Poems

Unto shepherds lowly Came the anthem from the skies; Thoughts from Heaven holy Dawned upon their dreaming eyes. Glory! Glory! Glory! Unto Love enthroned," they cry; Light illumes the story Trembling through the wondering sky.

Children of the Blessed, Sing the song of gladness, Ring the loud hosannas, Christ again to earth is come. Raise the voice to praise him, Bid the world adore him, While we follow, listening to the voice that calls us home.

All hail that God-crowned loyal heart,      Which Love-divine hath set apart To do His work — His Truth proclaim,      And fill the world with Love's refrain. All hail each heart which nobly strove      To give mankind this treasure-trove, Through storm and shade, through night and day,      That all may know Love's peaceful way.

All "in one place, in one accord"! Ye Israel of our risen Lord! With "mighty wrestlings," have ye striven To reach this Place, whose gate is heaven? The mystic Key, whose touch unseals, And to our wondering gaze reveals, This "Inner Court"— this "Holy Place,"— Engirdles time, and fills all space. Its sign and symbol is the cross; Its fire consumes all fleshly dross; Its sweetest tones are caught in pain, When all things lost, we count as gain.

Has Christ, the spiritual idea, Of Life and Truth and Love, Dawned on thy vision, weary one, Thy day star from above? Has Truth — the star of Bethlehem Its clear light shed o'er thee; To guide thee where the young child lay In sweet humility? Hast journeyed far from East or West, To bring thy treasures rare, And lay them at the feet of Love, With consecrated prayer? Do songs of peace come welling up From inner depths of love, To swell the grander chorus, Of angel songs above? "Peace, peace on earth; good will to men; " It is our Father's voice, Hushing the jarring notes of earth, Bidding our hearts rejoice. Lo! unto us a child is born; To us a Saviour's given.

Oh , thou bright star, whose cherub-angel smile, First cheered the saddened, night-winged orient sky, And rent the shade, that seemed to veil awhile A world of light, in darkest mystery! When through the crystal window-pane of Heaven, Thy rising glory shone out o'er the deep And hailed to sight, what else were void to vision, O then, was roused a cradled world from sleep! Fair dawned Life's hope, when thy bright morning glory, Serenely starred the "Sun of Righteousness," Whose sovereign light, — golden with Truth's rich story, Revealed on Earth, God's will and Heaven's peace! Star of Earth's hope! Crown diadem of Heaven! Thou jewel setting, in Love's crystal sphere! As gems undimmed, thy store of beams is given, A priceless treasure, fadeless, rich and dear! When from afar, the ancient magi saw Thy golden tresses stream across the night; They wisely followed thy safe-guiding ray, Which led from darkness into Christly light! Oh, many a weary pilgrim of the night, With earnest longings for the break of day, Have sought, and oft for thy celestial light To angel-guide them, past the darksome way! Ev 'n as of old, when from Love's jewelled throne, Thy gentle presence cheered a frowning sky; So in this age, from Love's empyrean zone, The Star of Science melts obscurity. Far as the arms of Everlasting Love, Outstretched to save, beyond a mortal bound: Ev'n so far, Science doth confineless move Her sweet, translucent cherubim around! But, time was — when like sheep without a fold, We wandered shepherdless o'er mountains bare; Till, one by one, (the young among the old;) A hundred flocked, beneath the Shepherd's care.

Temple built by faith and wisdom, Hallowed by our Mother's prayer, Every loyal son, and daughter — enter there. Mightiest temple of all ages, One in all the world thou art; Truth and Love, sought for by sages Holds thee in its sacred heart.

From out the darkness of the night, As wakening thought gropes for the Light, A voice responsive, sweet and low, Bids hope with brighter radiance glow. I am the ever-present Life, With power and peace and beauty rife.

It came all clothed in brightness,      This wondrous book of Love; It cheered my darkened chamber,  With Sunbeams from above. It bore on angel pinions,      The word of Life to me; It brought me leaves of healing,      From Life's ambrosial tree.

Gently hath a sweet voice spoken; One thing needful must ye choose; O ye weary and heart-broken, Can ye still this call refuse? Seeking good on earth nor finding, All your hope earth must defraud,— Things of sense forever blinding Eyes whose light is seeing God. Patient Love, so wise and tender, Standing mother-like apart, Waits till love awakened send her Each far-wanderer from her heart.