The builders wrought for Solomon,
And hewed the cedar trees;
They squared great stones in Lebanon,
And bare them over-seas.
And then on Mount Moriah's height
Silent the one thought grows;
Great beams and stones are fitted right,
Like petals in a rose.
The quarry-tools of Gebal's men,
And Sidon's axe-men, rest;
First comes the shaping-toil, and then
The use of what is best.
In squaring now the "living stones,"
Love keeps alone the good;
By cleavage of man's pride atones,
Then compacts brotherhood.
"What is a church?" Let truth and reason speak;
They would reply—"The faithful pure and meek,
From Christian folds, the one selected race,
Of all professions, and in every place."
