''A'' 7 -V. THE SILVER TRUMPETS BY ROBERT J. BURDETTE, D.D. Pastor Emeritus. Temple Baptist Church, Los Angeles, California PHILADELPHIA The Sunday School Times Company 1031 Walnut Street Copyright, 1912, by THE SUNDAY SCHOOL TIMES COMPANY. To My Dear CHILDREN OF THE TEMPLE Beloved and Longed For MY JOY AND MY CROWN To the Congregation of Temple Baptist Church of LOS ANGELES The Call of the Silver Trumpets to WORSHIP AND SERVICE Is Most Affectionately DEDICATED 2021381 FOREWORD Once upon a time, when I was Pastor of the Temple Baptist Church in a city in California, the name of which is "La Puebla de Nuestra Senora, Reina de Los Angeles," which by interpretation is " The Town of Our Lady, Queen of the Angels," and which by common usage is written Los Angeles and called by many mispronunciations, I said to the Pastoress, " What shall I give you for a Christmas present? It shall be given thee, even to the half of the kingdom." And Achsah, knowing well that my entire kingdom con- sisted of a pen, a bottle of ink, some few reams of arable paper, and certain non-taxable properties which are denominated in the bond as brains, promptly asked for the half of my realm and reams that grew the rhymes. " For that thou hast set me in the land of the South," she said, quoting from her story in the Book of Joshua, and meaning that I had written for her many reams of prose and much unmeasured prosiness, " give me also springs of water." And I knew that she wanted the fields of prose irrigated by rippling rivulets of rhyme. For she said, in plain English, " I want you to write for me this year, for the first page of The Temple Herald (our church calendar), every Sunday morning a little poem." And, like Caleb of old, I " gave her the upper and the nether springs." Every Sunday for a year I wrote a prelude to the morning sermon, based upon its text, and printed it on the first page of The Temple Herald. And these are the poems. And I have called the little Collect of the Year " The Silver Trumpets " because they appeared first in our Sabbath service; because they were read, and therefore heard, as the assembly was gathering; because they gave the signal for the morning worship and for the journey of the congregation during that week. Where- fore, I found the title for the poems already written for me in the Book of Numbers 10 : 2, 3: " And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying, Make thee two trumpets of silver; of beaten work shall thou make them: and thou shall use them for the calling of the congregation, and for the journeying of the camps. And when they shall blow them, all ihe congregation shall galher ihemselves unlo ihee at ihe door of ihe lent of the meeting." The echoes of ihe Silver Trumpels are very dear lo ihe Paslor who sounded ihe calls in ihe years from 1 903 lo 1 909, for ihey are the voices of the worshippers who sang ihe songs of Zion in ihe Tenl of ihe Meeting, and chanled ihe marching music of the Church along the way of the Pilgrimage. And he hopes they may once more sound pleasantly to the past and ihe presenl mighty Congregations of ihe Temple, which on ihe recurring Sabbalh days still ihrong ihe House beyond its doors, even while iheir uncounted numbers are scal- tered in long skirmish lines and serried columns from ihe Sunrise lo ihe Sunset ROBERT J. BURDETTE. " Sunnycrert," Eastertide, 1912. 6 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page " New Every Morning " 9 The Sower 10 "God's Fellow- Workers" II Wasting and Saving Time 12 Enlisted for Life 13 The Temple Jewels 14 The Roll Call 15 Easter Dawn 16 " Behold, I Stand at the Door and Knock " 17 "Out of the Depths" 18 The Law 19 Christmas Morning. The Path to the Throne 20 "A Mother-Boy" 21 My Guide 22 " Am I My Brother's Keeper ?" 23 The Potter's Clay 24 Bound and Free 25 "And Peter!" 26 The Sins that Sting 27 Bricks Without Straw 28, 29 " With Your Shield or On It " 30 The Gray Days 31 "Thy Kingdom Come" 32 7 The Court of the King 33 " Whither Thou Goest I Will Go " 34 Mother's Version 35 Bartimaeus 36, 37 The Fourth Comrade 38 Manger and Throne 39 " Other Sheep Have I " 40 " Keep Sweet and Keep Movin' " 41 The Tale of the Ages 42 " More Than They All " 43 "All Right Here!" 44, 45 " Peace I Leave with You " 46 "My Lord and My God" 47 " But" 48, 49 Love Triumphant 50 Christ's Pilgrim-Soldier 51 Taking the Chances 52 " Jesus Only " 53 The Rich Ruler 54, 55 Faint Heart 56 The Teacher 57 Love that Saves 58 Through Strife to Peace 59 "The Light of the World" 60, 61 Dreams and Visions 62, 63 The Shepherd 64, 65 Courage and Love 66 "Abide With Us " 67 "At Evening Time It Shall Be Light " 68 8 THE SILVER TRUMPETS "NEW EVERY MORNING" Grant us new visions of thy glory, Lord, Not Sinai's splendor, for that glimpse is past; Nor Pentecost, with all thy grace out-poured, For that is ours, while time and love shall last. Nor sad Gethsemane its grieving, sweet and low; Nor Calvary's blood stained cross these things we know. But greater visions of Thy glory yet; Suns that shall rise not suns forever set; Beyond the horizon's rim, unrisen stars; New days that sleep beyond the morning's bars; New heights to scale by paths man never trod Grant us new visions of Thy Glory, God! THE SOWER In the earliest light of the kindling dawn so short is the longest day, Over the ploughman's furrowed trail, I bend my hopeful way; From my praying heart to my watching eyes, the anxious tears will rise, As I wonder to what my sowing will come, when the day of the seed-time dies? For the circling birds will snatch the grain that falls on the wayside bare; And noxious germs of strangling thorns lie hid in the furrows fair; There are stony places that give me fear, where never the wheat may hold Dear Lord of the Harvest, what of my field, when the sowing should be gold? But I scatter the seed, and I try to veil my tears under hopeful smiles, By all rivers I sow, at my Lord's command; then I'll wait for the afterwhiles, When His reapers shall come with shout and song, in the golden harvest sun. And I'll sing with the best, when He calls to me, " Faith- ful and good, Well Done!" 10 "GOD'S FELLOW- WORKERS" " For we are God's fellow -workers ; ye are God's husbandry, God's building." 1 Corinthians 3:9. Many there be in the harvest days Laughter, and shouting, and song, Carols of blessing chorus of praise To the reaping time belong. But alone " A Sower went forth to sow"; Where the plough had broken the sod; And a holier joy than the Reaper's I know As I walk down the furrows with God. II WASTING AND SAVING TIME Time laves around us like waves of the sea Winds of the desert for leisure and motion; Eternity was, and again it will be Time flows between like the tides of the ocean; Childhood for playing, and manhood for gain, Winters for pleasure and summers for roving; Years for ambitions we purchase with pain, Minutes for friendship and Seconds for loving. Let us spend richly the red gold of Time; Purchasing friendships that death cannot sever; Buying the Truth with its treasures sublime, Seeking the love that will love us forever. Laughter of childhood; and friendship of men; These are worth while for life's richest adorning; Let us give most to our dearest and then Joy will abide at Eternity's morning. ENLISTED FOR LIFE For Christ and Truth forever; for God and Right I stand; Love will preserve me heart-pure; Honor shall strengthen my hand; Faith will inspire my courage; Duty my law shall be: And I'll live, and do, and die for the Christ who died and lives for me. THE TEMPLE JEWELS "Suffer the little children to come unto me." Ripples of laughter, sweeter than songs of the morning; Thoughts that are purer than gold in the furnace refined; Voices more precious than gems of a scepter's adorning; Prayers that are ornaments rare of the loving mind. Grace of the Spirit, the coronet for their crowning; Lilies of holiness, fairer than blossoms of spring; Smiles of soul-sunshine, that banish the shadows of frowning These be our Jewels, dear Lord, to thy treasures we bring. 14 THE ROLL CALL I may reel to my death in some fierce fight And trampling squadrons gallop over me ; And never sun-bright day or cloudy night Shall find the soldier that I used to be. I may fall fainting as my name is said In the thinned ranks that answer sunset call ; Nor hear the sergeant answer for me, "Dead!" Nor feel the comrade catch me as I fall. I may die, wounded, where the swamp vines creep ; Or in some prison foul be left to die ; Or yawning waves may drag me down the deep I will die fighting always loyal I. For the dear colors on my glazing eyes Will kiss their emblems as I yield to death ; My fainting heart will throb the name I prize, And "Victory!" I will shout with dying breath. Then, when my King shall call the roll of Grace, I'll stand attention at his accents clear ; And when my name is called, in duty's place, Glad and triumphant, shout my answering "Here!' EASTER DAWN " Why seek ye the living among the dead ?" Luke 24 : 5. For Love is stronger than Death; his lilies live White on the blackest pall that Death can spread; His songs to nights of fear Faith's radiance give, His garlands grace with life the sleeping dead. In sunshine sweet his perfumed roses bloom, Fairest where Death's destroying feet have trod, Wreathing the crumbling marbles of the tomb, Till Earth's grave-altar breathes incense to God. Long, long ere Sin to Death gave lifeless birth, Love sang joy-songs of life in Heaven above; He runs before all life that blesses earth, And will, till Death shall sing the life of Love. 16 "BEHOLD, I STAND AT THE DOOR AND KNOCK" I sit in the inner darkness of my heart's sin-darkened room; My soul and my eyes are aching, straining to pierce the gloom. My only companions are Shadows the darker Shapes of the Night; And Day and Night are as one to me as one, the Darkness and Light. I could have the Peace of the Starshine, crowning the night with Love; I might see the Dawn unfold like a Rose in the kindling skies above. I could have the Glory of Noontide like flood of molten gold When the flaming Gates of Heaven above the shouting World unfold. And the Twilight would come to bless me folding me on her breast- Tender and gray as the Breast of a Dove hushing my Soul to Rest. For the " Light of the World " stands waiting these Blessings to impart; I hear Him patiently knocking at the Door of my sunless heart. He is Mine, I know, if I bid Him come in My Lord forevermore But He'll never come into my Darkened Room, till I open for Him the door. 2 17 "OUT OF THE DEPTHS" " Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O Lord." Out of the depths of Pain When weary nights were measured unto me, And the long day's refrain Was timed by moans that told my misery; Out of the depths of Fear, When whispers smote, and shadows terrified; Out of the depths so drear Of Folly, Sin, and Ignorance I cried To Thee, O God above. But Thou didst pray for me, O Christ who died, Out of the depths of Love. 18 THE LAW Holiness, Majesty, Love and Strength Yesterday, Now, and Forever Amen! Clasping the world in its breadth and length, Throned on the changing ages of Now and Then. God changes not! His Law holds sway Over the soul, and the mind, and the hand; "Till Heaven and earth shall pass away," God's " shall " and " shall not " forever will stand. CHRISTMAS MORNING The Path to the Throne My Baby, would you reign? Then, must you Love; Love is the fadeless crown's unfading Gem; And if you Love, then must you Suffer, Little Dove The Crown of Thorns precedes the Diadem. 20 "A MOTHER-BOY" Mother-Boys " first in the world's great needs Gentle, and noisy, and rough, and clean; Pure thoughts prompting the noble deeds, Love for the Good and hate for the Mean. Speaking the Truth, and fearing naught; Serving the Right for Honor's joys; Manhood and conscience that can't be bought " God's Men " grow out of " Mother-Boys." 21 MY GUIDE There is no path in this desert waste, For the winds have swept the shifting sands; The trail is blind where the storms have raced, And a stranger, I, in these fearsome lands. But I journey on with a lightsome tread; I do not falter nor turn aside; For I see His figure, just ahead He knows the way that I take My Guide. There is no path in this trackless sea; No map is lined on the restless waves; The ocean snares are strange to me Where the unseen wind in its fury raves; But it matters naught; my sails are set, And my swift prow tosses the seas aside; For the changeless stars are steadfast yet, And I sail by His star-blazed trail My Guide. There is no way in this starless night; There is naught but cloud in the inky skies; The black night smothers me, left and right, I stare with a blind man's straining eyes; But my steps are firm, for I cannot stray; The path to my feet seems light and wide; For I hear His voice " I am the Way!" And I sing as I follow Him on My Guide. "AM I MY BROTHER'S KEEPER?" How can I sleep in peace, while the wreck pounds off the shore, And " God's Men " wake like giants to fight Death face to face? How can I eat with delight, while slinking past my door, Gaunt Hunger hisses a curse as his " Amen " to my grace? Could I sit here at my ease, 'midst the sorrows I daily meet, I could be happy in Heaven, while Hell howled round my feet. THE POTTER'S CLAY Mould me of faults, dear Lord, but shape me fair- Pride, Hate, and Fear I will not blush nor care; Too proud to stoop my soul to things unclean, Hating all actions sordid, base, and mean; Afraid to trust myself to passion's sway; Fearing to walk without thee for one day. Make me thine armor-bearer in the strife, Loving thy standard better than my life; Thy bond slave anything to keep me near Thy truth to me than all the world more dear. Make me each day a little more like Thee God-man of men thou Man of Galilee! 24 BOUND AND FREE Pilate the Roman hath washed his hands; Barabbas the Robber is free; My feet are light as the wings of a bird; no one is chained save Thee. Thy hands, O Christ the Thorn-crowned, with the bight of my guilt are bound What if my sins could hold them fast where were de- liverance found? Pilate beside Thee; I at Thy feet; pointing our hands at Thee- Barabbas shouting " Away with Him!" All blind, that we could not see The whole world turning to where He stood between the cross and the spears, With the dear hands bound, that held the grace and peace of the coming years. "AND PETER!" Turn, turn away thy face, dear Lord, I cannot bear That Thou shouldst look on me; Death cannot veil that look of grief and care I wrung from Thee! Blindness can ne'er shut out that glance of pain; And I can never see Thy face again Nor speak Thy name, but burning tears will fall; Yet sweet as manna to my soul Thy call ' Tell my disciples, Angel, tell them all " " And me!" O Son of God! My throbbing heart will break For love of Thee! My face from out the dust how can I take To look on Thee? Still, still to all the world Thy message goes To all the sons of men, through tears and woes; Love, love unmeasured, throbs in every tone; Tell my disciples, Angel, every one " Then sweetly comes its word to me alone " And me!" 26 THE SINS THAT STING My voice unkind like fretful winds that blow May God's love send it music, sweet and low Hath wreathed a grieving mouth with quivering pain, And dimmed the tender eyes with tears like rain. If I had known, I had not trampled down The violets Love had twined into a crown; If I had only known, how all day long My thoughtless words had been thy sobbing song; If I had known with what a bitter smart My careless taunt had rankled in thy heart; Had I but known how keenly it had stung The idle jest, forgotten on my tongue I say, " I did not think; nor mean to; I forgot." Love always thinks, and knows, and faileth not. Dear Christ Forgive our sins against our ( /wn; The thoughtlessness that drives Thee from Love's throne; Forgive our sins with pleading soul we pray The cruel things "we did not mean to say." BRICKS WITHOUT STRAW More than four thousand years ago Shadows of time, how the days go by! There was a man I used to know May seem strange, but you'll see it's so After I tell you the reason why; Worked in a brickyard, same as you And all the rest of us have to do; Mixed in the trouble and worry and strife, The mirth, and the other things of life. Stirred in the hopes, and the pains, and fears, Kneaded the mud with his sweat and his tears, Humanest mass that ever you saw Poor brick," said the man, " but I have no straw. Up to his knees in the miry pit A pigmy's way, but a giant's grit; His back was a chain of throbbing aches, Lifting the mold with its earthen cakes; Elbows rusty as hinges of steel; Knees so lame he could hardly kneel; Mud so stiff it would clog a plow, And couldn't be stirred with a wheel nohow; Nights as short as the days were long, Nothing seemed right, and everything wrong; ' Best I can do," said the man, " but, pshaw! Can't make good brick when you have no straw!' 28 Taskmasters pitiless lashed the man ' Can't!" sobbed Weakness, but Courage cried " Can!' ' Don't!" said Despair, but Duty cried " Do!" ' All right," said the man, " I'll worry her through! Can't do much, and I reckon you'll see Brick won't be just what they ought to be; Ain't nigh so good as I know I could make If I just had straw; but you'll have to take The best I can do for the work's own sake." He finished his tale of brick, and then Went home to rest. And the sons of men Looked on his perfect work, and saw He'd have spoiled the brick, had he put in straw. "WITH YOUR SHIELD OR ON IT" Foot-prints of blood in Valley Forge snows; Stains where the Cumberland sank in the sea; Crimson the life tide down Bunker Hill flows; Red drips the rain from a Gettysburg tree. Are you a Man and shrink from a fight? Are you a Soldier and faint at a wound? Victory dies of nothing but fright; Valor o'erthrown is Victory crowned. Fight for the glory of striking a blow; Bleed for the honor of wearing a wound; Die for the praise you will wrest from the foe; Sleep that your story may spring from the ground. You shall come triumphing home on your shield; Broken, your sword shall repose on your breast; While your comrades unscathed, marching home from the field With their glad war songs will sing you to rest. THE GRAY DAYS Evermore all the days are long, and the cheerless skies are gray, Restlessly wander the baffling winds that scatter the blinding spray, And the drifting currents come and go like serpents across my way. Wearily fades the evening dim, drearily wears the night, The ghostly mists, and the hurrying clouds, and the breakers' crests of white Have blotted the stars from the desolate skies; have curtained them from my sight. Speeding alone, my wave-tossed bark encounters no passing sail. Welcoming friend nor challenging foe answers my eager hail- Only the sobbing, restless waves and the wind's un- ceasing wail. Hopefully still my sails are bent, my Pilot is faultlessly true, He holds my course as though the seas and the mirrored skies were blue, And the port of peace, where the winds are still, were evermore in view. For over the spray and the rain and the clouds shines the eternal sun, The stars of God in the curtained dome still gleam when the day is done, And the mists will be kissed from the laughing skies when the port of rest is won. 31 "THY KINGDOM COME" " Thy Kingdom Come!" Into the ways of human woe Where moans and heartaches come and go; Where the wild storms of sorrow sweep, Where anxious souls lone vigils keep, Where eyes with weeping ache and burn, Where longing hearts for day-break yearn, Shine with the brightness of Thy face, Gleam with the beauty of Thy grace " Thy Kingdom Come!" " Thy Kingdom Come!" O'er War's red fields rough-plowed by fire, In lives weed-grown with foul desire; In souls of men ice-hard and cold, Chilled by the death-like greed of gold; Into base lives of lustfulness, Dry-rotted hearts of selfishness, Into the pleasures, vain and light, Into the shame-tracked ways of night, Shine with the splendor from above, The pure white light of Saving Love " Thy Kingdom Come!" THE COURT OF THE KING Never the gleam of a jewel; nor the sweep of a purple gown; Never a tent of the cloth of gold, nor radiant flame of a crown; Never the flash of a diadem; nor the sheen of the serried spears; Nor heralds proclaiming the greatness of the line of a thousand years; Princekin, or noble, or lordling not one of the little great men Marshals his train to meet him chief of the thousands ten; But the singing of little children; the chant of a simple psalm; The acclamations of women; the pathway of robe and palm; The shouting of humble toilers; and the glad earth's blossoming This is the Royal Progress this is the Court of the King! 33 "WHITHER THOU GOEST I WILL GO" How can I say, " If aught but Death part ever Thee and me!" When Death, dear Lord, is a guide that brings my closest soul to Thee? Close to the hands that soothed my pain; the voice that stilled my fears; The strength that lifted my grievous load; the love that kissed my tears; The smile that lightened my darkest gloom; the sunlight of Thy face; The pardon in Thy living word; the refuge of Thy grace, Death part us, Lord? I'll sing with joy; I'll laugh when he speaks to me By the sepulcher's door: " The Master is come, and calleth now for thee." 34 MOTHER'S VERSION This is the Bible she left her boy, that youth, with its eagle sight, Might vision profounder depths of joy, see truth at a clearer height; When it looked through the bitter sweet alloy of tears by Love made bright. This is the Bible she used to read; its markings here and there Tell where she found its peaceful meed; where she lin- gered in silent prayer; Where her heart was heavy with sorest need; where the skies were dull or fair. See, where the blistered letters show the tears that dimmed the line, While, under the drifting mist, we know how the gems of truth would shine; Where the precious text is blurred the most, we read the sweetest line. For the Bible she read is a palimpsest the word of God runs true, Though, written over its messages blest, the lines of human rue Are penned in tears from a soul distressed, as a rose is gemmed with dew. And the text is dearer, its truth made strong, more bless- ing the promises bring, Sweeter and clearer, more joyous the song Faith taught her soul to sing, As purer tints to the lilies belong, for the pain of their blossoming. 35 BARTIMAEUS " And Jesus answered and said unto him : What wilt thou that I should do unto thee ? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight." I would receive my sight: my clouded eyes Miss the glad radiance of the morning sun, The changing tints that glorify the skies With roseate splendors when the day is done; The shadows soft and gray, the pearly light Of summer twilight deep'ning into night. I cannot see to keep the narrow way, And so I blindly wander here and there, Groping amidst the tombs; or helpless stray Through pathless, tangled deserts, bleak and bare; Weeping I seek the way I cannot find Open my eyes, dear Lord, for I am blind. And oft I laugh with some light, thoughtless jest, Nor see how anguish lines some face most dear, And write my mirth, a mocking palimpsest On blotted scrolls of human pain and fear; And never see the heartache interlined Pity, O Son of David! I am blind. I do not see the pain my light words give; The quivering, shrinking heart I cannot see. So, Light of Thought, 'midst hidden griefs I live, .And mock the cypressed tombs with sightless glee; Open mine eyes, Light, blessed ways to find Jesus, have mercy on me I am blind. 36 My useless eyes are reservoirs of tears, Doomed for their blind mistakes to overflow; To weep for thoughtless ways of wandering years, Because I could not see I did not know. These sightless eyes than angriest glance less kind- Light of the World, have pity! I am blind. 37 THE FOURTH COMRADE Famt-Heart. I am so faint of heart I cannot Stand What if my Lord's war standard I forsake? Would I might die ere I be so unmanned Die, ere my shouting foes their onset make! Little-Faith. I am so weak I know I cannot Fight; But I will throw myself across the Trail, And they may slay me but that barrier slight Will hold them while they kill my body frail. Ready-to-Halt. I am so lame I cannot Overcome; But some strong Fighter with my Faith-wrought shield I'll cover; so his good sword, striking home, Shall win, while I lie bleeding on the field. The Battle. Sword-arm to Shield-arm then we stood, we Three And smote our foes as Giants' pygmies smite; And sang, and cheered while bringing Victory, " One like the Son of God " stood by our Fight! MANGER AND THRONE Holy, and pure, and whiter than flame, The Heavenly host in a cloud of light They sang to the Shepherds His loftiest name, Filling with glory the Christmas night; The Babe in the Manger all heaven adored By the name of the angels Christ the Lord I Now, on His throne exalted high, King of kings, and of lords the Lord, Heaven and earth take up the cry, The universe rings with the mighty chord We hail His crown and His Scepter-rod With the Shepherd's title The Lamb of God! 39 "OTHER SHEEP HAVE I, WHICH ARE NOT OF THIS FOLD" Some there are, folded beside the Waters Still, Some in Green Pastures wait the Shepherd's will; Some in safe Folds by His dear hands are fed, Some through Death Shadowed Vales by Him are led. Some follow Him in evening's tranquil light; Some wander lost through desert, storm, and night. He knows them all by name; sweet, strong, and clear, They hear his voice and Him alone they hear. And some day, in the Shadow of the Rock The Shepherd wills it " There shall be one Flock." 40 "KEEP SWEET AND KEEP MOVIN' Homely phrase of our southland bright Keep steady step to the flam of the drum; Touch to the left eyes to the right Sing with the soul tho' the lips be dumb. Hard to be good when the wind's in the east; Hard to be gay when the heart is down; When " they that trouble you are increased," When you look for a smile and see a frown. But " Keep sweet and keep movin'." Hard to be sweet when the throng is dense, When elbows jostle and shoulders crowd; Easy to give and to take offense When the touch is rough and the voice is loud; Keep to the right " in the city's throng; " Divide the road " on the broad highway; There's one way right when everything's wrong; " Easy and fair goes far in a day." Just " Keep sweet and keep movin'." The quick taunt answers the hasty word The lifetime chance for a " help" is missed; The muddiest pool is a fountain stirred, A kind hand clinched makes an ugly fist. When the nerves are tense and the mind is vexed, The spark lies close to the magazine; Whisper a hope to the soul perplexed Banish the fear with a smile serene Just " Keep sweet and keep movin'." THE TALE OF THE AGES (A DAY IN PALESTINE) Strong-winged hopes and childish fears, Seconds of time and a thousand years; Shout of a man, and a baby's breath, Pride of life, and the throe of death. Rain and the sun the Ploughman's pain, The Sower's faith, and the Reaper's gain; A victor's wreath, and a race begun, Shock of the storm, and the kiss of the sun. Poverty's woe, and the ease of wealth, Blight of disease, and the bloom of health; Malice, and envy, and pitiless hate, And Love that conquers and changes fate. All that you've seen, and heard, and read, What the wise have done, and the foolish said; What To-day has wrought and Yesterday planned- The Great Big World in a little Land. "MORE THAN THEY ALL" "This poor widow hath cast in more than they all." Mark 12 :41. It is her way to give more the life of a Woman is Giving; More of her time that others may rest at ease; More grief for the dead whom she loved more care for the living; More of her thought for the selfish and hard to please. More to her country she gives than ever the soldier or sailor; More risk of her life, when the sailor and soldier is born; More courage of soul, when the bugles of battle assail her, When from his nest in her heart-strings her fledgling is torn. More patience she gives to the dull; to the weary and sad, more of pleasure; More prayers for the sinful; more help for the weak and the lost; More love giving all of its heart-hoarded perfume and treasure; More joy in the giving, forgetting the pain and the cost. 43 "ALL RIGHT HERE!" Waits the long train in the station lights, Steadily shine the stars o'erhead; A sword of flame, the headlight smites The rails of steel into silver thread; The platform is cleared by the " All aboard!" Station-men loiter a space to hear The brakeman echo the parting word From step to step sharp positive clear " Right!" " All Right!" "All Right Here!" Black clouds blot out the star-shine fair, The train roars into the driving rain; Lightnings darken the headlight's glare, Whirlwinds grapple the bridge amain; Gorges foam with the torrent's wrath, Mountains tremble with rage and fear; One minute a signal bars the path Then into the storm with the cry of cheer " Right!" " All Right!" " All Right Here!" Day coach and smoker mail and express That challenge rings through the starting train; Back in the Pullman's cosiness The sleepers hear it and sleep again. 44 Let the storm rage! The day will beam I Vigilance watches by rail and wheel; Duty and courage, and steel and steam, Blend in the brakeman's cheery peal " Right!" " All Right!" " All Right Here!" Swings the old world through the wrong and the right, Storms of December and sweetness of June; Terror of darkness and gladness of light, Wrack of the tempest and calm of the noon; Here, where our hearth fire tenderly gleams, There, by the farther star, steady and clear, The Mighty One smiles at our terrors and dreams, Hailing the days of each on-coming year " Right!" " All Right!" " All Right Here!" 45 "PEACE I LEAVE WITH YOU" Peace! And his own life crimsons the Roman spear; Peace! And the flaming City of Peace is quenched in blood! Peace! And his martyrs calendar year by year With the numberless deaths that darken the murderous flood. Peace! And a thousand years of war twice told roll by; Kingdom and empire are smitten to dust by the sword; Armies of Christian and Pagan clash in the battle-cry Trampling in mad contempt the legacy of the Lord. If war must be, then, let us make war 'gainst war; Let us fight for the Prince of Peace with the thorn- crowned head; Let us drive the men who love hate to go on before Till we count but the makers of strife as our dead. Let the Kings and the war-makers go to the front and die Long years has it been since a king was hurt in a fight; While safe in our peaceful homes with our kindred, you and I Will shout, in the place of the king " God speed the Right!" For that sure, is safe, sweet and pleasant, to pray for the right; We will make it our morning-prayer and our evensong; And when they who pretend to love fighting are slain in the fight We will chant " The Judge of the Earth can do no wrong!" 46 "MY LORD AND MY GOD!" How do I know He is Jesus the Lord? I was leprous, and foul, and mean; I fell at His feet, and He lifted me up Saying, " I will! be clean!" How do I know He's the Christ of God? I was blind; and men trampled on me; Have pity!" I cried; and He touched my eyes " Be opened," He said; and I see! How do I know He's the Son of God? I stood by His cross, afraid; For I'd driven the nails; but He looked upon me- And, " Father, forgive!" He prayed. How do I know He's the Living God? In corruption of sin I lay dead; But Life Everlasting thrilled into me, when " Thy sins be forgiven!" He said. 47 " BUT-" II KINGS 5:1. Standards were lowered as he passed by; Trumpets saluted; the herald's cry Echoed his titles and name aloud; Bent every knee; every head was bowed. Escort and councilors power and law Hemmed him with reverence, honor and awe; Ransom of kingdoms burned and gleamed, Gemmed in his armor a god he seemed; His deeds were themes of the minstrel's songs; Princes loosened his sandal thongs; Silken his couch, and he breathed the air Magic with perfumes faint and rare; Power was his to destroy or save Tear down the King, and exalt the slave " But He was a leper." JUDGES 16:21. Mightiest man earth ever saw Strength and his will were his only law; He laughed in the lion's eyes of flame, And played "bare hands" for the joy of the game; Held out his wrists for the seven-fold cord, Then slept in the snare of the foe abhorred; Smote till he wearied of death, and then Sported with Danger for pastime again; Wrestled with Force, and trifled with Fate; Played odds with Cunning; tormented Hate; 48 Hunted for Peril sought foes far and near; Made wreck of Disaster; and terrified Fear " But The Philistines took him, and put out his eyes, And brought him down to Gaza, And bound him with fetters of brass, And he did grind in the prison house." LUKE 12:20. Gold rained on " the things which he possessed " He owned in the East, he bought in the West; Lengthened the boundaries of his lands, Dredged in the rivers of shining sands; Sent out his ships to the farthest seas For the golden fruit of Hesperides; Bent thought and labor to do his will, Schemed, and succeeded, and increased still; Multiplied winnings to sums untold; Stayed all his ventures to anchors of gold; Heaped up, and gathered; reached out for more, Till there was no room for his growing store; So rich in " possessions " he did not know Where his " fruits and his goods he could bestow " But God said to Him, ' Thou Fool! This night thy soul shall be required of thee 1 ' ' And he had forgotten that he had a soul. 49 LOVE TRIUMPHANT Hate and Thou hatest sin with hate eternal Hate could not pour thy wrath upon the world, But Love that drew Thee from the height supernal Could stay the flaming bolt that Justice hurled. Revenge for insult, blow, and basest treason Could not provoke the anger of thy rod; But Love could kiss the scourge, and make a reason For loving sinners to the arms of God. CHRIST'S PILGRIM-SOLDIER The New Year Bells ring out Christ's " Follow Me!" I will leave everything and follow on; I will leave Life for Immortality, This world I'll leave to go where Christ hath gone. I'll test my soul against the powers of Sin; God's Grace in me against temptation's might; I may run fainting but I'll run to win; And I may die but I will win my fight. TAKING THE CHANCES I've taken my chances one, two and three I wonder how many are left to me? I've lost on them all three, two and one And the final reckoning hasn't begun. Once to Sin, and once to Shame, Once to a smear on an honored Name. I've taken the chances, one to ten Lost, and doubled, and lost again. But it's early yet, and I can't refuse; I've plenty of years, and I've lots to lose. Honor, and Truth, and a little Wealth; Love, Home and Peace; and Youth and Health; Stack them together they make a Roll! And then there's Body, and Mind and Soul ! I wish I could know I wish I could see Just ere my Last Chance comes to me. For the grade is steep, and the brakes don't hold; The chasm is deep and the curves are bold; The light grows faint and the pace is fast God! And I'm over the cliff at last! "JESUS ONLY" " Could ye not watch with Me one hour ?" We would not watch one hour with Thee, dear Lord; We would not share the burden of one tear; We would not look upon the soul out-poured For Love's dear sake, in Calvary's love-crowned year. We slept, and left Thee with Thy grief sublime, Nor whispered one faint word of sympathy; Nor for one hand-clasp had we thought or time We slept and did not even dream of Thee. Now, God forbid that we, whose love was dead, What time the Son of God His vigil kept, Should tear one ray of glory from His head, To place it on some weakling head that slept. To Christ alone, who suffered, be the Praise! To Him who bore the cross alone, the Crown! To " Jesus Only," through the endless days, Be glory, honor, worship, power, renown! S3 THE RICH RULER " Sell that thou hast give to the poor." I builded my Treasure-house under the ground Cavern of granite with doors steel-bound; And my gold, and my .gems, and my jewels there Safe-guarded by charms and magic rare. My Granaries, proof against hunger or fear, Were rich with the harvest of many a year. And I watched with suspicion my fellows, then, For I heard the whispers of starving men. But, once on the desert when Hunger spoke, My crust with a beggar boy I broke. Then the wilderness sang with a multitude, For the barren sands were fields of food. And men who hated my iron rod Coupled my name with the name of God. Back to my Granaries mad with fear Empty as husks of a famine year! But I sang for joy, like a man gone mad, For their bounteous emptiness made me glad. Then once, when a blind man cried for alms, I emptied my purse in his shriveled palms. 54 And I heard the blind, and the poor, and the lame, Shouting with praise my hated name. Then I rushed to my Treasure-house, faint with dread- Dust, Dust, and Dust like the house of the Dead! But my heart was so light that I laughed and cried; My soul with Love was so glorified; For I heard from heaven the dear Christ call " It is Mine, my child; you have given it alll" 55 FAINT HEART There lies your rest its fountains clear to clean you; Sunshine to kiss and waving palms to screen you; Only this rushing Jordan flows between you! " But I can't swim." Beyond the mountains, ready for your reaping, Beckon the golden harvests; for your keeping Low the black herds. Climb, while the world is sleeping! " But I can't climb." Night swallows up the day ere morning overtakes you, One hard, swift march thro' rayless midnight makes you King of a realm your heritage awakes you! " But I'm afraid in the dark!" " I'd like to have what's coming to me, surely But in the desert I can sleep securely " Just then a hungry lion, prematurely, Asked him to dinner. THE TEACHER Dear Teacher, patient with our childish ways Teach us the common things of common days; While careless hands the dog-eared pages turn Teach us the easy things, so hard to learn. The Truth that needs no learning to declare Pure, white-souled Truth, than noon-day sun more fair; And Faith that 'midst all doubts and fears and woes, Sings on the children's lips " Well, Teacher knows!' And Love that hath ten million times been told; Love that is older than the world is old; Love that will live when all the worlds are dead. When these great little lessons have been said, Then heaven and earth in one great school will meet Learning old lessons at the Teacher's feet. 57 LOVE THAT SAVES Wayward the path that I made for myself when I said, " My soul is free!" Temptation danced in a flower-strewn way fair as the morning, she; Folly laughed and sang at my side; Pleasure smiled in my face; Sin, half hidden, coiled 'neath the rose, gleaming with sinuous grace. What was there in the beautiful world, but laughter, and pleasure, and song? Nothing so fair could ever be false; nothing so sweet be wrong! But the roses of morning time faded away; venomous thorns appeared; Figures of grace and beauty became hideous shapes that I feared. My way was lost in the wilderness trails, night fell star- less and black; I saw the terrors of Sinai's mount lightnings, and thun- ders, and wrack. Death stood fast on the way I must go; hell yawned under my path; All that my soul might hope to know was judgment of God and His wrath Crying and calling the long night through; lo, with the dawn of day Goodness and Mercy angels of God had followed me all the way. 58 THROUGH STRIFE TO PEACE ' His Banner over me is Love " Love Divine O Saviour mine! His grace sustains me from above Saviour mine O Love Divine. My soul I keep, my faith I hold, Against temptations manifold, Stand for His Truth, O hearts of gold Love Divine O Saviour mine! Beneath the Banner white as snow Son of God O King Divine! My shield across my heart I throw, Prince of Peace O Saviour mine. Help me, O God, thy foes to smite, Teach me the fight of Faith to fight, Nerve thou my arm for Truth and Right Love Divine O Saviour mine! Above the hills I see the dawn! Light Divine O Light Divine! My night of watch and ward are gone Saviour mine O Saviour mine! Come unto Me!" I hear Him say; My armor at His feet I lay Hail! Peace of God's eternal day! Saviour mine O Saviour mine! 59 "THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD' Midnight; sorrow and loneliness; Darkness and fear my soul distress; Dread lest never the morn again Shine on the darkened ways of men; While for the light I sigh and yearn Lo, overhead the white stars bum; And darkness is beautiful all the night Smiles in their sweet and tranquil Light. Dawn and the arrows of the Day Pierce all the glooms with trembling grey; The diamond stars that the night arrayed On her dusky purples faint and fade; The east with royal splendor glows As the mom unfolds like a blushing rose; Back to its caverns flies the night And the world is new baptized in Light. Noon and Day's banners, wide unfurled, Enfold with radiance all the world; The playing shadows like children run To hide "neath the trees from the laughing sun; The mountains are opals that burn and gleam In the changing lights of the golden beam; The sea is a mirror of dimples bright Kissed by the dancing, joyous Light. 60 Down the sweet slopes of the afternoon Go the pilgrim hours, all too soon; Through its western portals, crimson grey, Silently passes the wearied day; Twilight, weaver of dreams and charms Gathers the world in her tender arms; On her brow, where the beautiful shadows are Gleams like a jewel the Evening Star For He who commanded " Let there be Light,' Hath spoken again " There shall be no Night. 6l DREAMS AND VISIONS There once was a sort of a sailor man The kind that loves to dream and plan; He had no reverence under the sun For a thing that's only half-way done. Made no difference, it appears, Had it been that way ten thousand years. So he sailed one day, out into the sea, Past the bound of all seas that used to be; Past the rim of the world; past the edge of things; Down the slant of the sky where Chaos springs; Past the hem of the Twilight's dusky robe; Down the slope of the globe 'fore there was a globe! And what do you reckon he goes and does? Spoiled every map of the world there was! But he made a better one. And there once was a man who had an " idee " That everything was 'cause it had to be. And every " must," he used to say, Had a law behind it, plain as day; And he used to argue, if you could find The law that gave the " thing " its mind, By using your brains and hands and eyes, You could break the " must " to be bridle- wise; Not to drive, but to follow you; To do the thing you told it to; To turn the " must " into a " may," And set it to work, instead of play. 62 Just learn to use, this man, said he, A vision, instead of a memory. So he got to thinking one day about steam; And he'd think, and study, and puzzle, and dream And when he got through, what think you he'd done? Wrecked every stage-coach under the sun! But he'd made a better one. THE SHEPHERD When I was a shepherd by Bethlehem town David's old town beautiful town An innocent Babe from Heaven came down, Sweet into Bethlehem town. The angels, in radiant circles on high, Told us, with anthem and jubilant cry, How He came to redeem us from burden and sigh Cradled in Bethlehem town. Then I once Jed my sheep around Calvary hill Barren and chill Love-girdled still And I heard a wild cry, ringing fearful and shrill, Shrill over Calvary hill. It cried, " It is finished!" Oh, sorrow and shame! I looked, and my soul was in anguish, aflame, For the Man on the Cross and the Babe were the same- Heart-breaking Calvary hill! So I led my white flock on to Bethany here Bethany fair Bethany dear And a voice like to God's in the air I could hear Sweet over Bethany dear. I lifted my eyes to the sun-kindled cloud, My lips and my soul sang their praises aloud, To the Babe, and the Man, and the God in the cloud- One over Bethany dear! 64 Now my sheep to their pasture I lead to the plain Hill-circled plain fountain-kissed plain But at even I gather my soft-bleating train To Bethany's fold once again. For in dreams, when I sleep, I can see Him once more With His sheltering arms as I saw them before, And His blessing so tender I hear as of yore Dear in its tender refrain. Bethlehem Calvary Bethany ye Sweeter than gardens of roses to me Childhood and Manhood and Godhead I see Wreathing these Love-haloed Three. COURAGE AND LOVE O Ships of War that keep the Peace With black-lipped guns and hearts of fire! When die the flames, and thunders cease, Sweet Pity soothes the fighting ire. Then drives the Life boat through the wave And wreathing war-clouds disappear, While lips that word of battle gave, Whisper, " They're dying, boys don't cheer!' 66 "ABIDE WITH US" Abide with me, Lord; night comes on apace, Black clouds shut out the stars; the day is gone; Eternal morning shines in Thy dear face And turns my midnight into radiant dawn. Sorrow hath dimmed the twilight of my day; With bitter tears my longing eyes are blurred; Strengthen my steps that falter in the way And cheer the fainting heart, Thou Living Word! 6 7 " AT EVENING TIME IT SHALL BE LIGHT" By many a stony path have I been led, On rock-strewn ways; Through wintry blasts when summer flowers were dead; Through storm-swept days; Down Sorrow's steeps, where light was faint and dim; On mountain trails; Along the beetling cliffs I've followed Him Who never fails; In Death's dark vale of fearful shapes and shades, Where every Fear That made more terrible those gloomy glades Drew Him more near. But oh, what Joy, forgetting every ill. To rest beside The tranquil, holy Peace of Waters still At eventide. 68 A 000 065 338 6