"Tarry," he said, "at Jerusalem,
Until ye be endued
With power from on high."
Tarry there? Where pride of power'
And power of priestly pride,
Aided by Roman soldiery, held sway?
Where tyranny of Pharisee
Vaunted itself above omnipotence?
"Do not depart," he said,
"But wait the Father's promise.
Soon shall ye be baptized with the Holy Ghost."
Ah, yes!
Thought filled with the resurrection's recent glory,
Well could they tarry!
On that great day of Jewish feast,
The Pentecost, the harvest home
When the first fruits were offered,
The Father's promise was fulfilled,
Firstfruits of Jesus' sacrifice.
His followers were endued indeed
With power from on high,
And in the old Jerusalem they found
The new—home, heaven, harmony.
Thus followers of the Christ tarry today
Where hate and tumult seem at times to reign.
We keep again the pentecostal feast,
Joyful to offer our firstfruits of love
And sacrifice of mortal selfhood,
To feel ourselves at length endued
With heavenly power,
And in the new Jerusalem we find
The glorious harmony of God's universe.
So tarry, pilgrim, at Jerusalem,
"Until ye be endued
With power from on high!"