for aye a jeweled crown. 
 Shining downward through the ages, 
 Beauteous as the stars and glorious, 
 But forever made of thorn. 
 
 V. 
 
 Ere the rosy tinted evening 
 
 Floated o'er the billowy west, 
 
 Loved ones in the home of Alian 
 
 Thought and spoke of Jesus' Kingdom, 
 
 Of the glories of the blest. 
 
 Of the advent of Messiah, 
 
 Of the loved, long pas'sed away. 
 
 Of the hope of their returning, 
 
 Of the tender inward yearning 
 
 For the coming of that day. 
 
122 THE BRIDEGROOM COMETH. 
 
 Binea Hobah, gathered with them, 
 Thinking of the darkness dread, 
 Of the Church and of the ending 
 Of the good things long impending ; 
 Stood within their midst and said ; 
 "Listen to me, O beloved ! 
 For from out the shades of night 
 See I fearful forms arising 
 And the hosts of evil striving 
 With the powers of the Light." 
 
 VI. 
 
 As of old the storm clouds gathered 
 
 O'er the lake of Galilee ; 
 
 Even now the storm in raging, 
 
 And the Lord of Life and Glor5% 
 
 Walketh on the troubled sea. 
 
 From the dark ab3-ss unnumbered. 
 
 Unseen Spirits watchful, dread. 
 
 Wander through the sinful nations 
 
 Seeking thoughtless souls to gather 
 
 With the d^dng and the dead. 
 
 They whose power is in darkness 
 
 And alone in darkness dwell. 
 
 Kindle piercing flames to burn us, 
 
 That their evil force ma}' turn us 
 
 To the way of death and hell. 
 
 In and through and round about us 
 
 By the citadel of Life, 
 
 Hidden from the sight as serpents 
 
 Creep thej- through the welcome darkness 
 
 As in ambush for the strife; 
 
 Ever watchful and relentless 
 
THE BRIDEGROOM COMETH. 123 
 
 Sent of God to sift and try, 
 That the true b}^ trial sifted 
 Through the trial may be lifted 
 To the garners of the sky. 
 None evade the subtile forces; 
 Sparing not they prowl abroad 
 Sowing all the world with evil 
 For the trial of the faithful 
 In the dreadful day of God. 
 
 VII. 
 
 Oh ! How earnestly they sow it 
 In the careless hearts of men; 
 Broadcast o'er the world they throw it 
 And the winds receive and sow it 
 Where it roots and seeds again. 
 For the soul by daih^ conflict 
 Must the crown of glory wear, 
 And the highest place of honor 
 Must be won by highest power 
 Good to do and ill to bear. 
 
 VIII. 
 
 Through the shadows of the garden 
 Where abides the living Soul, 
 Where the tree of Life is planted, 
 There these cruel unseen Spirits 
 Tread with impious feet and foul; 
 There they offer joys forbidden. 
 Luscious, pleasing to the e3^e. 
 Tempt the soul with evil knowledge 
 Forth to reach the hand and plucking. 
 Eat forbidden fruit and die. 
 
124 THE BRIDEGROOM COMETH. 
 
 Seven with a flame enkindled 
 
 In the lurid depths of hell, 
 
 Da}^ and night prowl round about her, 
 
 Where she walks alone, unguarded, 
 
 There these subtile Spirits dwell. 
 
 By their touch they kindle burnings, 
 
 Picture forth the joys of sin, 
 
 Make of lusts a flame consuming 
 
 And the weak, like willing cattle 
 
 Lead they to and fro therein. 
 
 Thoughtless of the dreadful presence 
 
 Glides she on with careless feet. 
 
 Hither, thither, as she listeth 
 
 Through the flowery paths of Eden 
 
 Doing what she thinketh meet ; 
 
 Lays she thoughtless hands on dragons, 
 
 Looks into the face of Death, 
 
 Hand in hand with evil angels 
 
 Careless stoops she down to listen 
 
 What the wih' tempter saith ; 
 
 All forgetful that these po^vers 
 
 Stand about her way to try 
 
 Whether she hath strength to triumph 
 
 Or allured b}' joys forbidden 
 
 Weakly will partake and die ; 
 
 That abroad a lake of fire 
 
 Kindled l)y the touch of sin 
 
 Burneth as refiner's fire 
 
 And that through the flame unsparing 
 
 Walks the soul, or dwells therein. 
 
 IX. 
 From the lurid pit, these Spirits 
 Through the world in varied form, 
 
THE BRIDEGROOM COMETH. 125 
 
 Through the hearts of sinful mortals 
 Sweep afar in clouds and darkness 
 In the tumult of a storm 
 Trying men by strong allurements, 
 Some by fortune, some by woe, 
 Some they try by death or danger 
 Reared in horrid form before them 
 In the way their feet should go. 
 Sordid souls debased, unworthy-, 
 But the sign of grief behold 
 And they scatter as the hirelings. 
 When at midnight, urged by hunger, 
 Leaps the wolf into the fold ; 
 And the dread recording angel 
 Mindful of the cross and pain 
 Which Messiah bore to teach them. 
 For the souls that perish by them 
 Marks them with the mark of Cain. 
 Some they tempt to self indulgence, 
 Some to make themselves a name, 
 Some to use their highest powers 
 For dominion and its treasures, 
 Thicker than the breath of fame. 
 Thus, the Foe the Christ assaulted, 
 When by earnest fast and prayer. 
 Armed and read}^ for the conflict. 
 Vanquished He the ' ' Prince of this World' ' 
 And the power of the air. 
 Some they try b}^ taking from them • 
 All they know of health and ease. 
 That by higher, strong endeavor. 
 They may do the deeds of angels 
 Through a lifetime of di.sease. 
 Show their trust that God the Father 
 
126 THE BRIDEGROOM COMETH. 
 
 Willeth not a thing amiss ; 
 But that highest blessing cometh, 
 In the world of endless glory 
 From the evil things in this. 
 
 XI. 
 
 Some they try by lust for treasure 
 
 Labored for with greed and pain 
 
 For excess in future leisure 
 
 Or perhaps but for the pleasure 
 
 Of the heaping up of gain. 
 
 Some they try by fair occasion 
 
 For some tender noble deed ; 
 
 Some b}' labor and denial 
 
 For the Church, Christ's mystic body, 
 
 In the crying time of need. 
 
 By the power to discern her 
 
 From the noisy clan and sect, 
 
 'Mid the cries of many claimants. 
 
 Lovingly to hear and answer 
 
 To the call of God's elect. 
 
 XII. 
 
 Some they lead in ruts, where custom 
 Bids their willing feet to go, 
 Where the foe by evil customs 
 Followed by the weak and faithless 
 Seeks the Kingdom's overthrow. 
 On in hidden guile these spirits 
 Through the world with flaming breath, 
 Through the classic halls of learning 
 In the fond retreats of knowledge 
 Sow the fruitful seeds 6f death; 
 
THE BRIDKOROOM COMETH. 127 
 
 Minds imbued with worldly wisdom 
 
 Bow serenely to their sway; 
 
 While from all that's truly noble 
 
 From the toil of high endeavor 
 
 Turn they evermore away. 
 
 They whose hearts despise God's Kingdom, 
 
 Knowing not its Life and Light, 
 
 See the gloomy hosts of evil 
 
 Creeping through the heedless churches 
 
 From the borders of the night; 
 
 Hear the ravings of fanatics. 
 
 See the discord of the crowd. 
 
 And they mildly take these ravings 
 
 For the truths sublime, unfolded 
 
 In the teachings of the Lord. 
 
 Men far famed for love and science. 
 
 Sweep the sky with searching gaze; 
 
 Where eternal Love resistless 
 
 Moves the forces of creation, 
 
 See they naught but mist and haze. 
 
 Powers moving suns and systems, 
 
 Guiding the affairs of men. 
 
 Shut they from the range of science 
 
 As unw^orthy classic knowledge, 
 
 Or scholastic accumen. 
 
 Jesus' teaching brought from heaven 
 
 Scorn they with the scorn of scorn. 
 
 Yea ! They spurn the heavenly knowledge 
 
 Of the Life and of the Kingdom, 
 
 That from Life the Life is born; 
 
 For the powers dwelling in them. 
 
 To their heavy gaze unknown 
 
 Move them 'gainst the coming Kingdom, 
 
 And the subtile Prince of this World 
 
128 THE BRIDEGROOM COMETH. 
 
 Binds them to his sable throne. 
 
 Leaden eyed, ungodlj^, graceless, 
 
 They whose hearts love naught but sin, 
 
 Moved by devils, tread the Churches. 
 
 As of old the driven cattle 
 
 Trod the yellow yield of grain. 
 
 With their breath as winds of autumn 
 
 Sweeping o'er the threshing floor, 
 
 Scatter the}^ the weak and thoughtless 
 
 As the chaff, and from the Kingdom 
 
 Drive them on forevermore. 
 
 When the poor soul fondly looketh 
 
 Through the azure sky for light. 
 
 So, they spread their mists around her, 
 
 With great swelling words confound her 
 
 Quench her burning hopes in night. 
 
 Then the foulest Spirits drag her 
 
 Till the wa}' of life she miss ; 
 
 Thousands hoping, then despairing, 
 
 From their swelling words and daring 
 
 Fall into the dark abyss. 
 
 Led b}' Spirits which possess them 
 
 As the swine on Galilee 
 
 Bound by hidden chains and helpless 
 
 Madl}^ rush they down to perish 
 
 In the troubled, molten sea. 
 
 XIV. 
 
 Sorrow, anguish, grief heartrending 
 Spring with death from winged seed 
 Which those sleepless Spirits scatter, 
 While the true and faithful only 
 By the Life of God are freed. 
 Thus each inward cord is tested, 
 
THE BRIDEGROOM COMETH. 129 
 
 Every hidden force laid bare, 
 And a record made in heaven 
 Of our power in the trial 
 Good to do and ill to bear. 
 Wh}^ should any fallen creature 
 Miss the narrow heavenly road 
 When the Church was sent to show it 
 And along its length, to mark it, 
 Are the footprints of the Lord ? 
 
 XV. 
 
 Know ye not, O Church of Jesus, 
 That the dreadful fault is thine ? 
 That to thee the key was given 
 Which unlocks the door of heaven, 
 Floods the world with Light Divine ? 
 That with saddened eyes uplifted 
 Through the darkness of the night. 
 Thousand thousands looking, longing, 
 With uncertain footsteps, stumbling. 
 Cry with burning tears for Light f 
 Multitudes come to the churches 
 Yearning for the living Bread, 
 While the learned, smooth-tongued doctor 
 W^ith a splendid rounded diction 
 Serpents give and stones instead. 
 Some perceiving that their people 
 Value most what least they need. 
 Please the eye with forms aesthetic, 
 Fill the ear with costly music. 
 Give them pleasing sounds as feed. 
 Seek to build and throng their churches 
 With a silly, gaping crowd, 
 
130 THE BRIDEGROOM COMETH. 
 
 Who will rent the pews and fill them 
 With an e3'e to caste or business, 
 Not with Love to man or God. 
 
 XVI. 
 
 Of the tidings of the Kingdom 
 
 Some who list, can never hear ; 
 
 In the stead they learn of wafers, 
 
 Waxen candles, burning tapers, 
 
 Altar cloths and priestly gear. 
 
 Yea! They learn how from these wafers 
 
 Priests can make the living God. 
 
 From the baked dough, make His body, 
 
 From the juice pressed from the vintage 
 
 Make His very, real blood; 
 
 Yea! they prostrate fall, adoring. 
 
 Bend the knee and cross the breast. 
 
 In their hearts deceived, persuaded 
 
 That the baked dough of the wafer 
 
 Is the real, living Christ; 
 
 Then they eat their Christ as doughnuts 
 
 With the champing teeth of swine, 
 
 Not into their lives, but stomachs 
 
 Taking. Yea! Though not perceiving 
 
 Aught of Him the Life Divnie. 
 
 XVII. 
 
 Daring men untaught and faithless 
 Rend the church and heed her not, 
 Rend the seamless robe of Jesus, 
 Though the cruel Roman soldier 
 Would not rend, but cast a lot. 
 Learned in the cant and nonsense 
 
THE BRIDEGROOM COMETH. 131 
 
 Of blind leaders of the blind, 
 Loud and bold, the}^ move the people 
 Carried b}^ each sounding doctrine 
 As the chaff before the wind. 
 Wordy, puffy with vain knowledge, 
 Vague, inaccurate and dr^^ 
 Knowing nothing of the Kingdom 
 Feed they chaff, to God's poor children 
 When for living bread they cry. 
 
 XVIII. 
 
 Loud and urgent,, unsent preachers 
 Stir the sinful world to strife, 
 W^ith a zeal, to shame the slothful 
 Seek they simple souls to turn them 
 From the way of Light and Life. 
 Yea! With poisened tongues and darhig 
 Strive they with the Lord's Elect, 
 From the souls that walk in darkness 
 Gather they the tares and bind them 
 Into varied clan and sect. 
 
 XIX. 
 
 Devils when they preach the Gospel 
 
 In the garb that angels wear. 
 
 May be known, as in a garden 
 
 Trees are knowm in time of fruiting 
 
 B}^ the kind of fruit they bear. 
 
 How^ can grapes come forth from brambles 
 
 Deadly trees bear healing fruit, 
 
 P'igs be gathered from the thistles, 
 
 And from tares sown in the furrows 
 
 How shall living wheat take root ? 
 
132 THE BRIDEGROOM COMETH. 
 
 Where the Word is sown and groweth 
 
 Hate and strife and discord cease, 
 
 For the Life that then upspringeth 
 
 Beareth fruit that onl}' bringeth 
 
 Holy Love and endless peace. 
 
 Seeds of evil sown b}^ devils 
 
 Need no tender, watchful care ; 
 
 Rank as noxious weeds and thrifty 
 
 Grow they, though not watched, nor tended 
 
 And their bitter fruitage bear. 
 
 XX. 
 
 In the fair schools of the Kingdom 
 
 Sit the minions of the foe ; 
 
 Where should shine the Light effulgent 
 
 As a burning stream of glory, 
 
 Black as night they come and go. 
 
 Armed from head to foot in darkness, 
 
 Where unguarded sleeps the soul, 
 
 Creep they over arms neglected. 
 
 Over strong unmanned defences 
 
 With their impious feet and foul. 
 
 Jewels from the depths of heaven, 
 
 Sparkling with the Light of God, 
 
 Such as deck the brows of angels, 
 
 Soiled by filthy touch, and buried, 
 
 By their loathsome feet are trod. 
 
 Yea! Themselves build schools unsparing 
 
 Where their subtile webs they weave ; 
 
 From these schools arrayed in darkness, 
 
 \'apid, fulsome go the teachers 
 
 God's poor children to deceive. 
 
 Yea! These Spirits dread go with them. 
 
THE BRIDEGROOM COMETH. 133 
 
 IvCad them fondling on their chain, 
 
 Urge them on in guile malignant, 
 
 Glad to see them weak and faithless 
 
 Crucify their Lord again. 
 
 vSo the}' mount the oaken pulpits 
 
 Crimson as the Savior's blood 
 
 And the doctrines teach of devils, 
 
 Fill the holy Church with darkness 
 
 In the name of Christ and God. 
 
 Yea ! They strive to turn the faithful 
 
 From the way of truth and bliss, 
 
 And the woes that came hereafter 
 
 In the world of endless sorrow 
 
 Kindle by their breath in this. 
 
 They who claim to shout glad tidings 
 
 Of the Kingdom far and near, 
 
 Shout instead their clanging doctrines, 
 
 And with vague and cruel nonsense 
 
 Fill the seasons of the year. 
 
 Yea ! The time that Jesus spoke of ; 
 
 •'When I come shall faith be found !" 
 
 With a warning sign portentous 
 
 Gathers as a storm tremendous 
 
 All the sinful world around. 
 
 And the Kingdom, O ! how dreary 
 
 Where the Word sheds not His Light! 
 
 Darker than the curse of Egypt 
 
 Gather over all the nations, 
 
 Dreadful shadows of the night. 
 
 XXI. 
 
 Lo ! W^e hear how brawling preachers 
 All unapt the truth to see, 
 Plunge poor creatures under water 
 
134 THE BRIDEGROOM COMETH. 
 
 And forever and forever 
 Wash their- dreadful sins away ; 
 As if water could wash spirit, 
 Matter, reach and cleanse the soul, 
 Unperceiving that a Spirit 
 B}^ the stream of Life eternal 
 Must be cleansed from what is foul. 
 Seeing not beyond the symbol 
 Know they not that Life is Love, 
 That the Life touched by the Spirit 
 Purifies the heart and makes us 
 One with Christ in God above. 
 
 XXII. 
 
 Others teach that Jesus' sufferings 
 
 Soothed the dreadful wrath of God, 
 
 That their filthy souls are reckoned 
 
 Pure and stainless by his mercy, 
 
 Through the shedding of Christ's blood 
 
 That the perfect God of Wisdom, 
 
 Just and good is satisfied. 
 
 All appeased and well contented 
 
 When the vile escape His justice 
 
 And the innocent has died; 
 
 For they know not that atonement 
 
 Is our oneness with the Lord ; 
 
 That the Life is Love eternal 
 
 Overcoming Death within us 
 
 As we daily grow like God ; 
 
 That the Church is now His body 
 
 As Melehisedek the priest, 
 
 Ever making the At-one-ment, 
 
 Through the Life of Love uniting 
 
THE BRIDEGROOM COMETH. 135 
 
 Men redeemed, in God, with Christ. 
 
 Not alone by Jesus' dying 
 
 Is the lost world saved from sin ; 
 
 But, the Life abiding in Him 
 
 Cometh to us through His dying, 
 
 Quickens and we live again. 
 
 By the Life we walk the pathway 
 
 Which his wounded feet have trod. 
 
 In the face of death and danger 
 
 Passing on to perfect oneness 
 
 With the living Christ in God. 
 
 XXIII. 
 
 Others teach fore ordination 
 
 Of the few saved by the blood, 
 
 Of the mass predestinated 
 
 To a hopeless condemnation 
 
 By the righteous will of God. 
 
 Others say that all are saved. 
 
 Good and bad, it matters not, 
 
 Vice and virtue are indifferent. 
 
 For the mercy of the Father 
 
 Has for all, a common lot. 
 
 Yea ! They know not that salvation 
 
 Is progressive steps from sin, 
 
 And the blessed Life that ends not 
 
 Is the Love of God eternal, 
 
 Groiving neiv born son Is within; 
 
 That this Love, this Life within them 
 
 Is the Life of God above; 
 
 And that every high born Spirit 
 
 Glittering in the starry heavens 
 
 Is some princely form of Love, 
 
136 THE BRIDEGROOM COMETH. 
 
 That this Life comes forth from knowledge 
 
 Of Messiah and His reign, 
 
 And springs up in heavenly beauty 
 
 From the seed by faithful teaching 
 
 Planted in the Souls of men. 
 
 Where the living Word by teaching 
 
 Is not planted as the seed 
 
 There can be no Life eternal, 
 
 For, from out this heavenly knowledge 
 
 Must the Life through Faith proceed. 
 
 Christ is in the holy service, 
 
 Though but idly sung, or said ; 
 
 But the dead soul cainiot see Him 
 
 Till the qiuck'7iiug- Spirit touching 
 
 Raise the living from the dead. 
 
 XXIV. 
 
 Wise and grim the ' ' Prince of this World' ' 
 Sifts the children of the Light, 
 Through the Church, unseen and noiselCvSS, 
 Restless, fearless, ever watchful, 
 Strive the forces of the night ; 
 From their touch springs death eternal, 
 Thinner than the wasted breath, 
 Loathsome, hateful, onward pressing, 
 Armed and ready, strong for action, 
 Strive the sleepless hosts of death. 
 Stirring strife where Love eternal 
 Should uplift the hearts of men, 
 In the very name of Jesus, 
 Leading surly sects in clamor 
 Down the hidden ways of sin. 
 Driving men to strife and combat 
 
THE BRIDEGROOM COMETH. 137 
 
 'Neath the cruel flag unfurled 
 Where the ensigns of all nations 
 Floating o'er the fields of carnage 
 Mark the judgment of the world. 
 Dark as winged clouds of locusts 
 On in dreadful force they move, 
 Sent of God to try His children, 
 vSift and test in every fibre 
 All the offspring of His love. 
 
 XXV. 
 
 Now beloved, is the judgment 
 Of this world, as Jesus said, 
 Day by day all souls are sifted ; 
 Day by day the saved are lifted 
 From the dying and the dead; 
 While the lusty and the heedless 
 Wander through the world abroad 
 All unconscious that these powers 
 Are arrayed to sift and try them 
 'Neath the searching eye of God. 
 
 XXVI. 
 
 They who pass the fiery trial 
 
 With- the strength to do and bear 
 
 Are the saved, who, cleansed by burning 
 
 Rise aloft through tribulation 
 
 Crowns of endless life to wear. 
 
 And the lost who love the darkness 
 
 Nor will come unto the light. 
 
 Pass the pearly gates of heaven 
 
 Onward in their folly pressing 
 
 To the endless gloom of night. 
 
138 THE BRIDEGROOM COMETH. 
 
 XXVII. 
 
 Heated as a glowing oven 
 
 Is the great day of the Lord ; 
 
 As the children in the furnace 
 
 Only they unhurt pass through it 
 
 Who in meekness walk with God. 
 
 Christ goes through and through the burning 
 
 Where the well beloved are tried ; 
 
 Where were three, behold the fourth one 
 
 Bearing all the burning with them, 
 
 Walks in love unharmed beside. 
 
 Oh! That men could see the Savior 
 
 And could mark these Spirits dread 
 
 Gathering in clouds about them, 
 
 Through the hidden wiles of evil 
 
 To enroll them with the dead. 
 
 XXVIII. 
 
 By these powers, Lo! the faithless 
 
 All too ready stoop and fall, 
 
 And in everlasting darkness 
 
 Those who love and lean upon them, 
 
 In their ruin dread enthrall. 
 
 In the Church they lead the princes 
 
 B}^ the subtile hidden snare. 
 
 And their watchful eyes and sleepless 
 
 Every hidden weakness scanning 
 
 Neither great nor small will spare. 
 
 By them Bishops turn from duty, 
 
 Travel up and down the lands 
 
 As they thought the Lord's commission 
 
 Was not seed to sow by teaching ; 
 
 But by laying on of hands. 
 
THE BRIDEGROOM COMETH. 139 
 
 Priests and deacons as tlie}^ knew not 
 Of the Life of Love, go down ; 
 Great men fall as leaves in Autumn ; 
 Many a life goes out in darkness, 
 As the setting of a sun. 
 The}^ whose arms have taken cities, 
 Vanquished man}^ a foe in fight 
 Fall before these subtile Spirits 
 As into eternal darkness 
 Falling stars go out at night. 
 From the early blush of morning, 
 Through the gloomy shadow^s dread 
 Men forevermore are passing 
 To eternal Light and glory, 
 Or to darkness and the dead. 
 
 XXIX. 
 
 Winged with flame, unsparing, piercing 
 Sorrows from our failings spring 
 Which consume us by their burning 
 And remembrance oft returning 
 Will a daily sorrow bring. 
 Though we turn away from evil, 
 Learn to love and do no ill; 
 Even when we are forgiven 
 And the record made in heaven 
 Will remorse pursue us still. 
 'Tis the mercy of the Father, 
 That we learn to sin no more. 
 And with wary footsteps walking 
 Ever shun the hidden danger 
 Till our trial shall be o'er. 
 Though we dwell in cot or palace 
 
140 THE BRIDEGROOM COMETH. 
 
 Evermore the flames prevail. 
 From all hearts though hard or tender, 
 Down through all the troubled ages 
 Comes the piercing of a wail. 
 Parents wailing for their children; 
 Children for their parents lost 
 Wailing for themselves and others 
 Fallen sisters, fallen brothers 
 In the burning tempest tossed; 
 Groans and cries of dying millions 
 Ever fall on aching ears. 
 Till this world of wondrous beauty 
 Darkened b}^ the night of evil 
 Grows into a vale of tears. 
 Oh! How long the poor soul prayeth 
 To be spared this trial dread 
 While the loving Father changeth 
 Into gems the drops of bleeding 
 Which the loving heart hath shed. 
 Jesus prayed the cup might pass Him; 
 Oh! The teaching of that prayer! 
 He the loving P'ather answered, 
 Not by passing, but by giving 
 Strength to do His will and bear. 
 
 XXX. 
 
 This beloved is that tempest 
 
 Gathered in its wild array 
 
 vSweeping through the midnight darkness 
 
 While the Lord upon the mountain 
 
 Seems afar, afar away. 
 
 He hath taught us though His coming 
 
 Fill our troubled souls with fright. 
 
THE BRIDEGROOM COMETH. 141 
 
 He shall walk upon the billows 
 Through the darkness and the tempest 
 In the fourth watch of the night. 
 Even now the storm is sweeping 
 O'er the troubled world abroad; 
 Lift 3'our eyes and look beloved. 
 Lo! We see the sign in heaven 
 Of the coming of the Lord, 
 And the time is now upon us, 
 When the mystery unsealed, 
 He, the Lord of Life and Glory 
 Shall upon this throne within us 
 Be to every eye revealed. 
 
t 
 
 Maranatha. 
 
 Canto YII, 
 
 The Advent Bride. 
 
 As the lightning lighteneth out of the one part under 
 heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven; so 
 also shall the Son of Man be in His day. Wheresoever 
 the body is thither will the eagle's be ga'thered together. 
 —St. Luke, xvii, 24-37. 
 
 I. 
 
 Leading on the Churches' seasons, 
 Sweeping far on restless wing, 
 Advent as a herald angel 
 Cried aloud through all the nations 
 Of the coming of the King. 
 Holy Church alert and waiting 
 Called her children far and near. 
 They wdio loved the Lord's appearing 
 And with anxious hearts were watching 
 Rose, her loving call to hear. 
 
 II. 
 
 Now the solemn shades of evening 
 Crept afar o'er vale and wood, 
 
144 THE ADVENT BRIDE. 
 
 While the faithful of the village, 
 Thinking of the Bridegroom's coming, 
 Gathered in the Church of God. 
 Over every shaded pathway 
 Of the rugged mountain side 
 Came the people in their gladness, 
 Swift to learn of Jesus' coming 
 And His oneness with the Bride. 
 
 III. 
 
 Where the growing shadows mingled 
 
 With the light from Alian's door; 
 
 Where the well beloved were gathered 
 
 Came a lowh', rustic stranger. 
 
 Clad in garments rough and poor; 
 
 Tender, meek and full of wisdom. 
 
 Light was in His loving eye, 
 
 Beaming from His noble features 
 
 As a heavenly radiance fallen 
 
 From the windows of the sky. 
 
 From His hands the blood was oosing, 
 
 From His feet and wounded side; 
 
 O'er His brow were crimson thorn-prints, 
 
 And His seamless robe unriven 
 
 By the trickling blood was dyed; 
 
 Full the purple marks of scourging 
 
 For the dying race of men, 
 
 Rose in gaping furrows on Him, 
 
 Whence the crimson currents flowing 
 
 O'er His quivering shoulders ran. 
 
 Marred His features were, and saddened, 
 
 As His heart felt all our woe." 
 
 Felt it in its utmost deepness, 
 
THE ADVENT BRIDE. 145 
 
 Felt a bitter weight oppressive, 
 Which no other heart may know. 
 In the person of a w^oodman, 
 Wounded and wdth bleeding breast, 
 Came the Lord of Life and glor}^ . 
 Hidden from the blunted senses 
 Which can never know the Christ. 
 Those who idly looked upon Him, 
 Little thought of high degree; 
 For His rustic garb uncomely 
 Hid the cruel marks upon Him 
 Of the Lord of Calvary. 
 
 IV. 
 
 Alian met Him at the threshold, 
 Thinking of the days of yore, 
 Of the woodman and His message; 
 And His loved ones, unsuspecting. 
 Wondered if He tidings bore. 
 From her chamber, seeking tidings, 
 Flushed and rosy as the morn, 
 Mitylene came wdth longing, 
 Fair as holy light and w^earing 
 On her brow the crown of thorn. 
 Hope on radiant wdngs w^as resting 
 O'er her beauteous features then; 
 Through her eyes her heart had spoken 
 Ere her anxious lips had uttered 
 Yearnings for her Manaen. 
 Quick the woodman saw and answered; 
 ''He the lost shall be restored, 
 Aiid thine eyes shall rest upon Hun 
 Whe7i illumined by the Spirit 
 Thou shall see the Christ, the Lord.'' 
 
146 THE ADVENT BRIDE. 
 
 V. 
 
 Then He spoke of Jesus' coming, 
 Of His triumph and His reign. 
 Of the Advent and its teaching, 
 Of the everlasting Kingdom 
 Rising in the hearts of men; 
 Of the daughter fair of Zion 
 Through the cycle of the 3'ears, 
 In the time of her adorning 
 Pouring out her soul in anguish 
 And in bitter, burning tears. 
 
 VI. 
 
 While the eager household listened 
 Words as tender living things, 
 As a host of winged Spirits 
 Came unto their loving bosoms 
 Beating with their radiant wings, 
 Till the Life was roused within them 
 And alert in every breast 
 Rose the deathless soul to hearken, 
 As of old the well-beloved 
 Hung upon the words of Christ. 
 
 VII. 
 
 Full of grace the stranger taught them 
 Of the mights and thrones unseen. 
 Of the Christ, with princely powers, 
 Building up the endless Kingdom 
 In the new-born hearts of men; 
 Taught them that the Christ is Spirit, 
 Living, perfect, endless Love. 
 
THE ADVENT BRIDE. 147 
 
 Is the essence of the Father; 
 
 Is the Life that reigns within us, 
 
 And in all the worlds above, 
 
 Is the perfect, full expression 
 
 Of the mind and will of God. 
 
 Sounding down through all the ages, 
 
 Dwelling in each heart receiving, 
 
 As the everliving Word. 
 
 Speaking to the inward being 
 
 Of the deep things of the sky, 
 
 Quickening every latent impulse 
 
 Of the Life to perfect oneness 
 
 With the Living God on high, 
 
 Till the Life, enrobed in Graces, 
 
 Peerless, stronger than all might. 
 
 Lifts the world from death eternal 
 
 To the endless Life of heaven 
 
 By the simple force of Light; 
 
 That the endless Kingdom cometh 
 
 By no mortal vision seen. 
 
 As a city fair descending, 
 
 And in Light and living beauty 
 
 Rising in the hearts of men ; 
 
 That the Kingdom growing in us 
 
 Bringeth all men into one; 
 
 That Atonement, long expected. 
 
 Is the Church Redeemed in oneness 
 
 In the Father with the Son; 
 
 That the Lord is as the Bridegroom ; 
 
 That the Church is as the Bride; 
 
 That the Daughter fair of Zion 
 
 For her Lord, is cleansed by burning 
 
 As the gold is purified; 
 
 That her fair and radiant vesture. 
 
148 THE ADVENT BRIDE. 
 
 Warp and woof, is wrought of God, 
 And the highest lordl}' powers 
 Lay the banquet through the heavens 
 For her wedding with her Lord. 
 
 VIII. 
 
 Horned hoofs, encased in iron. 
 Must the rounded wheat lay bare, 
 Or the flail must beat and beat it 
 Ere the wind the chaff removeth 
 From the perfect grain and fair. 
 Not remission from the anguish 
 Is the highest gift of God; 
 Strength to do His will and bear it. 
 Take the crown of thorns and wear it, 
 Is the Oneness with the Lord. 
 Daily round of fierce temptation 
 Is the dreadful judgment da^^ 
 The}^ who meet the foe and triumph 
 Rise aloft o'er many trials 
 Into Life and Peace alway. 
 Blood-drops flowing from the pressure 
 On the cruel platted thorn 
 Are the jewels, that forever 
 Add the beauty and the lustre 
 To the martyr's fadeless crown. 
 
 IX. 
 
 Know ye not, O! well-beloved! 
 That the Lord of Life is here, 
 And that coming through the ages 
 Shine aloft His glittering footsteps 
 All adown the Christian year? 
 
THE ADVENT BRIDE. 149 
 
 He hath come as Light descending 
 
 Through the teaching of the Word, 
 
 And in ever}- loving bosom 
 
 Shining as the flame of jewels 
 
 Builds the living throne of God. 
 
 In the holy Church, His bod3^ 
 
 As Melchisedek, the Priest, 
 
 Interceding, mediating, 
 
 Giving Light and Life eternal 
 
 Mi)iisters the Living CJirist. 
 
 Here He rears aloft His Kingdom, 
 
 Leads the heavenly hosts of Light, 
 
 Rising o'er the sleeping nations 
 
 As the rosy wings of morning 
 
 Spreading o'er the realms of night; 
 
 Here He teaches as that Prophet, 
 
 And by teaching, Life bestows, 
 
 Plants the seed that living, growing. 
 
 Day by day in grace unfoldeth 
 
 As the opening of a rose. 
 
 By the Life He makes x\tonement 
 
 As Melchisedek, the Priest, 
 
 Bringing men redeemed to oneness. 
 
 Through the Life, with God the Father, 
 
 By their oneness with the Christ. 
 
 Here He reigns a King forever; 
 
 Here He judgeth day by day, 
 
 Filling up with wheat His garners. 
 
 By the flail, the fan, the sifting 
 
 Driving all the chaff away. 
 
 X. 
 
 Can ye not perceive a spirit 
 Fair as light and wide of wing, 
 
150 THE ADVENT BRIDE. 
 
 Dwelling in God's faithful children, 
 Guiding, guarding and uplifting 
 In the power of a King; 
 Kindling by His touch within them 
 Life of Life and Light of Light, 
 By the Life, within them kindled. 
 Overcoming death eternal, 
 And the powers of the night; 
 Gath'ring in His fold the nations, 
 Freeing them from death and sin. 
 Cleansing by the fan and sifting, 
 And as circling suns uplifting 
 Fair and bright His throne within? 
 
 XL 
 
 Have 3'e marked the Ro^^al Virgin 
 Through the shadows of the night. 
 As the fairest born of heaven. 
 Rising out of tribulation. 
 Into everlasting Light? 
 Have ye marked her through the ages, 
 Her fair garments soiled and worn. 
 How each priceless, beauteous fabric 
 B}^ the lost world's loathsome contact 
 Has been trampled on and torn? 
 Have ye never comprehended 
 That the rended Church we see 
 Torn and trampled by the faithless. 
 Set at naught, reviled and hated 
 Is the Bride of Christ to be; 
 That this is the Royal Virgin 
 Who shall wed the Son of God, 
 And forever and forever 
 
THE ADVENT BRIDE. 151 
 
 Over all the ransomed nations 
 Reign a queen beside her Lord ; 
 One with Him in love unfathomed, 
 In all truth and goodness one, 
 Of the same all-loving Spirit, 
 Of one body with the Bridegroom 
 As the Father with the Son; 
 Clothed in Light, in truth effulgent 
 From the shining courts above, 
 Crowned with bright celestial graces. 
 Ever}' radiant feature glowing 
 With the light of endless love. 
 Beauteous as the smile of heaven 
 Filling Eden with its light. 
 B}' her peerless beaut}- driving 
 From the sinful world forever 
 All the shadows of the night? 
 But the trial dread is passing 
 As the storm on Gallilee, 
 And the well belov'd of Zion 
 Seems indeed about to perish 
 In the tumult of the sea. 
 
 XII. 
 
 He hath come that Jesus spoke of, 
 
 ' 'Prince of this world," "Man of sin," 
 
 And has raised his foul dominion 
 
 In the frail hearts of God's children 
 
 There as Antechrist to reign. 
 
 Not a man with crook and mitre, 
 
 Not a King with fire and sword. 
 
 But the daring "Prince of this World," 
 
 Rulins: in our sinful members 
 
152 THE ADVENT BRIDE. 
 
 In the name and room of God. 
 Him hath God himself permitted 
 In the Church to rear his seat, 
 That the princes of his people 
 Who shall wear the crown of glory 
 May be sifted as the wheat, 
 That the noblest of His Kingdom, 
 Loyal to the truth and right, 
 May above the cringing rabble 
 With the faithful of all ages. 
 Shine forever in His sight. 
 From of old, from everlasting. 
 Has the Father's purpose been, 
 In the trial of His children 
 To array the heavenly powers 
 And to try the "Man of Sin." 
 
 XIII. 
 
 Now is set the throne of judgment; 
 Satan's utmost strength is tried 
 'Gainst the forces of the Kingdom, 
 While the Church is cleansed by burning, 
 And as gold is purified. 
 
 XIV. 
 
 'Neath the throne in guile malignant 
 Moves the Foe in hidded might. 
 By his subtile guile and burning 
 All the force of evil turning 
 'Gainst the powers of the Light. 
 Creeeping through the Kingdom's by waj^s 
 Blighting with his poisonous breath, 
 
THE ADVENT BRIDE. 153 
 
 Or with pleasing words enticing 
 Leading simple souls unthinking 
 Down the easy way of death. 
 To the plastic hearts uncultured 
 Forth he sends his hosts abroad, 
 And beneath the wungs of darkness 
 Leads them on, untried, unknowing 
 From the narrow way of God. 
 Even w^here the seed is planted 
 To bring forth its heavenly fruit, 
 There, in hidden guile he goeth 
 That the evil seed he soweth 
 In the field of God may root. 
 In the very name of Jesus 
 Gathers he the wrangling sect, 
 Makes the poor soul in her darkness, 
 Thoughtless lift her hand unloving 
 Even 'gainst the Lord's elect; 
 Binds in bundles all the wayw^ard. 
 That the lo3^al ma}' be knowai. 
 That into the heavenly garners 
 May the ripened wheat be gathered 
 From the seed the Lord hath sown. 
 Evil men he freely scatters 
 As the tares, by secret foe. 
 Where the faithful of the Kingdom 
 By the Lord of Life are planted, 
 Side by side the evil grow. 
 Now is harvest and the angels 
 Bind in bundles sect by sect, 
 While into the heavenly garners 
 Angel fingers daily gather 
 From the tares the Lord's elect. 
 
154 THE ADVENT BRIDE. 
 
 XV. 
 
 Winging downward through the ages 
 Deathless Spirits from on high 
 Have been sent with flaming fingers 
 To prepare the Ro^^al Virgin 
 As the offspring of the sky. 
 Clothed with Light, alert and sleepless 
 Sparing not, each soul they scan, 
 Pass it through the flame and try it 
 Morning, evening, unrelenting 
 Through the dreary life of man. 
 Sometimes as the grain they beat it 
 And the shining wheat lay bare; 
 Sometimes as the gold they heat it, 
 Seven times in flame repeat it 
 Till it gloweth bright and fair. 
 When the seven-fold heat is greatest 
 Then the dross lets go its hold. 
 Yea! The flame removes the faithless 
 From the Christ, as in the burning- 
 Dross is severed from the gold. 
 When the poor soul feels the burning 
 And would fly, but dares remain, 
 Then, behold on wings extended 
 Cometh ready help from heaven 
 Giving strength to bear the pain; 
 Lovingly the Judge in mercy 
 -Bendeth low to hear her cry. 
 Bids her follow in His leading 
 Walk the path His feet have trodden 
 To the rest and peace on high. 
 Forth He sends a faithful guardian 
 Watch to keep, both day and night, 
 
THE ADVENT BRIDE. 155 
 
 From whose brow a heavenly radiance 
 
 Flashes on the way of duty, 
 
 To the realms of Life and Light. 
 
 He the guardian, show^s occasion 
 
 For each noble, loving deed. 
 
 Shows the matchless grace resistless, 
 
 Ever read}^ for the asking 
 
 In the crying time of need; 
 
 Strength to shun each joy seductive, 
 
 Toil pursue, or danger dare, 
 
 And the cross rough hewn or jeweled, 
 
 In the way that God appointeth. 
 
 Patiently in love to bear; 
 
 Shows the Church for which the Savior 
 
 On the cross in anguish died, 
 
 That the loving eye may see her, 
 
 That the hearts that love Messiah 
 
 May as truly love His Bride, 
 
 And in time of grief surround her 
 
 Faithfully and tenderl}^ 
 
 As the bleeding hearts that gathered 
 
 Round the dying Lord of glorj^ 
 
 On the hill of Calvary. 
 
 At his touch the soul when sleeping 
 
 Wakes, ere strikes the wily foe; 
 
 When she calls, this guardian angel 
 
 Takes her hand and safely leadeth 
 
 In the way her feet should go; 
 
 If she call not, still he pointeth 
 
 To the dangers on the road 
 
 While the wily tempter trieth 
 
 Which is stronger, death wathin her, 
 
 Or the Light and Life of God. 
 
 If she fall, but still arising 
 
156 THE ADVENT BRIDE. 
 
 Crieth out for help, 'tis then 
 
 That He lovingly entreats her 
 
 To be strong, unless the tempter, 
 
 Coming, she may fall again. 
 
 Strength to move the very mountains 
 
 Standeth read}^ at her call; 
 
 Everj' fearful form of evil 
 
 Reared aloft by Satan's power 
 
 At her earnest cry will fall 
 
 Though most weak and frail, the great Judge 
 
 Gives her time, and day by da}^ 
 
 Waits and watches that she conquer, 
 
 At her call sends ready succor, 
 
 Bids her w^atch and fast and pray; 
 
 Never, when for help she crieth 
 
 Will He fail to stoop and hear, 
 
 And for ever}' soul that dieth 
 
 While He sits within and trieth 
 
 In His love lets fall a tear. 
 
 W^hen the tempter tries and tries her. 
 
 And all Life and hope have fled, 
 
 Only then the angel guardian 
 
 With the mark of Cain upon her, 
 
 Leaves her numbered wdth the dead; 
 
 While for every soul that triumphs 
 
 'Gainst the hidden wiles of sin, 
 
 There are shouts among the angels, 
 
 Who, descending, help the toilers 
 
 All the wa}' of Life to win. 
 
 XVL 
 
 Lo ! The Spirits good and evil, 
 Which pervade the earth and sky, 
 
THE ADVENT BRIDE. 157 
 
 Sent of God, shall weave the vesture 
 111 the great loom of the heavens 
 Which the Bride shall beautify. 
 Through the biting flame consuming 
 Shall their restless footsteps guide, 
 Till within the dreadful burning 
 She from every evil turning 
 Shall be cleansed and purified. 
 All her fair and costly garments 
 Whitened are by flame and blood, 
 And the strength to do and suffer 
 Shall, fore^^er and forever, 
 Be her oneness with her Lord. 
 
 XVII. 
 
 Loud above the darkened nations, 
 Age by age the trump is blown, 
 Calling day by day to judgment, 
 While above revolving cycles 
 Spreads the living, burning throne. 
 Seen and known by quickened Spirits 
 Sits the Judge in peerless might, 
 While unerring, sleepless powers 
 Gather from the flame and burning 
 All the children of the Light. 
 
 XVIII. 
 
 Few indeed with fine perception 
 Can the heavenly forces see ; 
 Truth revealed through all the ages, 
 To the blind as glorious sunset 
 Passes all unseen awav. 
 
158 THE ADVENT BRIDE. 
 
 Thus the Lord of Life and glon\ 
 Cometh as a thief at night, 
 Only known to those about Him 
 While the world in midnight darkness 
 Heedeth not, nor sees His Light. 
 When the cleansing and adorning 
 For the nuptials shall be o'er, 
 And the Holy Church in beauty 
 Comes in perfect love to oneness 
 With her Lord forevermore, 
 Then the cry: "Behold He cometh," 
 Shall be sounded through the night, 
 And the eyes so used to weeping 
 Shall be lifted up to see Him 
 Coming with the hosts of Light. 
 
 XIX. 
 
 She the Bride meanwhile unconscious 
 That her loving Lord is near 
 Watches through the troubled ages, 
 Counts with aching heart the seasons 
 Of the passing Christian Year. 
 Yea ! She cries aloud in anguish, 
 Calling on the Bridegroom's name, 
 While the unrelenting Spirits 
 Guiding with unerring wisdom 
 Lead her through and through the flame; 
 And she knows not that her trials 
 Piercing, searching day by day 
 Are the fingers of the Angels, 
 And the fierceness of the burning 
 Is to take her dross awav. 
 
THE ADVENT BRIDE. 159 
 
 XX. 
 
 Patiently her Lord beside her 
 
 Waits, till cleansed from spot and stam, 
 
 She shall rise in peerless beauty 
 
 Over all the ransomed nations 
 
 Evermore with him to reign. 
 
 Men unthinking, in amazement 
 
 Wonder at the things they see : ^ 
 
 For they know not, slow of learning, 
 
 That the passing through the burning 
 
 Is the dreadful Judgment Day ; 
 
 That the holy Church ascendeth 
 
 Into everlasting rest, 
 
 As o'er all the subtile forces 
 
 Round about her path, she cometh 
 
 Into oneness without the Christ. 
 
 XXI. 
 
 Thus arising from the burning 
 
 Ever upward day by day, 
 
 Purified and clothed in beauty 
 
 Souls from out the fiery trial 
 
 Pass into the Life away. 
 
 And the holy Bride of Jesus 
 
 Through the sinful world abroad, 
 
 Clothed in Light by Angel fingers, 
 
 Riseth out of tribulation 
 
 Into oneness with her Lord. 
 
 Now was stillness through the chamber; 
 
 Hushed and silent as the dead 
 
 Thev who listened to the stranger 
 
 Deep within their inmost bosoms 
 
160 THE ADVENT BRIDE. 
 
 Treasured up the words He said. 
 
 Full of wonder in amazement, 
 
 While about enrapt the}^ stood, 
 
 Lo ! The Woodman came to Alian 
 
 Holding up a flaming jewel 
 
 Crimson as the Savior's blood. 
 
 "Take," said He, "this thing of beauty, 
 
 Mate it as no other can, 
 
 With a former jewel given. 
 
 Then thine eyes shall see the secret 
 
 Hidden since the world began. 
 
 In the coming nuptials place them 
 
 O'er the platted thorny crown, 
 
 O'er the fair brow of the maiden 
 
 Where of old the bleeding Savior 
 
 Felt the biting of the thorn." 
 
 XXII. 
 
 While the loved ones looked and wondered, 
 
 As the waning of the day, 
 
 As the blush along the heavens. 
 
 Fading from the sight, the Woodman 
 
 As a vision, passed away. 
 
 Then Behold! A heavenly radiance 
 
 Fell upon the quickened sight, 
 
 And abroad, through all the nations 
 
 Saw they Christ, the living Savior 
 
 Moving on the wings of Light. 
 
 By the Spirit's touch illumined. 
 
 All unveiled were wondrous things. 
 
 Holy angels, living powers 
 
 Moving through the earth and heaven 
 
 Evermore on restless wings. 
 
THE ADVENT BRIDE. 161 
 
 XXIII. 
 
 Mitylene meekly rising, 
 
 In the loving presence stood; 
 
 From her eyes a light was streaming 
 
 And her features fair were beaming 
 
 With the Light and Life of God. 
 
 Glad, with swelling heart, in wonder, 
 
 Cried she: 'Xo! Mine eyes have seen 
 
 Christ the Lord of Life and glory 
 
 Clothed in power as raiment, 
 
 Reigning in the hearts of men. 
 
 Now illumined by the Spirit 
 
 I behold Him, Light of Light, 
 
 As a Judge the faithful sifting, 
 
 And from thoughtful hearts uplifting 
 
 All the shadows of the night 
 
 Testing Satan's hurtful power 
 
 By the Light and Life of God; 
 
 And the Church by burning, bringing 
 
 Purified, nor spot nor wrinkle, 
 
 Into Oneness with her Lord. 
 
 XXIV. 
 
 He is in our homes and Churches, 
 Schools of learning, tides of thought, 
 In upheavals, revolutions; 
 Yea! The old world's forward movements 
 By the Living Christ are wrought. 
 He who moves the worlds of beauty 
 Through the azure depths on high. 
 Guiding all the hidden forces, 
 Also moves our hearts and lifts us 
 To the Life that fills the sky. 
 
162 THE ADVENT BRIDE. 
 
 'Tis the Christ Who in His people 
 Stroke on stroke, not made in vain, 
 Breaks the Shackles off the nations, 
 Frees the heaven born Spirit in them 
 Never to be bound again. 
 Who in speaking, bronze and granite, 
 Stands beside the mighty sea. 
 Holds aloft the torch of freedom. 
 Cries aloud and bids the bounden 
 Rise and everywhere be free. 
 
 XXV. 
 
 In His Church as in a body, 
 Holy Prophet, Priest, and King, 
 Gives He Life and makes atonement 
 'Till the ransomed world be gathered 
 'Neath the shadow of His wing. 
 From His brow the Light of heaven 
 Penetrates the darkened soul. 
 And the old world and its heavens 
 Rolls awa}^ with death and darkness 
 As the winding of a scroll. 
 This indeed is He, the Bridegroom 
 Waiting till the flame hath tried. 
 Till the fingers of the angels 
 Have in beauty set the jewels 
 On the person of the Bride, 
 lyo! My dream is now fulfilling 
 And it is the Father's will 
 As He taught me in the vision 
 How to bring my Manaen to me 
 And the promise to fulfill. 
 
THE ADVENT BRIDE. li^O 
 
 XXVI. 
 
 While she spake, along the highway 
 
 Through the darkness of the night 
 
 Came the gentle aged Aztec, 
 
 While the holy, lighted temple 
 
 Glittered as a jewel bright. 
 
 Glad he held his burning torch up 
 
 As a faithful, trusty guide, 
 
 And with young men of the village 
 
 Quietly and unexpected 
 
 Sought the presence of the Bride. 
 
 XXVII. 
 
 Long they waited while the virgins 
 Placed their snowy vestments fair, 
 With their apt and ready fingers 
 Placed the thorny crown they platted 
 O'er the coils of braided hair. 
 
 XXVIII. 
 
 In the Church enrobed and waiting 
 Stood the Priest beside the rail, 
 Till the Bride's adorning perfect, 
 O'er the beauty of her person 
 Fell the snowy bridal veil. 
 All was ready, when advancing 
 As some lovely Eastern queen, 
 With her fair attendant virgins, 
 Where the loving Bridegroom waited 
 Came the gentle Myteline. 
 There before her Manaen Hobah 
 Guided by the hand of God, 
 Glad as was the heart of Jacob 
 
164 THE ADVENT BRIDE.- 
 
 When he found his long lost Joseph 
 
 In his manly beauty stood. 
 
 "It is Manaen," cried the maiden, 
 
 Sinking on his heaving breast, 
 
 "God indeed hath brought thee to me, 
 
 And ni}^ heart hath seen thy coming 
 
 And the coming of the Christ. ' ' 
 
 XXIX. 
 
 Pen cannot describe the meeting, 
 Mind cannot the scene portray; 
 Yea! The gladness of the moment 
 Was as meeting of the waters 
 In the tumult of the sea. 
 
 Now the music of the service 
 Rose upon the midnight air, 
 And the Spirits' benediction 
 Rested on the loving people 
 Gathered in the house of prayer. 
 Through the Church's open portals 
 Passed the jo^^ous bridal train, 
 And the Church was full of gladness, 
 As of joy that runs through heaven 
 When the lost is found again. 
 
 XXXI. 
 
 Hand in hand the troth was plighted, 
 
 Lovingly each vow was made, 
 
 Words by which their lives were welded 
 
 W^ith the jo3'ous flow of music 
 
 As by angel lips were said. 
 
THE ADVENT BRIDE. 165 
 
 When the priestly words were uttered 
 And for aye, the two made one, 
 S3'mbol of the Church perfected 
 Brought to everlasting oneness 
 In the Father, with the Son, 
 When the Bride for benediction 
 Kneeling, meekly bowled her head 
 Allan placed the mated jewels 
 O'er the crowai and platted tresses 
 As the unknown giver said. 
 
 XXXII. 
 
 As the twain arose a wonder 
 
 Burst upon the startled sight, 
 
 Through the aisles, o'er priest and people, 
 
 Round the Bride in radiant beauty 
 
 Softly fell a heavenly Light. 
 
 O'er her brow the Light encircling 
 
 Formed the image of a dove, 
 
 While upon the mystic jew^els 
 
 Full and fair, these words were wTitten, 
 
 ''ChiHst is timtli revealing Love.'" 
 
 Then a voice arose as music. 
 
 Crying: thus the Spirit saith, 
 
 "All who will may live forever ; 
 
 For the Love that Truth revealeth 
 
 Is the Life that conquers Death.'' 
 
 XXXIII. 
 
 Round about, the Light effulgent 
 Fairer, brighter than the day. 
 Filled the little Church with glory 
 And through all the vale of darkness 
 
166 THE ADVENT BRIDE. 
 
 Lighted up the narrow wa}-. 
 Then the virgins on the mountain 
 In the fourth watch of the night 
 Heard a tumult of rejoicing 
 And the cry, "Behold He cometh 
 On the spreading wings of Light." 
 In the Light each one remembered 
 How that Love makes all men One 
 Through one Spirit with the Father, 
 And that this is the at-one-ment 
 Made with God, through Christ the Son, 
 That this growing into oneness 
 Is the Great King's marriage feast, 
 Sinful men redeemed from evil, 
 One with God and with each other 
 B}^ their oneness with the Christ ; 
 That the Life exalts the faithful, 
 Brings them to that blest abode 
 Where the loved ones of all ages 
 Rising out of tribulation 
 Come to oneness with the Lord ; 
 Where the holy Church perfected, 
 Leaneth on the Savior's breast 
 In the Father's man}' mansions, 
 Where the wicked cease from troubling 
 And the weary are at rest. 
 
 XXXIV. 
 
 Here my ready art hath failed me ; 
 For no pen can draw^ the scene, 
 Tell the rapturous joy exceeding. 
 When the maiden, unexpecting, 
 Looked upon her Manaen. 
 
THE ADVENT BRIDE. 167 
 
 Can the heart conceive the rapture 
 Which shal rise the Church within 
 When she shall perceive beside her 
 Christ, her Lord, long waiting for her. 
 Through the darkness all unseen. 
 Lo! The Lord of Life is waiting 
 Till the gladsome time shall come, 
 When with shining hosts about Him, 
 Clothed in Life and Light and beauty 
 He shall bear His loved one home. 
 You ma}' see Him, O beloved! 
 Though not with the carnal eye ; 
 Spirits piercing, undimmed vision 
 Can alone perceive the Spirits 
 And the powers of the sky. 
 You may see God's holy angels, 
 Feel their wings within your breast. 
 Feel their noiseless burning footsteps, 
 And above them fair and radiant 
 See the everhving Christ. 
 
 XXXV. 
 
 This is not a poet's fiction 
 Open to the thoughtless ken ; 
 'Tis a picture, though imperfect 
 Of the living princely powers 
 Moving through the hearts of men. 
 Where the carcass is, the eagle's, 
 Gathered are, and so the Christ, 
 Now unto the eagle visioned, 
 Shineth as the lightning flasheth 
 From the East unto the West. 
 Was it not foretold us plainly 
 
1B8 THE ADVENT BRIDE. 
 
 Ere the end should come that day 
 
 That the Lord of Life departed, 
 
 He should come, The Prince of this World, 
 
 And the living Faith decay. 
 
 That should come contentions, strivings, 
 
 And with many love grow cold, 
 
 God should smite the faithful shepherd 
 
 And the ravening wolves should enter, 
 
 Scatter and not spare the fold. 
 
 That a "little while" He cometh 
 
 As a thief at dead of night, 
 
 While men sleep in midnight darkness, 
 
 'Till the sinful world is wakened 
 
 By the spreading of the Light, 
 
 That all eyes should look upon Him, 
 
 That the Light the Foe should slay. 
 
 That by Him the heavenly Kingdom 
 
 To the Father should be given 
 
 Which shall never pass away, 
 
 That should be one fold and shepherd, 
 
 All the born of God made one. 
 
 Knit and bound in love together, 
 
 One forever and forever 
 
 In the Father, with the Son. 
 
 This beloved is At-one-ment, 
 
 Man redeemed made One with God, 
 
 All the rended scattered churches 
 
 Brought to everlasting Oneness 
 
 By their Oneness with the Lord. 
 
 3Iara7iatha/ Maranatha! 
 
 Even so, Lord Jesus come ; 
 
 Cleanse Th}^ holy Church and make her 
 
 One with Thee in Life and take her 
 
 Evermore unto Thy home. 
 
THE ADVENT BRIDE. 
 
 169 
 
 Be ye lifted up forever 
 O, ye everlasting gates ! 
 Look ! O Daughter fair of Zion ! 
 He the Lord of Life and glory 
 For His well beloved waits. » 
 
The Trial. 
 
 In the bosom of each mortal 
 Dwells unseen an angel guardian, 
 Full of eyes, alert and sleepless 
 
 Watchmg for the weal of men. 
 To his charge the soul is given, 
 Ivest within the dreary darkness, 
 From the way of Life she wander 
 
 Never to return again. 
 
 From his brow, in heavenly radiance, 
 'Long the way of Life eternal 
 Shines a Light upon the pathway 
 
 To the heavenly rest afar ; 
 Showing to the Spirit's vision 
 Every subtile form of evil, 
 Flashing through the dreary darkness, 
 
 As a beauteous blazing star. 
 
 Fair as light within a garden. 
 As our Mother Eve in Eden, 
 In the presence of the Tempter, 
 
 Thoughtless as a child at pla}^ 
 Dwells the stainless soul immortal, 
 Given to his subtile pow-er, 
 Who by trial , findeth whether 
 
 She will stand, or fall away. 
 
 If she fall, the death eternal 
 Springeth up within her being. 
 
172 THE TRIAL. 
 
 Guides her willing feet and leads her 
 
 Into all excess of shi. 
 Then the earth brings forth her briars; 
 Ever}^ tearing pang of sorrow 
 Hangs along the wa}' of evil 
 
 When the poor soul stoops to sin. 
 
 On the boughs of evil knowledge 
 Hang in shining, golden clusters 
 Lucious fruits, all too enticing 
 
 To the lustful gaze of men: 
 He the sleepless, angel guardian 
 Warns us not to pluck or taste them, 
 Lest b}^ eating, grow within us 
 
 All the hurtful force of sin. 
 
 But, the Tempter dread allures us 
 By their perfect forms of beaut3^ 
 By the daring, bold assurance 
 
 That the eating makes one wise ; 
 While the guardian angel whispers. 
 That the weakness, whence the wisdom, 
 Is the Death, the armed angel 
 
 At the gate of Paradise. 
 
 He who eats of joys forbidden, 
 'Gainst the loving, heavenly warning, 
 Findeth Death enthroned within him. 
 
 While the kind monitions cease. 
 In the Trial he has fallen, 
 And a flaming sword arising, 
 Guards the Tree of Life, that standeth 
 
 In the midst of Paradise. 
 
THE TRIAL. 173 
 
 Think not, O, thou child of evil! 
 That the wretched soul who wanders 
 From the Life and peace of heaven 
 
 Finds it eas}' to return ; 
 For the way of Life is narrow, 
 And the aspect stern of virtue 
 Is the flaming sword, that turneth 
 
 Ever}^ way your feet may turn. 
 
 Souls that cannot bear life's Trial, 
 Have no strength to do and suffer. 
 Working good in face of evil, 
 
 'Mong the blessed have no place: 
 Thus the Father, wills the passing 
 Through the burning, fiery Trial, 
 And in clouds, from the beloved, 
 
 Hides the brightness of His face. 
 
 He hath work for evil angels. 
 
 And through shining worlds, unnumbered, 
 
 Through the cycles of the ages. 
 
 Evil souls have work to do: 
 Such are formed for deeds of darkness 
 And the subtile hosts of evil. 
 Separate them, vile and graceless. 
 
 From the faithful, good and true. 
 
 He, the very Life and essence, 
 Of eternal Truth and Goodness, 
 Hath no pleasure in our sufferings. 
 When the deathless soul is tried ; 
 But the whole of heaven rejoices. 
 When the poor soul, looking upward. 
 
174 THE TRIAL. 
 
 Rises o'er the Tempter's power, 
 Through a bod}' crucified. 
 
 Thus the subtile forms of evil, 
 Dreadful, watchful, all pervading, 
 Knowing every human weakness, 
 
 Are ordained to sift and try ; 
 And 'tis through the fiery trial. 
 That the soul leaps up unfettered. 
 Mounting on its strengthened pinions 
 
 To the mansions of the sky. 
 
 When the wih' Tempter cometh. 
 They who fall into the evil, 
 Ever helpless to resist it, 
 
 Eat the fruit that makes them wise, 
 Makes them feeling, know the evil. 
 Then the flaming sword arising, 
 Guardeth every way that leadeth 
 
 Back to peace and Paradise. 
 
 Down the way of endless darkness. 
 Leads the wise and subtile Spirit, 
 With temptations, aptly chosen. 
 
 To entice and lead astra}'. 
 Though within, the Angel Guardian 
 Cries aloud and shows the danger. 
 Still the soul, with blunted senses, 
 
 Heareth not, nor turns away. 
 
 Thus through all the troubled ages. 
 Since Messiah came \w Judgment, 
 Seated on His throne within us, 
 Has progressed the Trial dread. 
 
THE TRIAL. 175 
 
 Souls unconscious of the presence, 
 Day by day, are tried and sifted, 
 And fill up the heavenly garners, 
 Or are numbered with the dead. 
 
 "Prince of this world!" in this judgment, 
 He who sits enthroned within us, 
 Tries in thee, the strength of evil, 
 
 'Gainst the powers of the Light; 
 While the day of God advances, 
 And the sullen hosts of darkness 
 Go reluctant, beaten, driven 
 
 To the endless gloom of night. 
 
 And the hosts of God arising 
 From the dreadful fiery trial. 
 As the gold comes from the burning, 
 
 Pass into the starry skies ; 
 And as holy constellations. 
 One b}' one, in radiant beauty. 
 Shining as the light of heaven. 
 
 O'er the darkened nations rise. 
 
 No Cross, No Crown. 
 
 O bitter crown of anguish, 
 Besprinkled o'er with blood, 
 
 B}" cruel fingers platted, 
 To crown the Son of God ! 
 
176- XO CROSS, NO CROWN. 
 
 None wear such crown, but princes 
 
 Of highest, best degree, 
 Who bear the Cross, and follow 
 
 The Christ to Calvary. 
 
 The strong, the angel-hearted, 
 
 Who toil for others' gain, 
 Wear aye this crown, be jeweled 
 
 With rub}' drops of pain. 
 The red gems gleam and glitter, 
 
 In light, upon the brow. 
 Which comes from the hereafter 
 
 To guide our footsteps now. 
 
 This crown, the world bestoweth 
 
 Upon the great and good. 
 Whose feet will dare to walk in 
 
 The narrow wa}' to God; 
 Who lead the toiling army. 
 
 Against the might of sin, 
 And for the Lord of Glory 
 
 The final conquest win. 
 
 The world is ever ready 
 
 God's children to adorn ; 
 She gives a crown of glory, 
 
 But weaves it out of thorn. 
 O, Father! hear and grant me 
 
 To wear this radiant crown, 
 When at the feet of Jesus, 
 
 I lay the red cross down. 
 
Bloodguiltincss. 
 
 "Our mother the Church, hath never a child 
 
 To honor before the rest, 
 But she singeth the same for mighty Kings 
 
 And the verriest babe on her breast." (coxe.) 
 But, Mother the Church, hath many a child, 
 
 Whom she turns on the world to die, 
 As cruel men turn cattle forth. 
 
 When the fountains of life run dr3^ 
 
 And many a priest of the most High God, 
 
 Unheeded sinks to his rest, 
 Wliose thread-bare garb, enfolds a heart. 
 
 That aches as the heart of Christ, 
 For the thoughtless ones, who care not for 
 
 The faithful and the true, 
 And thus their Master crucify 
 
 While "they know not what the^^ do." 
 
 Our mother the Church, has stains of blood 
 
 On her snowy vestments fair. 
 And the loving eyes of the Son of God 
 
 Have wept to see them there. 
 And pleading have turned to the Father's throne 
 
 In the deepness of His love. 
 That His light may shine on the crimson spots. 
 
 And the glaring shame remove. 
 
178 THE KINGDOM OF GOD. 
 
 Oh! Mother the Church, regard thy sons, 
 
 Who have heard the dear Lord's cry, 
 And giving up all, have followed Him 
 
 And are not afraid to die ; 
 The crown of thorns, upon the brow. 
 
 In glittering light we see. 
 To them, 'tis glor}^ honor, power. 
 
 But, 'tis a shame to thee. 
 
 The Kingdom of God. 
 
 God's Kingdom is not of this world, 
 With trampling hosts and flags unfurled 
 Though unperceived b}" flesh and sense, 
 'Tis real, yea, 'tis not from hence. 
 
 The battle, which his children win, 
 Is not with clamor, noise and din; 
 But is the conquest of the Light, 
 O'er fearful shadows of the night. 
 
 The heaven where the faithful go, 
 Is not of gold and jewels ; no! 
 In all creation, far and wide, 
 The well beloved of God abide. 
 
 The rapture of the saints, untold, 
 Is not to walk on streets of gold ; 
 But in those glittering worlds abroad, 
 To be, and live The Life of God. 
 
THK KINGDOM OF GOD. 179 
 
 The jewels which God's children wear, 
 Are not rich stones, on braided hair ; 
 But graces, bright, exalted, true. 
 Which noble, loving deeds can do. 
 
 Man's real life, is not the breath, 
 Which going from us, men call death ; 
 But is the Life of God above, 
 That fills creation broad, with love. 
 
 Nor, is the yielding of the breath, 
 What is indeed, most truly death ; 
 Where is no Love, its Light to shed, 
 There only are the truly dead. 
 
 What is, is endless, and to be. 
 
 Is either life, or death alway ; 
 
 The living thing, that yields the breath. 
 
 Is only taking wing at death. 
 
 Thus, they who live, and yet are dead ; 
 Where evil reigns the Life instead, 
 Cease not their being, with their breath, 
 But still live on ; their life is death. 
 
 Such need no place apart to dwell, 
 No biting flame; themselves are hell ; 
 Themselves are torture, and to be 
 Is flame enough, for aye and aye. 
 
 Salvation meaneth saved from sin; 
 Damnation is the Death within; 
 The diff'rence is not in the place, 
 But in degrees of death and grace. 
 
180 CHOOSING A BISHOP. 
 
 The gulf betwixt the saved and lost, 
 Is not of flame, all tempest tossed, 
 From hence 'tis fixed, to heaven above, 
 The distance, is 'twixt hate and love. 
 
 The flame, that is not quenched, the coal 
 That penetrates and burns the soul, 
 Is Spirit, unrelenting, thin, 
 That follows every act of sin. 
 
 The glittering way from hence to God 
 Is marked b}' ruby stains of blood. 
 The signs of conflict with the Foe : 
 'Tis not a path of roses ; No! 
 
 The steps we make, are made within : 
 Each one a triumph over sin ; 
 The end, when all the way is trod, 
 Is oneness zvith the Christ, i7i God, 
 
 The -crown of Life, which then we wear. 
 Is made of platted thorns, but there 
 The ruby drops, that here run down, 
 Are jewels in this fadeless crown. 
 
 Choosing a Bishop. 
 
 The mitre, place ye not on him. 
 
 Whose thoughtless heart would dare, 
 
 Ambitioush^ to thrust his head, 
 A jeweled crown to wear: 
 
CHOOSING A BISHOP. 181 
 
 And place it not, with worldl}^ craft; 
 
 Nor on the partizan; 
 God's Spirit, tells us how to look, 
 
 His Spirit marks the man. 
 
 It is a crown of thorns, and he 
 
 Who wears it for his good ; 
 Who wears it for the Church's weal. 
 
 Must wear it like the Lord, 
 As chief to suffer, in the way. 
 
 So rough, so hard to tread, 
 Must make it by his deeds of love 
 
 To glorify his head. 
 
 He is not Christ's, who in the Church 
 
 Seeks out the highest seat. 
 For Christ Himself, stopped down to wash 
 
 His own disciples' feet, 
 And taught us b}^ this act, that in 
 
 The Kingdom from above. 
 The highest exaltation is 
 
 The perfectness of love. 
 
 The noblest of the Sons of God, 
 
 Are such, as feel no shame, 
 In doing any menial act 
 
 To glorif}^ His name ; 
 And they shall find, when comes that da}^ 
 
 The winding up of 3'ears, 
 They too have washed those wear}^ feet. 
 
 Which Mar}^ wa-shed with tears. 
 
 The man of God loves not to be 
 Exalted in men's eyes, 
 
182 WRITTEN IN AN ALBUM. 
 
 But craveth strength to do and bear, 
 
 With all self-sacrifice. 
 To him, position, power, fame, 
 
 Temptations, are a snare. 
 From which he turns his heart away 
 
 By fasting and by praj'er. 
 
 O, Father! guide Thy holy Church 
 
 With wisdom from on high, 
 To choose, who most Thy holy name 
 
 Shall laud and magnify; 
 Who most shall do Thy holy will; 
 
 Who most Thy will shall bear. 
 And ever like the bleeding I^ord, 
 
 The painful glor}^ wear. 
 
 Written in an Album. 
 
 Upon this page, so pure and clean 
 
 I breathe a prayer; 
 That God will keep thy loving heart 
 
 As clean and fair, 
 And write in clear and deathless lines 
 
 His image there. 
 And, that thy life in love well spent, 
 
 Thy name, shall be 
 Imprinted on the Book of Life 
 
 For aye and aye, 
 And graven deep upon the heart 
 
 Of God, alway. 
 
Morning, Noon and Night. 
 
 I. 
 
 MORNING. 
 
 My God, m}' Father! Who in peace hath kept 
 Th}' children from the evil while we slept, 
 In mere}', guide and guard us, in Thy way, 
 Through all the struggles of this present day. 
 
 From angels, sinless powers, andarchangels high 
 Trisagions, roll in floods along the sky. 
 All nature, and the living creatures raise 
 In tender accents, loving songs of praise. 
 
 But we, so sinful Lord! and full of stains 
 
 But feebly utter, such exalted strains. 
 
 So weak, with dreadful foes, weighed down with care 
 
 The hymn exultant, ever turn to prayer. 
 
 Behold! The Foe is here, the dawn hath found 
 Him, watching still the narrow way around; 
 And all about us, thinner than the breath. 
 Are marshaled legions, of the host of death. 
 
 Like soldiers trained to war, disguised they prowl 
 Unseen and dreadful, round the helpless soul, 
 
184 MORNING, NOON AND NIGHT. 
 
 They march as warriors, in the host of Light, 
 To lead astra}^ and foil us in the fight. 
 
 Some wear the radiant garb of angels high 
 As sent to guard and guide, when'foes are nigh; 
 And others, watching long, in ambush hide, 
 To take us, if we turn our steps aside. 
 
 Temptations, strong and fearful, day by da}^, 
 Are strewn as jewels bright along our way. 
 And angel forms allure us, but to win 
 Our weary footsteps to the walks of sin. 
 
 Still others strive, in cruel station higher. 
 And lash us, as with flaming swords of fire; 
 Deprive us of our fortunes, comforts, ease. 
 And slay us in the tortures of disease. 
 
 And this, O Father ! but to turn away, 
 Our poor, sad hearts, from serving Thee, 
 To bring despair, for in our bitter lot, 
 Thou seem'st to hide Tyself and heed us not. 
 
 But Father ! Weak and fainting though we be, 
 Through Thine own Son, have we been born to Thee 
 Then clothe us with Thyself , be Thou our might 
 'Gainst all the powers of the foe to fight. 
 
 And, if he wound us, and we fall, give then 
 In mercy Lord! the strength to rise again. 
 And strive, 'till in Thy image and forever free. 
 We are redeemed, exalted and made one with Thee. 
 
MORNING, NOON AND NIGHT. 185 
 
 II. 
 
 NOON. 
 
 My God, my Father! Now with suppliant knee, 
 Out from the sinful world, we come to Thee ; 
 We fain would tread the paths our Savior trod, 
 And fight the battles of the Lamb of God. 
 
 All weak and faint, unarmed, undrilled, we stand, 
 With every subtile fiend and foe at hand ; 
 Be with us then; our fortress be, and might. 
 And in Thy mercy, teach our hands to fight. 
 
 With Thine own weapons, Lord! eternal Truth and Love, 
 All radiant, with the powers from above. 
 May we go forth, in faith, and peerless might, 
 'Gainst all the powers of the Foe to fight. 
 
 Against the evil of the heart within. 
 The world without, and all the tribes of sin. 
 Yea! Give us strength to triumph, and to rise 
 Unto the many mansions of the skies. 
 
 Let Thou no worldly gains, or pleasures sweet, 
 From hardness of the contest, turn our feet, 
 And may no love, or care for. self, restrain 
 Our feet from walking in the paths of pain. 
 
 Give Thou us strength, to strive unto the death. 
 And serve Thee with the latest dying breath; 
 Be Thou our Leader, and our ways control, 
 Lest, while we gain the World, we lose the soul. 
 
186 MORXING, NOON AND NIGHT. 
 
 And let us not be doubting, nor forget 
 That Thou, O, Word of God! art living yet ; 
 That Thou, not we, with high, angelic train, 
 Dost build Th}" Kingdom, in the hearts of men. 
 
 Oh! Let us not be fearful, but be strong, 
 And meet the Foe, and strive and suffer long, 
 Till Thou, Thyself, shalt call us from the strife, 
 To crown us, with the crown of endless Life. 
 
 Against the ' 'Laze/ess One, ' ' ' 'The Man of Sin," 
 Who towers as a prince, Thy Church within. 
 May we fight long and well, 'till he be slain. 
 And Thou, dear Savior, come in peace to reign. 
 
 Let Thy sweet Kingdom come from shore to shore, 
 Let all be one in Thee, and strive no more, 
 'Till from the hate of varying clan and sect, 
 We rise, "The Kingdom of the Lord's elect. 
 
 III. 
 
 NIGHT. 
 
 O, Radiant Leader of the hosts of Light, 
 Resplendent in Thy grace, and peerless might! 
 With aching hearts, and wounded in the fra}^ 
 P'or rest, we gather, at the close of day. 
 
 Our ranks are thin, for in the dreadful strife, 
 Have fallen many, from the wa}' of Life, 
 
MORNING, NOON AND NIGHT. 187 
 
 And all unconscious of the wa3\s they tread, 
 Are bound with many chains, and captive led. 
 
 The loved ones, who so precious in Th}^ sight, 
 Had thought to wear the crowns of Glor}^ and of Light 
 Ensnared by powers, fearful and unseen. 
 Deceived, are walking in the paths of sin. 
 
 We, havenotcome, unharmed, with armor bright 
 But many times have fallen in the fight, 
 And now with wounds that rack the soul with pain 
 At eve, we gather from the strife again. 
 
 But still, the Foe, with eyes, that never sleep, 
 Prowls like a wolf, around the flock of sheep. 
 And through the weary watches of the night, 
 With stealthy step, advances to the fight. 
 
 Then Savior! Captain! In Thy wounded breast, 
 Oh ! Let us la}^ our weary heads to rest ; 
 Watch by our side, and in Thy mercy keep 
 Th}^ fainting children in a peaceful sleep. 
 
 And when the night is past, and still we go, 
 All weak and faint, to strive against the Foe, 
 And on he comes, in darkness, and in might 
 Our fingers, teach to war, our hands to fight. 
 
 And when the fight is o'er, the vict'ry won, 
 And all Thou gavest Lord, to do is done. 
 Though maimed and halt, in mercy let us rest, 
 In peace forever, in Thy wounded breast. 
 
188 MORNING, NOON AND NIGHT. 
 
 IV. 
 
 O 1 PEERLESS LEADER— 
 
 O, Peerless Leader of the hosts of Light! 
 With crown, and flaming sword, and armor bright 
 From Thy fair Kingdom, Lo! Thy Light we see, 
 And from the darkness, come to follow Thee. 
 
 The "Prince of this w^orld," with an iron rod, 
 Now^ ruleth o'er us, in the room of God ; 
 Doth trample with his feet, in peerless reign, 
 And sway all nations, of the sons of men. 
 
 His minions tread with impious feet and foul, 
 The living chambers of the deathless soul; 
 Around that temple, where, Th3\self should' stdw^ell 
 Encamp the legions of the hosts of hell. 
 
 They marshal there their warriors for the fight, 
 And build the ramparts and the towering height 
 They scale the ruby walls, with feet unclean, 
 Or lie in ambush for the souls of men. 
 
 And where, along Thy Kingdom's borders far, 
 Each soul redeemed, alike some blazing star, 
 Keeps constant watch, the}' come and go. 
 And take no rest to work our overthrow\ 
 
 O, Savior! free us with Thy arm of might. 
 And makes us Thine, the children of the Light. 
 With shining armor, helmet, shield and sword, 
 Make Thou us, Soldiers of the Living God, 
 
 And give us grace and strength, to toil and fight, 
 'Till coming down from heaven, fair and bright 
 Th}- Kingdom shall prevail o'er death and night, 
 O, Peerless Leader of the hosts of Light. 
 
Chari Dei. 
 
 These are Christ's faithful ones, 
 
 The holy men, 
 Watching, fasting, lest 
 
 When He come again 
 
 He find them sleeping. 
 
 Toilers, these all the da}' 
 
 In heat and paiii 
 Sowing, with busy hands 
 
 The shining grain. 
 
 For the last great reaping. 
 
 These are the children of gri^f : 
 
 Sad mourners here ; 
 Sufferers for others' gain. 
 
 Through all the year. 
 
 Who work in weeping. 
 
 These are the rich, whose wealth 
 
 Is far above. 
 Noble, exalted souls. 
 
 In deeds of love, 
 
 Their treasure heaping. 
 
 These are the deathless few 
 
 Who live on high 
 Up, where their treasure is. 
 
 In the great deep sky 
 
 In God's sure keeping. 
 
Cross of Christ. 
 
 Cross of Christ ! Thou lovely tree! 
 Sweet is all th}^ wood to me; 
 Sweet in measure, sweet in grace, 
 Sweet where turned the Savior's face, 
 When hung to die. 
 
 Sweet thy nails, thy form of pain, 
 Sweet th}^ spots of bloody stain. 
 Sweet where hung that fainting head. 
 Where those limbs in pain were spread, 
 Which did no ill. 
 
 Glow, bright tree, o'er altars fair, 
 Where Christ walks, be thou too there. 
 On each height, exalted, lone, 
 Shed the light, when day is gone, 
 And greet it first. 
 
 O'er each way, o'er hill and glen, 
 Meet thou first the eyes of men: 
 Blood stained wood ! from week to week, 
 All the world must hear thee speak. 
 And learn of thee. 
 
 Cross of Christ, so crimson red! 
 Stand aloft, th}^ arms outspread: 
 Tree of Life! Sweet thing of sense ! 
 Speak in thy mute eloquence. 
 Of Jesus' death. 
 
CROSvS OF CHRIST. 191 
 
 Speak of love, the distance show, 
 Christian men in love should go: 
 Speak, till all shall weep in shame, 
 Who but wear the Savior's name. 
 And suffer none. 
 
 Cross of Christ, that soul is dead, 
 Who can see the I^ord's blood shed, 
 Who can see thy Light on high, 
 And would not feel blessed to die, 
 Like Christ the Lord. 
 
 Holy Church, dost thou not place 
 On each brow, this sign of grace. 
 Place it there, in love to show, 
 How that we in weal or w^oe. 
 Should work for good? 
 
 Cross of Christ, I feel thee now. 
 Feel thee burn into my brow. 
 Well I know thee there to say: 
 Christian, give thy life away, 
 In works of love. 
 
 Suffer thou, and bear thy cross. 
 Christians gain in loss on loss ; 
 They who most like Christ would be 
 Suffer most, and make this tree 
 A daily sign. 
 
At Home To-Day. 
 
 To the Rev. Jno. N. Norton, D. D. of Frankfort, Ky. 
 
 My spirit is over the sea to-day; 
 
 O'er the deep unquiet sea, 
 And walks the walks of my childhood days, 
 
 Where the loved of my bosom be; 
 It treads where often ni}' feet have trod, 
 The way to the beautiful house of God. 
 
 I hear the notes of love arise 
 
 On the mellow, stilly air, 
 And see the dearest of all the earth. 
 
 Who kneel in that house of prayer ; 
 I hear the glorious w^ords they say 
 In that beautiful Church, so far away, 
 
 I hear the moving and tender words. 
 
 Of him I dearly love. 
 Who found me beside the pathway of life. 
 
 And guiding, and looking above, 
 Hath brought me home to the Savior's Bride 
 Now^ dearer than all the earth beside. 
 
 I join the glorious tide of song, 
 
 That rises so sweetly there, 
 And kneel me dowm where ni)^ parents kneel, 
 
 In an earnest and heartfelt prayer. 
 The tender and eloquent words I sa\^. 
 That rise to the Lord, from that Church away. 
 
AT HOME TO-DAY. 193 
 
 The people around me know me not, 
 For the world is great and broad ; 
 
 Though they have the same sweet hope as I, 
 And trust m the same dear Lord, 
 
 But alas! The love of the Lord hath flown, 
 
 AndHis children may wander the earth unknown 
 
 Whenever I look on the churches here, 
 
 Each beautiful, costly fane. 
 How deepl}' I feel, in my inmost soul, 
 
 That the Church is rent in twain ; 
 That the children of God, in their darkness 
 But the name of Love, and the outward show. 
 
 The3^ call me here a heretic, 
 
 The lip in scorn is curled ; 
 They seem not to know, that Christ the Lord 
 
 Hath a Chur-ch in all the world. 
 And never have known of that inward birth 
 That bindeth in one the whole of the earth. 
 
 While far awa}^ in my own dear Church, 
 
 My spirit in worship kneels, 
 O Father of all! In thy mercy hear 
 
 My prayer, and ni}^ strong appeals; 
 For I beg in the name of Th}^ own dear Son 
 That Thy Church on earth may again be one. 
 
The Church of England. 
 
 'Tis said in ancient chronicle, 
 
 That Jesus shed His light, 
 In Greece, and Rome, and Britain, 
 
 When all the world was night: 
 The very cross that bore Him, 
 
 Nor blight, nor rot had seen, 
 Till Christ was known in Britain 
 
 From Bangor to Carleen. 
 
 A host had crossed the channel. 
 
 And unseen moved abroad. 
 With flaming sword and armor, 
 
 The Leader was the Lord. 
 The powers of the Spirit, 
 
 On restless wings, were .sent 
 To Cornwall, and to Lindisfarne, 
 
 To Lindisfarne, from Kent. 
 
 All through those woods primeval, 
 
 Where Druid rites were heard, 
 Now moved the Holy Spirit, 
 
 And the army of the Word ; 
 And like the living beauty. 
 
 By costly jewels shed, 
 Uprose the Savior's Kingdom ; 
 
 The living from the dead. 
 
THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND. 195 
 
 The first of Britain's teachers, 
 
 Were Paul and Joseph, then 
 Cindav the Jew and IHd, 
 
 And brave Arwrystlyhen ; 
 From those, with high commission, 
 
 Most glorious lines descended, 
 And Christ the Lord is with them, 
 
 Until the world shall end. 
 
 From Sumerset and Cornwall, 
 
 St. Davids and Landaff, 
 From lyanbadarn and Bangor, 
 
 And far from St. Asaph, 
 The lines from Christ went onward. 
 
 Till ever}' where they spread. 
 To make for Him disciples, 
 
 And break the living bread. , 
 
 From seeds the faithful planted. 
 
 Rose Christians up to die, 
 To suffer for the Britons, 
 
 As Christ on Calvary: 
 St. Alban, 5'ea and Aaron, 
 
 And Socrates can claim, 
 To be the first in Britain 
 
 To suffer in Christ's name. 
 
 In councils, stood her bishops. 
 That all the world might see, 
 
 That Christ's dear Church was living 
 In this island of the vSea. 
 
196 THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND. 
 
 When came the Monk Augustin, 
 And trod her shores upon, 
 
 They saw the 3^oke he brought them, 
 And would not put it on. 
 
 These holy bishops lifted, 
 
 The first of any land, 
 'Gainst Rome and her aggression, 
 
 A meek, forbidding hand: 
 The pope was not their father, 
 
 Though in the bonds of love, 
 They owned him as a brother, 
 
 Their Father was above. 
 
 Old Rome, could never conquer 
 
 The spirit that she found 
 E'er springing up in Britain, 
 
 As seed springs from the ground; 
 The Briton's Church loves friedom, 
 
 And not the yoke that binds. 
 From where the Roman placed it. 
 
 They cast it to the winds. 
 
 As restless waves of ocean 
 
 That play upon her sea. 
 From foreign lords and churches 
 
 Old England, would be free. 
 She knows her rites and powers. 
 
 And scorns, with scorn of scorn, 
 Who make a cruel shackle, 
 
 And seeks to put it on. 
 
THK CHURCH OF ENGLAND. 197 
 
 Old Latimer and Ridley, 
 
 And Cranmen too, can show. 
 As all her host of mart^Ts, 
 
 How England's blood can flow, 
 To drive away oppression, 
 
 And keep her ever free. 
 As God decreed forever. 
 
 When he placed her in the sea. 
 
 From Dinoth unto Wickliff, 
 
 JFrom Wickliff unto Laud, 
 Fought might}^ ones for England, 
 
 Her Altars, Kings and God. 
 Not Rome's unholy power, 
 
 Could triumph o'er her long, 
 For when she fights for such things, 
 
 Old England's heart is strong. 
 
 Thus, holy apostolic. 
 
 All catholic and free, 
 She calls to other churches. 
 
 Beyond her narrow sea; 
 That no presuming bishop 
 
 May reign in Jesus' stead, 
 That Christ, alone in glory 
 
 May ever be the head. 
 
 Now far unto the westward, 
 Her surpliced lines have run, 
 
 Till westward is the eastward. 
 And all the earth is won. 
 
198 I WALK WITH HIM. 
 
 Her children chant her worship, 
 Her olden songs and free, 
 
 Be^'ond the great Pacific, 
 In the islands of the sea. 
 
 The sun ne'er sets upon her, 
 
 Nor does her worship cease, 
 But rolls a tide Seraphic 
 
 Of jo3'ous love and peace, 
 'Till all the earth is circled. 
 
 And floods of rapture rise. 
 As hosts of angels meeting, 
 
 And shouting through the skies. 
 
 In Britain's Church I glors'. 
 
 And pray the Lord that I 
 Arising from her bosom 
 
 Ma}^ meet Him in the sk}^; 
 And ever will I pray Him, 
 
 In tender love, that He 
 Will make all other churches 
 
 As lo3'al, noble, free. 
 
 1 Walk With Him. 
 
 I walk with Him 
 
 From morn to eventide : 
 Along the wa}', 
 
 He treadeth by my side. 
 The way is rough. 
 
 And weary are my feet; 
 But, Oh ! To walk with Him ! 
 
 How blessed and how^ sweet. 
 
I WALK WITH HIM. 199 
 
 The furnace, fierce 
 
 With lurid flame and broad, 
 Lies just across 
 
 The narrow wa^' to God. 
 He takes my hand 
 
 And leads me through the flame ; 
 I cry aloud. 
 
 He leadeth still the same. 
 
 I strain my eyes. 
 
 And say: perchance my Lord, 
 Around the flames. 
 
 There is an easier road; 
 But still He leads, 
 
 And says: the gold is tried, 
 And seven times 
 
 In flame is purified. 
 
 'Tis ever thus 
 
 He comforts me, and still 
 With cries I bend 
 
 In anguish to His will. 
 I deepl}^ strain 
 
 The powers of my soul. 
 To meekly bow 
 
 Unto His firm control : 
 
 For heaven hath 
 
 No gift so dear to me, 
 As passing through 
 
 The flame, at last to be 
 Like Christ My Lord, 
 
 Who walketh by my side; 
 No dross; but bright. 
 
 Exalted, purified. 
 
The Rebuke. 
 
 It was in the still of the evening, 
 
 When the stars were bright, 
 And the moon shed a silver}^ radiance 
 
 On the clouds of night. 
 I was looking down the pathwaj^, 
 
 That led to my home; 
 For — I said to myself — some loved one 
 
 Perchance may come. 
 
 As I looked, the way seemed brighter 
 
 Than it seemed before ; 
 And one, like the blessed Savior 
 
 Drew nigh my door. 
 He came all meekh-, gently 
 
 Along the wa}^ ; 
 His face lit up the garden, 
 
 As the light of day. 
 
 Till then, my heart had been aching. 
 
 As if it would break, 
 For the many things that I suffered 
 
 For Jesus' sake ; 
 And, Oh! I bitterly pra3^ed Him, 
 
 To take me hence 
 From the cross, the cross of affliction, 
 
 And its offense. 
 
 As nearer drew this bright One 
 
 Unto m}' door. 
 Came thoughts of Love and Duty 
 
 As ne'er before. 
 
THE ANSWERED PRAYER. 201 
 
 He stood with His death wounds bleeding, 
 
 And bared His side. 
 I saw that it was my Savior: — 
 
 The crucified. 
 
 In very shame, for ni}' weakness 
 
 I hung my head. 
 When I looked again. He was not, 
 
 But a sweet voice said, 
 "Let not, let not the servant 
 
 Be above his Lord; 
 Behold! how He labored and suffered 
 
 And shed His blood." 
 
 O, Jesus my blessed Savior, 
 
 May I ever be, 
 Still more and more in Thv likeness. 
 
 As I follow Thee : 
 May I labor and sorrow and suffer; 
 
 But never again 
 Think the cross Thou givest me heavy, 
 
 Nor shrink from its pain. 
 
 The Answered Prayer. 
 
 I prayed in faith, not doubting 
 
 That every faithful prayer 
 Ascendeth up to heaven. 
 
 Is heard and answered there. 
 I prayed through Christ, believing 
 
 That any pra5^er we frame. 
 Doth find acceptance only 
 
 As offered in His name. 
 
202 THE ANSWERED PRAYER. 
 
 I prayed for God's great Spirit, 
 
 To guide, to guard, to fill 
 M3^ soul with strength and wisdom, 
 
 To do His holy will ; 
 That Christ, the Word eternal, 
 
 Would come within my breast, 
 And guide my painful footsteps, 
 
 Through labor, unto rest. 
 
 I prayed that my poor body. 
 
 So tortured by disease, 
 So racked with pain, and helpless 
 
 Would find at last release. 
 And filled with Life eternal, 
 
 Forever free from pain, 
 Would strive to build the Kingdom, 
 
 Within the hearts of men. 
 
 In perfect consecration 
 
 Myself and all that's given 
 In sixty or a hundred fold, 
 
 To render back to heaven. 
 I prayed in prayer most urgent, 
 
 And ever in Christ's name; 
 At morn, at night, unceasing, — 
 
 At length the answer came. 
 
 It was not an exemption 
 
 From sorrow, pain and care. 
 The which had been the burden 
 
 Of every daily prayer ; 
 But was the high conception 
 
 Which lights my bosom still, 
 That Love to God is two -fold, 
 
 To do and bear His will. 
 
THE LOST WOMAN. 203 
 
 Now, by this Light from heaven, 
 
 The answer to my prayer, 
 That stirs the Life within me. 
 
 Brings peace and comfort there, 
 I see, that while my body 
 
 And all pertaining, dies, 
 'Tis only thus, my Spirit 
 
 Is fitted for the skies. 
 
 The Lost Woman. 
 
 I saw a poor lost woman. 
 
 As she walked the street; 
 Her clothing was thin and scanty, 
 
 And bare her feet. 
 Away she went in silence, 
 
 With sunken eye, 
 And dared not look for pity, 
 
 From the passers by. 
 
 For Lo ! She felt too deepl}^ 
 
 Her soul within, 
 How little feel the sinful, 
 
 For those who sin. 
 So she passed into the silence 
 
 Through the frosty air. 
 And went along the highway. 
 
 She reck'd not where. 
 
 She had a deal of beauty 
 
 In her purer days, 
 And tender ones to love her 
 
 For her winning ways: 
 
204 THE LOST WOMAN. 
 
 Had an}' one then told her 
 
 That men deceive, 
 She, pure and unsuspecting 
 
 Could not believe. 
 
 An evil one beheld her ; 
 
 She erred and fell, 
 And turned her thoughtless footsteps 
 
 Towards death and hell. 
 The fond ones, who would love her, 
 
 To seek and save. 
 In sorrow and heart broken 
 
 Went down to the grave. 
 
 She needed now good counsel, 
 
 Some gentle one 
 To speak kind words, to save her; 
 
 But there was none. 
 Had the meek and gentle Savior 
 
 But met her then, 
 He would have taught and led her 
 
 Aback again. 
 
 But, Christians, named for Jesus, 
 
 Who call Him Lord, 
 Tread not the wa3's of mercy 
 
 Wherein He trod. 
 Their tall and splendid Churches 
 
 Are bright and fair. 
 But 3'et, we find not always 
 
 That Christ dwells there. 
 
THE LOST WOMAN. 205 
 
 Alas! This poor lost woman, 
 
 Has passed to-da}' 
 Full many of these Christians, 
 
 Along her way ; 
 And now, when the winds are bitter, 
 
 In the eventide, 
 How many are there passing 
 
 "On the other side." 
 
 The sins we see in others. 
 
 Are in our breast, 
 And holy men may wander, 
 
 Alike the rest ; ' 
 Why then is there no pity, 
 
 No love at all, 
 To move the hearts of Christians, 
 
 Towards those who fall. 
 
 Methinks I see the Savior, 
 
 At the day of doom, 
 And all the dead, arising 
 
 From out the tomb ; 
 Methinks I see the false ones, 
 
 As the}' go away. 
 And in that dread confusion, 
 
 Can hear Him say: 
 
 Depart from me; ye cursed, 
 
 Such is your Lot : 
 Ye have not kept my sayings, 
 
 And I know you not, 
 Ye have not loved nor served me 
 
 In all your days ; 
 Inasmuch as ye have not done it 
 
 Unto such as these. 
 
Lift Up the Light. 
 
 Teach, O, ye teachers of the world 
 
 With zeal and might. 
 The wand'rers from the way of God, 
 
 Need heavenly Light. 
 The night is dark. The wa}- is rough 
 
 In which we tread: 
 And all along the narrow way 
 
 Are pit falls spread. 
 
 O'er barren wilds, not pastures green. 
 
 Through all the day, 
 With thoughtless feet, and heeding not 
 
 W^e've gone astray: 
 And now 'tis dark, from hill and vale 
 
 Are forms of fear. 
 And Lo ! The shepherd's voice 
 
 We fail to hear. 
 
 The Antechrist, who was to come, 
 
 With power dread. 
 Doth lead, unknown, the sheep of God 
 
 In Jesus' stead. 
 With crafty eye, alert he calls 
 
 Unto the sheep, 
 And far and wide, o'er scattered folds. 
 
 His watch doth keep. 
 
LIFT UP THE LIGHT. 207 
 
 The ravening wolf, with hungry jaws 
 
 Prowls in the way. 
 With fearful roar, the lion dread. 
 
 Seeks for his pray: 
 And we, the lost, have wandered far 
 
 Into the night ; 
 With trembling fear, we cr}' aloud 
 
 For heavenly light. 
 
 If careless of j^our tender charge, 
 
 Ye fear, or sleep, 
 Or slothful, keep not faithful watch 
 
 O'er all the sheep, 
 How will ye answer unto God, 
 
 For all the dead, 
 Who fall into the lion's jaws, 
 
 Or pit-falls spread. 
 
 If but the Light be lifted up 
 
 That Jesus lit 
 The wanderers from the fold of God 
 
 Will come to it, 
 lyift up the Light! Lift up the Light! 
 
 Cry, cry aloud! 
 For ye must give, for ever}- sheep, 
 
 Account to God. 
 
Awake, 0, Shepherds of Israel 
 
 Is there indeed a line of men 
 
 In all the world abroad, 
 The Shepherds of the sheep, who are 
 
 Successors of the Lord, 
 With high commission, sent of Him, 
 
 As He was sent of God ? 
 
 With plentitude of power. 
 
 Who shall guard against the Foe, 
 
 And feed the flock and keep the sheep 
 In Christ, forevermore. 
 
 And when the ravening wolf shall come. 
 Shall work his overthrow ? 
 
 Yea! Yea! There is a white robed line, 
 
 In all the world abroad. 
 The Bishops are the Shepherds sent, 
 
 W^ith power bj^ the Lord; 
 They only can, against the Foe, 
 
 Keep safe the fold of God. 
 
 That Christ the Lord, will look to them. 
 
 Themselves will not gainsay. 
 'Tis chiefly theirs, in all the world, 
 
 To seek the lost and stray, 
 To guide, and guard, and feed the flock, 
 
 And drive the wolf away. 
 
 Then, do they know the wolf has come, 
 
 As prophets have foretold. 
 And through the world, hath torn the sheep, 
 
THE BROTHKRHOOD OF GOD. 209 
 
 And scattered, far the fold, 
 That far and wide, the lambs of God 
 Are wand'ring o'er the wold? 
 
 What Christ, the I^ord hath given them. 
 
 No man may take away : 
 The wolf that rends the Church of God 
 
 Their hands alone can stay : 
 And woe unto the helpless flock, 
 
 If these their trust betray. 
 
 Cry, cry aloud, O, scattered sheep! 
 
 In all the world abroad, 
 Until the sleeping Shepherds rise. 
 
 With power from the lyord 
 To drive the ravening wolf away. 
 
 And save the Church of God. 
 
 The Brotherhood of God. 
 
 The holy Church, the Catholic, 
 Whom Christ the Lord shall wed, 
 
 Is that, which from Jerusalem, 
 O'er all the world hath spread. 
 
 And there can be no other Church, 
 To reign with Christ instead. 
 
 Her faithful priests, arrayed in light 
 
 In flowing, snowy vest, 
 Have borne the Gospel seed abroad, 
 
 And planted East and West, 
 And all the nations, have from her 
 
 Their heritage in Christ. 
 
210 THE BROTHERHOOD OF GOD. 
 
 From Juda unto Motherland, 
 
 To India and Catha}^ 
 Then South and West, the holy Church 
 
 O'er all the world holds swa}^ 
 And builds the new Jerusalem 
 
 In the islands of the sea. 
 
 No other Church can be but this: 
 
 Though every foe assail, 
 The lyord hath said, w^ho fights for her. 
 
 She never more shall fail. 
 Nor shall the gloomy gates of hell 
 
 Against her life prevail. 
 
 The Roman Church, that went from her 
 
 Can never be her head ; 
 Nor they, who faithless fall away 
 
 Acknowledged in her stead ; 
 Nor can a wayward man-made church 
 
 The Royal Bridegroom wed. 
 
 But he hath come of whom the Lord 
 • In warning hath foretold ; 
 And Lo! The Prince of this world reigns 
 
 In powder manifold; 
 And ravening wolfs have entered in 
 
 Not sparing of the fold. 
 
 That Love Divine growls cold, that erst 
 God's children dear hath bound; 
 
 And now% if He, the Lord should come; 
 In all the world around. 
 
 Oh ! tell me ; where in any land, 
 Shall perfect faith be found ? 
 
IN MKMORIAM. 211 
 
 Her children miss a mother's love 
 
 And wander from her side ; 
 And some, while gloating in their shame 
 
 Her wretched state deride, 
 For lyO ! In her the loving Lord 
 
 Again is crucified. 
 
 O ! Mother Church, awake ! awake ! 
 
 And spread thine arms abroad, 
 And loving, call thy children home. 
 
 To oneness in the Lord, 
 And make all nations of the earth, 
 
 The B^'othef'hood of God. 
 
 In Mcmoriam. 
 
 of COL. J. J. DANIEL. 
 
 "Alas ! Alas !" — the world hath said — 
 
 "The man we all have loved is dead." 
 
 For little do the rabble weigh 
 
 The meaning of the words they say. 
 
 They see the gasp, that yields the breath. 
 
 And idly think that this is death ; 
 
 For Lo ! The world hath never known, 
 
 What is the Life or Death alone. 
 
 The simply yielding up the breath. 
 
 Can never be man's real death ; 
 
 For what the hand of God hath made. 
 
 Abides for aye, and is not dead. 
 
 The Life, Messiah from above 
 
 Brought down to men, is Livi^ig Love. 
 
212 IN MEMORIAM. 
 
 The Spirit to our spirits saith 
 
 The absence of this Love is Death. 
 
 As is the worm, itself the tomb, 
 
 From which a higher life shall come. 
 
 So grows the Life through heart and brain 
 
 Which nevermore, shall die again. 
 
 The body is God's fair design. 
 
 To mould the flow of Life Divijie. 
 
 Through living walls, through heart and vein 
 
 A ruby current mounts the brain. 
 
 And builds the mass, from which is wrought 
 
 The deathless form that springs from thought 
 
 The nervous cords are silver strings, 
 
 Where Spirits pass on beating wings; 
 
 And touching as they onward fly. 
 
 Transmit the Life, that cannot die; 
 
 Till from the body as a tomb. 
 
 From brain and heart, as from the womb, 
 
 Born from the touch of God above. 
 
 The being springs, whose Life is Love ; 
 
 Who feeds on Christ, and day b}^ day, 
 
 Grows one with Him in God, alway ; 
 
 Who has the strength in time of need 
 
 To do each tender, loving deed; 
 
 And as the endles love of God, 
 
 To bless alike the vile and good. 
 
 Such life had he of whom 'tis said 
 
 "The man we all have loved is dead." 
 
 He now abides, with that fair host, 
 
 Who loved and toiled and suffered most. 
 
 vSuch cannot die; They must abide, 
 
 Though perish all the world beside. 
 
 Alas ! Alas ! We know instead, 
 
 That they who call him dead, are dead. 
 
Never Alone. 
 
 Absent from thee, dear Cordelia, 
 Seeking rest, I laid me down, 
 
 Went to sleep among the thousands 
 Of a orreat and busy town. 
 
 As the wand'rer o'er the prairie, 
 Feels alone upon the plain. 
 
 So I laid me down to slumber, 
 'Mid the busv crowds of men. 
 
 Somewhere, were the notes of gladness, 
 Somewhere were the throbs of pain. 
 
 Somewhere busy men were counting, 
 O'er illgotten piles of gain. 
 
 Seemingly alone, forgotten. 
 
 Feelings passing, strange and deep. 
 Lying down I sought oblivion 
 
 In the stilly arms of sleep. 
 
 Hushed, were now the gentle voices, 
 
 Which a little while before 
 Said good night, so kindly, gently. 
 As I closed the chamber door. 
 
214 NEVER ALONE, 
 
 And my friends, the little children, 
 Who had kissed me fond good night. 
 
 Lying wrapped in love together, 
 Waited for the morning light. 
 
 Thinking of my absent dear one, 
 Thus to rest I laid me down ; 
 
 None who loved me, nor well knew^ me, 
 In the thousands of the town. 
 
 Stilly slumber, crept upon me, 
 And the town was all forgot. 
 
 Time, the heedless, swift winged monarch 
 Rushing onward roused me not. 
 
 Midnight came, and then a being 
 Stood before me, fair as da}^ ; 
 
 Turned her gentle eyes upon me, 
 Pressed my forehead tenderly. 
 
 Bending softly, vSweetly o'er me, 
 With a touch, almost Divine, 
 
 She as knowing, how I loved her, 
 Pressed her gentle cheek to mine. 
 
 O, Cordelia! This fair being. 
 Wore a form; it was thine own, 
 
 And I know where'er I wander, 
 That I never am alone. 
 
NEVER ALONE. 215 
 
 He who gave thee first unto me, 
 
 Ever round about me seems, 
 And, to make me feel His presence, 
 
 Brings thee to me. in my dreams. 
 
 Childhood's voices broke my slumber, 
 With a merry youthful glee : 
 
 Still thy image lingers with me, 
 While my heart abides with thee. 
 
 
 f 
 
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