Questions & Answers
Again across a night of doubt and sin Dawns the pure beam of Truth, and its bright star Has led the wise men from the strife and din Of error's wide domain, to journey far; To where in humble guise the fair Christ-child, Conceived in purity, brought forth in Love, Waits to redeem a world, by sense defiled, And step by step to guide to joys above. Unchanging Truth the wonder doth repeat Of "word made flesh" for weary mortals cheer; A new-born light reveals the chain complete That circles round the everlasting years.
With joy and unalloyed delight, We greet thee, Christian Science; And gladly join thee in the fight, That bids disease defiance. That bids mankind look up and hope, God's truth at last revealing.
OH , wanderer in the valley of matter and of sin, Hearest thou the loving message: "Beloved, enter in?" The call is now and ever: "Come unto me and rest," From sorrow, sin and sickness,—oh, listen and be blest. This valley is enveloped in shadows weird and dim, And they who tread its mazes, see never aught of him Who walked the vale of shadows, and climbed the Mountain height, And showed the world the pathway from darkness unto light.
"And from the silence multiplied By these still forms on every side, The world that time and sense have known Falls off and leaves us God alone. So to the calmly gathered thought The innermost of Truth is taught, The mystery dimly understood That love of God is love of Good; That Book and Church and Day are given For man, not God; for earth, not heaven; The blessed means to holier ends Not masters, but benignant friends; That the dear Christ dwells not afar The King of some remoter star, Listening at times, with flattered ear To homage wrung from selfish fear; But here amidst the poor and blind, The bound and suffering of our kind; In works we do, in prayers we pray, Life of our life, He lives to-day.
WE are workers in one vineyard; Some are strong and some are weak; But the smiling of the vintage Is the common joy we seek. Some must trail the vine and prune it, Some must stoop to dress the mould; But the few can pluck the clusters, In the autumn's haze and gold.
I HAVE set my lights on a thousand hills. I've illumined field and lane, To guide you out of the summer-land Into Autumn's grand domain; For the days are sweet, in this sunny realm, They shine with glory, all; So, come, I will show you, oh, weary ones, The way to this kingdom of Fall! There are asters waiting beside the brooks, There are grapes in the sunny dulls, And a crimson light in the apple trees Where the wren's soft choral swells; There are; nuts grown tawny with many suns, In this kingdom grand and free, And they all shall be yours, my weary friend, If you'll seek this realm with me.
Men of thought, be up and stirring night and day: Sow the seed — withdraw the curtain — clear the way! Men of action, aid and cheer them, as ye may! There's a fount about to stream, There's a light about to beam, There's a warmth about to glow, There's a flower about to blow; There's a midnight blackness changing into gray. Men of thought and men of action, CLEAR THE WAY! Lo! a cloud's about to vanish from the day; And a brazen wrong to crumble into clay.
HUNGRY and naked, cold and poor, All full of grief and sin, I dragged myself to the temple door, Where sat one high within. Her lofty brow was stern and white, Her eyes saw nothing here, But gazed above, beyond my plight, Into some distant sphere.
In the heart so deeply hidden From the sight of finite man, Reigns the motives which have bidden Mortals formulate a plan For a name of endless fame. Some, ensconced in coats of mailing Proof against all humane feelings, Never hear oppression's wallings In their greed for gain in dealings, With the men of moral ken: These are they who grasp for millions, Careless of all human cost; For they only scheme for billions, Heedless of all honor lost In their gladness which is madness.
THE voice of the master was heard by the men, As he spoke from the shore, on the morning, when He found them toiling, and working hard With their nets, by the morning dawn. "Cast your nets on the other side": How the sweet voice echoed over the tide, How their faith and love arose once more, As they filled their nets, and pulled for shore.