CUR MUNDUS MILITAT?
Why battles all the world
For its vain glory,
Whose bravest happiness
Is transitory?
So soon its brittle power
A light touch shaketh,
Even as a vase of clay
In pieces breaketh.
Write words upon the ice,
And trust their staying,
Sooner than idle cheats
Of earth decaying.
Flattered …
ABIDE WITH ME
ABIDE with me. Fast falls the eventide;
The darkness thickens: Lord, with me abide;
When other helpers fail, and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, oh, abide with me!
Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day;
Earth’s joys grow dim, its glories pass …
MY FATHER’S AT THE HELM
‘TWAS when the sea’s tremendous roar
A little bark assailed,
And pallid fear, with awful power.
O’er each on board prevailed:
Save one, the captain’s darling son,
Who fearless viewed the storm.
And playful with composure smiled
At danger’s threatening form.
“Why sporting thus,” a …
CATECHISM
OH, say not, dream not, heavenly notes
To childish ears are vain.
That the young mind at random floats,
And cannot reach the strain.
Dim or unheard, the words may fall,
And yet the Heaven-taught mind
May learn the sacred air, and all
The harmony …
GREAT FAITH
I MARKED a rainbow in the north,
What time the wild autumnal sun
From his dark veil at noon looked forth,
As glorying in his course half done,
Flinging soft radiance far and wide
Over the dusky heaven and bleak hill-side. …
ONWARD
Come, brethren, let us go!
The evening closeth round,
‘Tis perilous to linger here
On this wild desert ground.
Take courage as ye wend
On towards eternity;
From strength to …
DAILY BREAD
Day by day the manna fell;
Oh to learn this lesson well!
Still by constant mercy fed,
Give us, Lord, our daily bread.
“Day by day” the promise reads;
Daily strength for daily needs:
Cast foreboding fears away;
Take the manna of to-day.
Lord, our times …
THE TRAVELLER’S RETURN
JOY! the lost one is restored!
Sunshine comes to hearth and board
From the far-off countries old
Of the diamond and red gold;
From the dusky archer bands,
Roamers of the fiery sands;
From the desert winds, whose breath
Smites with sudden silent death;
He hath reached his …
ST. STEPHEN’S DAY
τψ Βασιλεί xaί Δεσπότg.
The Lord and King of all things
But yesterday was born:
And Stephen’s glorious offering
His birthtide shall adorn.
No pearls of orient splendor,
No jewels, can he show;
But with his own true heart’s blood
His shining vestments glow.
Come, …
LOVE OF JESUS
I LOVE Thee, O most gracious Lord,
Not that Thou sav’st me by Thy word;
Nor yet because Thy wrath shall doom
Those loving not to endless gloom.
Thou, Thou, my Jesus, full of grace,
Didst me upon the cross embrace;
Didst bear the nails, …