Cb rifle s

A Sto ry of ! ove
By

Gra ce Hqfim a n Wh ite

a?

New Yo r k
Pr iv a tely Pr in ted
M D C C C CI X
 D e dic a tio n
TO M Y FA T HE R A ND M OT H E R W H OS
E

! IV E S OF ! NSE ! FE D ! OV E K I ND ! ED
T HE W A T CH- FI R E S OF CHR I S
T IN

T HE DARK P! A C E S OF T HE EA RTH

O fiat
! z o e ! a nd b ig /
! /
p z b u m ilz
ty,
Hzgfi a ! t/ze lz ea vem a bov e ,
f ‘

T/z ese
‘
a re
y our wa lb
f
‘

,
a nd
j ou lz a v e
‘

s k ew e d t/i em m e ,
To kind/e my (0 12! a‘v e
I .
 Can to the Fir/t
T HE brooding n igh t ye t held the silen t la n d
I n that deep s t illn e s s of the quiet s t ars
That le n ds it se lf t o mys t ery and awe !
The early scent of honeyed flowers was near ,

R is in g in incense fillin g t hought with dreams

,

Through the expe ctant air came con sciousness

O f dawn and tender t hings springing new born
,

From ou t th e dark .

When 1 0 ! arose a star

Where in the Eas t for long Wise M e n had
wa t ched ,

And cradled for t his rising light old truths .

More l u minous by far than all t he rest

I t hung God s lamp above a wayside in n
,
’

, ,

A simple kahn W here lay at t his high hour

,

The Christ with beasts of t o il o n lowly bed

, , ,

God s truth to earth new born as V irgin s child !

’ ’

That as the pure i n hear t see God all gifts

Are theirs e en this t he crown of Mo t herh o od
,
’

Granting to love a new and higher righ t .

No w o er the eart h on s t rain s of music comes

’

The dawn while t rembling shepherds wa t ch and

,

pray
As hea v en opens on their wondering gaze ,

With gleam of cherubim and rush of wings ,

[ I
]
A nd chanting of the lyric song of love
And peace God s will to man with rapture sung
,
’

, ,

Thrilling with a n s rin g j oy the world s great heart

’ ’

That long e x p e éta n t waited for this hour .

0 happy Syrian sky to bring such dawn !

,

O blessed town upon thy blossoming hills ,

To have fulfilled the cry of every heart !

Old prophecies of O ne who there should lie
And in H is poverty make all me n rich ,

Who in the heart of m an should find His throne ,

A ruler no t alon e of Israel

, ,

But of the eternal kingdom o f the soul !

Whose goings forth to everlasti n g reach ,

While earth with trembling speech receives her

King .

But thou fair Bethlehem mayst not for long

, ,

His shelter be ! for now to Joseph comes

The warning vision gleaming i n the night ,

Wi t h sheen of silver through celestial blue ,

Swi ft thoughts that flash and burn from Love D i

vine
I n angel forms of sweet and conscious care
, ,

Bidding him rise an d into Egyp t flee ,

Taking that Mother bles t and Holy Child ,

Till spoken word of Truth might be fulfilled ,

“
Lo ! out of Egyp t have I called my Son ! ”

Abiding there till once again the stars

O f nigh t t heir brigh t ness len d to angel forms ,

[ 2
]
 Can to Fiifi
When Herod s reign is past as tempest sped !
’

Whose banners now are ren t by onward wind

O f some forgotten prophecy till he , ,

Crowned with the woes of men upon his head ,

Is held by fear to heed each passing tale .

Now is he troubled by the Wise Men s words ’

That they have come long days from distant East ,

Led by the star of j oy and high portent ,

To find the new born King of Israel !

-

And when they vision warned no more re t urn

, , ,

His wrath breaks forth a fierce and sanguine flood

, ,

And 1 0 ! in Rama there is heard a voice

O f lamentation and great mourning ,

Women who weep and wail for children dead ,

Nor may be comforted for what is not !

For his decree went forth All in fants slay, ,

Les t one p e rc h a n c e wh o might to manhood come

, ,

Should outstrip Herod s power and snatch the

’

crown ,

Welding the Jewish nation into one !

Such things ere now had crushed a tyrant s reign ’
.

So with vain hands would he hold back God s ’

hour,

That now begins to wake the dreaming soul .

When nigh t with song of stars more faintly sung ,

Ere day her matin hym n of praise began ,

Behold that Mother blest and Holy Child

O n humble beas t o f toil by Joseph led !
[ 3 ]
 Ch rytu s
Till vision guided and by angels watched
, ,

They come into the land of ancient lore ,

And there remain u ntil the time is ripe

To turn once more their step s to Palestine .

In lowly Nazareth Christ fi nds His home ,

And here He lives H is life with simple folk ,

Learni n g t o s e e great truths in homely guise .

The leaven i n the meal for daily bread

Showed H im life leavened by a deed of love
, ,

Would larger grow and feed some famished soul !

Th e women at the mill were types of those
Who blindly toil for earth s u ncertain gains
’

Nor know when Life s a wa k n in g hour h as come

’ ’

Till one is chosen and the other left !

,

And so t he wayside flowers that clothed the gra s s ,

To Him His Father s love and care revealed

’
.

Thus all the sights and sounds of rural life

Are woven in His mind with hidden dream s
And high communion at the sunset h our .

Here also n ea t h these humble roofs He learn e d

,
’

With awe t h e secrets of the human heart ,

A nd fin ds within the t umul t o f its waves

The soul s awa k n in g to eternal peace
’ ’
.

But not for long this calm and sweet content !

His mind receptive feels the pangs o f growth
, , .

The passing caravans that wind their way

From town to town bring n ews o f all the land ,

And in the waiting thought o f this strange Child

4 l
 Ca n to Firfi
Fall seeds o f wider truth than rabbis taught .

Some word perhaps of Egypt s dying faiths ’

And India s growing light were firs t perchance

’

To raise a yearning doubt of Childhood s lore ! ’

A ri ft wherein God s lig h t broke in anew

’

With wider range o f thought than Jew had known .

B ut here there comes a silence deep as that ,

Which comes to flowers ere blossoms crown the

dark .

Did He go forth with simple tools o f t oil ,

/l id other palms an d temples find a home ?

l\
’

Did ligh t of India dawn upon His sigh t ,

Or that life giving flood bring H im anew

-

God s truths ? We only know His S pirit grew

’

And day by day waxed stronger in the light !

So that from quiet hours wherever passed
, ,

He brought great re s t fu ln e s s wh ic h to Him clung

,

Like fragrance o f a flower throughout His days ,

And gave t o weary hearts a sense of peace .

God s Thought descending one bright

’

Came where a hill side steep

-

Lay silent in the sweet moonlight ,

With flowers a t its feet .

And softly caressing

The air with a blessing ,

Soothed each bud and blossom

Tha t lay on earth s bosom ’
.

[ 5 ]
An d there wi t hin a happy grove
A maiden knelt in prayer ,

The nigh t its glory round her wove ,

The stars shone i n her hair .

As incense arose
The breath of day s close ’

From sweet sleeping flowers

’
That rest i n God s bowers .

And 1 0 ! God s Thought filled all her breast

’

With tender deep emotion

, ,

For here His Son might gently rest

Safe cradled i n Love s ocean ’
.

Her spirit serene ,

With j oy un foreseen ,

Forgot now its fear

Or earth s trembling t ear
’
.

For t here withi n her came to pass

A strange and holy thing ,

To her all lowly on the grass

God s love a Son did bring !
’

And music celestial

O e rflo ws all terres t rial
’

Earth may inherit

Life by t he Spirit .

[ 6 ]
 Can to Fiijt
And now there evermore shall dwell
I n those of lowly part
The gift of Love His p ower t o tell
Unto the pure i n heart !
Within a V irgin s womb
’

O ur blessed Lord foun d room ,

An d j oy immortal
En t ers Love s por t al
’
.
 Can to the Sec o n d
A s i n a little plant to sapling grown
We s e e the promise o f a spreading tree ,

So now returns the Child to manhood come

With promise of the Spiri t s grea t er growth
’
.

I n Nazareth again we hear of Him ,

Where first He learned t he lesson of grea t pain ,

That when our minds and spirits venture fort h

From beaten ways they stand alone apart
, , ,

Till they have learned to fully walk with God !

So His firs t wounds are given by His friends ,

And o ft upon those nights o f silent though t ,

Filled with the angels lyric song o f peace

’

Or deeper cadence of some prophe t s word ’

Did He not wonder when His call would come ,

To give His S pirit utterance tha t should li ve ,

And stir t he hearts o f men t o know their God ?

When 1 0 ! from out the desert comes a V oice ,

The voice o f John crying aloud to all

,
“
Prepare ye prepare ye the way of the Lord
, , ,

For aft er me there cometh O ne whose shoe s

I am no t worthy to unloose ! t is He ’

Who s e glory shall increase as mine grows dim ,

He is ele ct o f God His very Son

,
”
.

Wha t echo found t hat voice in Mary s heart ’

,

Wha t dreams arose that long had silen t lain ?

[ 8 ]
 Can to Se c o n d
What rap t ure fills the S
o n wh a t awe wha t peace ?
, ,

A t last the hour of destiny has come ,

His soul accepts its fate and forward goes .

The peaceful little town is left behind ,

Idyllic scenes of fields an d v e rdant hills

Their lessons gave ! n ow must the desert t each
Unto t hat soul of poetry and fire
A sterner truth a higher faith than these
, .

So now we s e e Christ s footsteps turned to where

’

The Jordan in cool greenness winds its way ,

Past arid plains and barren cli ffs of ear t h .

Here from Jerusalem and all J u daza

The people flock to hear t he prophe t John
Upon its banks exhort and all men warn
,

To flee the wrath t o come repentance find , ,

And be baptized to deeds of larger faith .

For even now God s t hunder shakes the sky

’

And old creeds fall amid t heir shat t ered hopes ,

Th at O ne who aft er him should come migh t

build ,

Whose baptism would be the Spirit s fire ’

Burning the cha ff of earth from every soul !

An ecstasy the heart of Jesus thrills ,

And meekly through the throng to John He go es ,

To feel upon His head the water pure ,

As symbol o f those old creeds washed away

While from t he preacher s soul t h e r e comes t he
’

cry,
“ Behold the Lamb of God ! Behold the Ligh t !
An d from the s k y gently as brea t hing do v e
The Spirit brooded on the Father s Son ! ’

An d o er the hills of Moab broke the day

’
.

Now straightway does the Spirit lead Him

forth ,

To t es t His streng t h in dry and bloomless wastes ,

Where moans the night wind on t he barren slopes

With cry of beasts that seek abroad for prey
, ,

Seeming to voice from sombre heart o f earth

The human hunger t hat besets t h e soul ,

Till it and earth and God become as one .

There from the well— spring of eternal thought

He draws deep draughts to quench His spiri t s ’

thirs t,

While i n fair visions come t he powers o f earth

To wake if t here be found som e voice o f sel f
, , ,

Or touch some hu man weakness of the hour .

B ut they a vanquished host before Him fall ,

While He through vi ct ory gains greater strength

, , ,

Knowing that when the Spirit s power has come ’

It may not for a n idle p urpose serve ,

But for God s higher glory that His laws

’

Be in the end fulfilled and mankind freed .

But ways o f anchorite could not for long

Fulfil the vision o f that deeper soul !
In Him was li fe creative life of love
, ,

Which as the Word had come to dwell with men

[ 1 0
]
 Can to Se c o n d
And find in Him its utterance anew .

So to t he Sea of Galilee He comes ,

Beside it s still deep blueness finds a home .

Here once again with simple folk He dwells ,

Pro v ing Himself in human ways their friend !

Here found He those t hat ever t o Him clung ,

And in that town that sat as summer s queen ’

Decked with the sparkling chain of pa s sing j oys ,

He t aught t hat higher creed that makes man one

I n the true bro t herhood of hope and aim !
Tha t man mus t reconcile himself to God ,

No t God to man for even now His love

,

Towards t hem was more than they could under

s t and
,

Though having nothing that this world can give ,

Yet t ruest life i n Spirit t hey may find !

Tha t all have power t he Spirit to receive
And in its strength to find whate er they need
’
.

His s t ern rebuke is only for the false ,

Those tha t dissemble truth with outward deeds ,

That in the hidden hear t may find no place !

While i n His breast was naught but yearning love
For t hose who bore the burden of their sin s .

All men Christ knew —the poor who gladly

,

heard
,

A n d from His lips gained strength for daily toil !

And those to whom He bade to hold their weal t h
As almoners o f God His gifts to give
,

[ 1 1
]
With sympa t hy and love that they migh t li v e
, ,

And know the j oy t ha t can from riches flow .

Strong in t he pow e r of Spiri t now He S peaks ,

”
God is your Father ! all ye as brethren are !
And there beside that placid sea t here bloomed ,

Like flowers of heaven touched to human shape ,

God s law of love i n words o f sweetness rare

’

That rose to chan t of high beatitudes ,

Idyllic days when Spirit spake t hrough Him

O n grassy flower lit hill neath fruitful trees
,
-
’

O r fish in g boat moor e d to the waiting shore

- .

Like little children on His words t hey hu n g ,

As n ow from days of Nazareth He drew

Those lessons early learnt from daily li fe ,

Weaving grea t truths in simple parables ,

That gave each a ét a meaning all divi ne ,

And stirred their hearts and upward drew t heir

minds
Unto the kingdom of His Father s love ’

Till fear with hate and pain as shadows flee !

A nd as His thought arose He gave t ha t prayer
,

That shows all life is God and God is Love

, ,

For all migh t now u n t o the Father come ,

And build the larger kingdom of th e soul .

[ 1 2
]
 Can to the Third
T HE winter now is pas t and once again
, ,

W ith brea t h of blossoms and of early grape ,

On fair wind s an dalle d fe e t behold the S pring

-
,

Weaving the tender green on barre n slopes !

Where er her footstep s press the j oyous flowers
’

Glad greeting give from now awakened earth .

The call to Feast of Passover has come ,

When Ch ris t wit h o t h e rs n e e ds must j ourney forth

, ,

To that proud City resting on h e r hills ,

The pride and j oy of ever y Jewish heart .

It hung like j ewel i n t h e morning mist ,

Its minarets a fla m e caught by the s u n ,

While covered o er with gold the Temple shon e !

’

It seemed a mys t ic City from on high ,

Discerned alone by dreams and fe rve n t p raye r ‘

Perhaps t ha t other j ourney filled his min d

When from H is Mother as a little child
He wandered for t h filled with t he fi re of God
,

That roused the S leeping spiri t in the priests .

Mayhap the shadow of that hour when He

'

Within the twiligh t of His great career ,

Should t o this feast repair with saddened hear t

, ,

There drink His cup of bitterness and woe ,

And break the sacramen t al Bread of Life .

Wha t e er His mind we know tha t now had c o me

’

[ 3 ]
1
A hig h er note a s terner t hough t t han that
, ,

Which sang itself beside fair Galilee .

Unto the Temple now He wends His way ,

B u t lo ! what grief what anger S tirs H is hear t

, , ,

For there in all its sordid ways displayed

, ,

He se e s the t ra fli c of t he public ways

Casting dishonor on God s house of prayer ’
.

A flame of wrath leap s to the lips o f Love ,

Scorching with words o f fire the sordid mind .

A s cha ff before the win d He drives them forth

“ This is my Fa t her s house which ye have made
’

,
”
A den of thie v es Heroic scorn H is doom !
.
,

For now the people claim Him as t heir friend ,

E le ft from God He comes to s e t t hem free ,

And they the heavy laden t urn t o Him

,
-
, .

Migh t this by scribe or rabbi be believed ?

They fel t God s breath upon t he face of time
’

And wist not whence it came or whither blew ,

For they full of blind years would lead the blind

, , ,

And make complete the circuit of their days .

As one acclaimed the people s friend Christ ’

co m es
Unto t he house o f Simon he wh o lo v ed ,

To bask within the warm light of success ,

Though neither heart n or mind to it respond .

Within his house there o fte n gathered those

Who t ouched t he lyre of time with passing note !
So must he bid t his Teacher now to come ,

[ I 4 ]
 Can to Th ird
An d s e e if guile or subtlety could catch
H im unaware and bring the favor cra v ed
,

O f priests who feared the dawning of Chris t s

,
’

po wer ,

And long had tried to trap Him in His speech .

So at this splendid feast arranged for Christ ,

Came one in smiling flower of womanhood

And beauty far renowned for face and form
, ,

B ut who not knowing tha t all beauty speaks

,

O f God had thrown to earth her heavenly crown

, .

With con scious power and supple grace s h e goes ,

A n d mee t s the love and pi t y in His face !

Then all the past before this force stands ou t ,

Her heart dissolves in deep distress and woe ,

The flow ry garland trembles in her hand

’

The e t ernal child in womanhood is touched ,

While from her soul springs up a flame of lo v e ,

And at His feet she falls with tears of shame

Tha t wash their travel s t ain and then anoints ,

T h em with a precious ointment of the Eas t .

,

Pressing repentan t kisses from her h e art ,

And with h e r silken hair s h e wipes them dry .

Chris t t urn s t o Simon with maj es t ic grace !

Reading the thought tha t lay within his mind ,

He craves the courtesy o f speech wi t h him ,

Then tells t o h im the tale of deb t ors twain ,

Wherein two men bereft of all save debt

, ,

Had ca s t the mselves for mercy on their lord ,

[ 1 5 ]
 Chri us

O ne owing much the other s debt was small

,
’

Ye t both found full forgi v eness in his word .

“ Now wh i h t h in k ye would love their lord the

c , ,
”
mos t ?
And Simon s an s wer but condem ns himsel f
’

As he with ready ease makes quick reply ,

“
He whose need was most t o be forgiven .

With t ender grace Christ to t he woman speaks ,

“ Thy sin s they are forgiven go in peace .

,

She ha t h loved much and thou hast rightly j udged .

Behold with tears with kisses and rare oil

, , ,

My fee t by her repentance have been cleansed ,

A courtesy thou g ran t e ds t not to me .

Her soul is healed while t hou art not aroused

, .

I t was bu t one o f many ways they strove

To t ake Him as He did H is Father s work ’

Going from ho u se to house and place t o place

, ,

I n s imple Eastern way of daily li fe !

Till now by S y c h e r s well His thought sublime
’

O n glowing pinion s passes earthly bounds ,

Winging it s way through life s eternal sky ’

.

A nd 1 0 ! the God o f Gods is shown to man

I n tha t deep ut t erance of conscious soul ,

“
God is Spirit and they that worship Him
,

M ust worship i n the S pirit an d i n truth ,

For God is Love No more may mankind s ay

.
,

Thou shal t not for t he Word has thundered

,

fort h
 Ca n to Th ird
That thou shalt love all men as t wer e thyself
’
.

So near unto the Fa t her is He now

“
That He can truly s ay We are as one
, .

The blind receive their sight the dead arise

, ,

The sick are healed the lame stand forth and

,

walk !
These are t h e ou t ward sign s of tha t high love
T hat binds Him t o mankind and God abo v e .

Lo ! at His kiss on lips t ha t death had known

Sprang endless life t hrough all the world s dead’

soul.

[ I
7 ]
 Can to the Fo urth
No w nears the hour when He as Paschal Lamb , ,

Shall be led forth by priests to touch with blood

The lintels o f their doors that through their night
,

Still may the angel of His presence come

In mighty power t o save and lead them fort h .

So turn s He from the city s streets aside ’

Un t o that little t own ! u nknown to fame ,

It lay near desert waste in solitude

,

As deep as tha t which lay upon His soul .

He to His own has come they know H im not

, ,

And pity for their blindness deepens love !

Here came t o H im the stre n g th n in g peace o f ’

God
That in the hour o f mor t al dread an d sham e
Bore Him unsca t hed through realms of pain a n d
death.

With gathered strength to Bethany He goes ,

To rest i n friendship s calm and pleasan t shade

’

Ere crowns the Great Even t the tragic hours !

Here dwelt those sis t ers who had prove d Hi s
love
When for that brother newly come to life
He had unlocked Death s gates to s e t him free !
’

So greet they Him as loved and honored guest .

Martha who moulded li fe with daily cares

, ,

[ 1 8 ]
 Can to Fo u r th
Makes ready with her gathered skill a feast !
In stillness Mary to her chamber goes
And brings a vase of sweet and costly oil ,

And with great love content s h e pours it o er ’

His feet with ten der t ouch and t ears of j oy ,

That cleanse them from the wayside dus t and

s t ain
.

Till Judas asks Why should t h e re be this

“
,

waste ?
To bet t er purpose might i t ha v e been sold .

Bu t Chris t aware that life s high hour had com e

,
’

Accepts the beauty of t he service given .

With smile inscrutable rebukes his z e al ,

“ The poor ye always have bu t wist ye no t

,

T is love s farewell ere I may pass from hence ?

’ ’

O t wice anoin t ed King on Love s high throne

-
’

With precious oin t ment on thy feet ou t poured !

First by t he t ears of deep repentance cleansed ,

Then tears of j oy wipe o ff the e art hly stains !

Thus swiftly goes that last nigh t wi t h Hi s
friends ,

Ye t dawn s firs t flush finds Him upon His way

’

To that las t feast of love with chosen t wel v e !

Alone He walks in high commun i on lost .

Since when among Philippi s hills He sought ’

To S how His chosen three Tr u th s greater light ’

Upon that Mount where high tra n s figu re dthought

Brough t larger vision o f eternal life ,

[ I 9 ]
 Chri us

Whence Moses and Elias S howed wi t h Chris t

The Prophecies and Law fulfilled in Love ,

Till now He knew H is way led t o t he Cross

, ,

And that through it His path would find and pro ve

D eath but t h e S hadow of e t ernal day .

Now come His followers and some He send s ,

To find that upper ro om for Paschal Feas t ,

While 1 0 one brings an ass s col t to ride !

,
’

So might it be fulfilled as prophet spake ,

“ Behold O ! ion s childre n and fear not

’

, , ,

Riding an ass s foal your King shall come

’
.

O f t his t hey knew not till in later hours

, ,

Searching they found the prophet s words of Him ’

.

And t hus they j oin the vast and moving thro ng

That to t he feas t comes up from all t he land !
I n every heart on e v ery t ongue H is name
, ,

I s heard and miracles and t ales compared

,
.

“ Was t his the long expe ct ed O ne the H ope

-
,

O f I srael who S hould His people free ?

,

When o er them swep t a consciousness sublime

’

O f Chris t s deep lo v e and porte n t of this hour

’

And from them brok e with loud acclaim the cry ,

All hail t he King o f Israel all hail !

,
”
,

Hosan nas loud they sing and branches break

,

O f palms and strew their garments i n His way

, ,

While in t he air is heard again the j oy

O f those old days long passed i n Galilee .

Just here outside t he w alls the people paus e ,

[ 2 0
]
 Ca n to Fo u rth
At that sharp bend where breaks upon t he v i e w
The gleaming city built upon a rock ,

Rising from out it s gorges to the s k y ,

And at this sunset hour seeming to floa t

A j ewelled city in a sea of gold .

Here now is changed the spirit of tha t crowd !

Behold He weeps their King bu t now acclaimed
, , ,

While from His lips there fall those words of

doom !
“ Jerusalem Jerusalem thy foes
, ,

Shall compass thee on every S ide till thou,

Shalt have no stone upon another left ,

And all thy children t oo S hall be brough t low ,

For thou thine hour of visitation hast

”
No t known .

Indignant murmurs now are h e ard .

“ I this indeed t he King who should arise

S ,

The hope of Israel s heart and Judah s pride ?

’ ’

O nce more t he crowd sweeps on ! fainter mor e ,

faint
,

Hosannas ring and die upon t h e air ,

B ut hands of children still are wavi ng palms .

Now forth t o meet them come from every S tre e t

A curious crowd who cry Whom have we
,
“
,
”
here ?
And from the walls a thousand eyes look down .

No longer n o w the shout This is t he King

“
,
”
Who cometh in the name o f God They s ay .
,
 This is a prophe t come of Nazare t h .

Then they disperse amid the crowd t hat t hrong

The Temple s court s where now a t las t Chris t
’

s t ands
.

The golden t rumpe t of God s tru t h is set ’

Upon His lips whose blas t breaks up the nigh t ,

And time and memory and hope are stirred ,

While bea t of Liberty s far reaching wings

’
-

Are heard From wastes of loveless years Godward

.

The nations fly while o n the lips of Greece

,

D ead words t ake form and li v e Show us t he

“
.

”
Christ
,

And brea t hless space is ren t Lo now t he hour

“
.
,

I n which t he Son of Man is glorified !

I f I be lifted u p from eart h I will
Draw all men u nto Me by deathless lo v e .

Now do t he poignant hours hold them i n fear

That on t his Son of Man would lay their hands .

When close the pe t als o f the rose of day ,

Behold ! maj estic grave He S tands alone

, , ,

I n silence looks on symbols of dead faith ,

Stones which are given children who cry for bread ,

That with them they may s t one the living Truth .

Then as H is S pirit s yearning wings droop low

’

H osannas that from lips o f children rang

Now fill the Temple s emp ty space with j oy
’

A nd waving palms foretelling viét o ry ’

.

And i t was w e ll their voices now should bring

[ 2 2
]
 Can to Fo u r th
A happi e r s t rain unto His sore —
tried heart
,

For He had made them types of highest thought ,

And t augh t that those whose faith was as a child s ’

Should find the kingdom of Eternal Love .

So with the thought of children pressing near

He from t he Temple went with tender smile .

2 3
 C a nto the t th

T HE restful silence o f the night ha s come ,

And gathers all the world in its embrace ,

Soothing the cares o f day an d giving peace .

What voice dare break the travail of His soul

To o ffer once again the crowns of earth ?
What echo cries t o Him from desert wild ?
The priests who long have hated Chris t now fear
Lest ga thered t ribes His leadership proclaim !
Bu t what may priests clad in the people s pain
,
’

And spirits stricken with the lust o f pride ,

Wi t h leadership o f this a new born world ?

-

Or know o f H im who only Spiri t knows

, ,

As Source and Giver of all power to men ?

Who wipes from consciousness the sense o f sel f
And all tha t may the Spirit s way impede ?
’

Truth now must soar a flaming cross to heav e n

Tha t shall the thoroughfares of Time make bright
For souls that to great p urposes press on .

When comes the day again with sub t le spe e ch

,

And hearts ofdarkness t ry they then Christ s words ’

That He before them may stand self accus e d -

,

His claim to be Messiah proven false .

Clear as a t rumpe t call His answers ring ,

Waking th e echoes of u ndying truth !

“ Render to
Cms ar what t o him belong s ,

[ 2 4 ]
 Ca n to Fifth
And unto God what also is His due ,

Setting a higher j udge and tribute now

Than e er may by the pride of Rome be claimed
’
.

Now questions Him one skilled in M oses law ! ’

Master which may the great commandment be ?

,

With eyes love lit sphered in calm skies He

,

speaks
“ Love thou thy God with all thy heart and mi nd
,

And t hou shalt love t h y neighbor as thyself .

These two embrace the prophets and all law .

No more they question brooding low desire

Tha t feeds upon the pestilent t ree of death !
For now both priests and people He condemn s
As fools and hypocrites no t knowing Love
, ,

While forth are justice faith and mercy cas t

, , ,

Driven by greed an d pride and blinding hate ,

W hen from the whirlwind of His scorn fall words

O f pi t y soft as rain that breaks a storm ,

Or tears that melt the hear t of some deep grief

“
Jerusalem Jerusalem O thou
, ,

Who dost t he prophets kill and stone thy s ons

, ,

How oft would I have gathered thee in love ,

A S doth a hen that s h e lt e re t h her brood ,

But thou wouldst not u n t o this shelter come !

”
Behold all desolate is left thy house
, .

As breath of s e a that stirs the longing heart

And rises in pure fragrance of desire ,

So now un t o this City of His love

[ n ]
I s breathed this tender sigh of s ad farewell .

I n silence now across the court He goes !

Pausing He sees a wido w p e e r p ut her all
a
,

Her mite in t o the box of trumpet shape

,

Tha t held t he free will o ffering of her race !

-

The beauty of the deed t hat shone with lov e

Nor priest nor formal ritual could hide
Wakes j oy again within that wearied heart ,

And brings t he praise She hath done wha t she

“
,

could
,

This woman of the upright heart and pure .

’
T is deeds like t his t ha t build t he kingdom up .

O Thou recurring Chris t ,

Strong in all mighty truth ,

From sanguine fields from de e ds , o f migh t ,

Take Thou our yout h .

Rej e ct e d outcas t weak

, , ,

Sin s t ained or blind with s t ri fe

-
,

Piercing through all disguise ,

Take Thou o u r li fe .

For worthy cause like Th e e ,

We now endure Thy pain ,

O ur Brother Comrade Friend

, , ,

W e t oo ar e slain .

[ 2 6 ]
 Ca n to Fifth
Head of us all art Thou ,

Triumphan t Love Thy sign ,

Through deeds of humble m e n

Dost Thou no t shine ?

[ 2 7 ]
 Can to the S
ixth
No w draws the quiet e v ening o er t he land ’

Her v iolet robe agleam with sun s last ray ’

W hile flowers distill t heir love in odors sweet

As thro u gh the t ender light there walketh O ne ,

Circled within the Spirit s deeper light

’
.

U nto t ha t u pper chamber now H e goes ,

Wh e re His last Paschal sup per has been spread ,

And here about Him are His chose n come .

Yet still His soul is sorrow ful to dea t h

Wi t h dull forebodings of distrust and doom !
Were they as yet by love as bre t hren bound ?
For He would have them one and only know ,

The one Etern al Father of them all .

And t hen He shows by washing of t heir fee t

The dignity o f labor done in Love ,

Till He o e rbu rde n e d by a sense of grief

,
’

At las t exclaims Ye all are clean save one

,
“
.

”
And each cry out Lord is it I or I ?
,
“
, ,

I n whisper low John asks Which is that one ?

,

The quiet answer comes “ T is h e tha t now

,
’

Dip s i n t he di sh with Me his s o p o f bread ”

.

“ Wha t now thou doest Judas quickly do

, , .

T h e words were meant to set suspicion free ,

B ut Judas rises and goes swiftly out .

Perchanc e within his traitor heart he thinks

[ 2 3 ]
 Can to Six th
That now Chris t must His kingly powers pro
claim .

So quietly h a S all this come t o pass

That none s uspe ct what lies within his mind !
E en John but thinks that Judas has the bag
’ ‘

And forth has gone to re étify some wrong ’

.

Now took He bread with them and ate ,

That they in daily bread might not forge t

How He the Bread of Life had bid them li v e !
, ,

Then drank He of the purple fruited v i ne -

,

I n t oken that they n eeds m ust live in Him

To bear life s p e rfe ét fruit of love complete
’
.

Around them seemed to hover u nborn years ,

Winged with the larger vision of His faith ,

While follow q u 1 c k n in g words o f hope and lo v e

’
.

“
Le t not your hearts b e troubled neither fear , ,

Because un t o the Father I have gone .

But u nto you the Comforter shall come ,

And teach to you the truth whereof I speak !

Till ye shall s e e Me with a clearer eye
Than now ye can T h e Truth shall make you free
.
,

Clearing your minds with light of risen day .

Mine have ye ever been yea from t h e first !

, ,

Great sorrow from the world ye shall receive !

Be of good cheer I have the world o e rc o m e
,
’
.

All these things have I spoken that with you

There might remain the s t re n gth n in g j oy of love ’
.

That y our j oy may be full abide in Me , ,

[ 2 9 ]
As I within the Father s love abide ! ’

And what ye ask the Father shall be done ,

For I have manifested H im o er flesh ’

And unto all have shown this grace divine

Tha t t hey in Him e t ernal life should know .

Then li fted He His eyes to God and prayed ,

O Father now to me the hour has come !

,

Thee have I glorified my work is done !

,

Let but Thy glory rest upon Thy Son .

O Holy Father keep through Thy love those

,

Thou hast given Me May they be one in Me

.

A S I in Thee that all may s e e Thy love

, .

O Heavenly Father keep t hem i n this world

, ,

An d m ay t hey by Thy truth be s a n étifie d! ”

So flows this prayer ofprayers from His great soul .

Then they together sing a psalm o f praise ,

And at His words Arise le t us go hence

“
, , ,

They pass into the night o er K e dro n s brook ’ ’

U n t o the Mount of Olives .

O n t he way
He t ells them how He shall o ffen d them all
That night that they shall be as scattered sheep
,

When smitten i s the shepherd by the foe !

But o n the third day He will rise again ,

And go before them into Galilee .

Here Pe t er all a fla m e with zeal breaks forth ,

“ Though all deny Thee Lord yet shall not I

.
, ,

O hasty love tha t measures not i t s S trength !

[ 3 0
]
 Ca n to Six th
E er crow of cock thou shalt deny Me t hrice
’

Prophetic words that speak the coming hours .

At last they reach the Mount by olives crowned !

In depth of sadness leaves He them save three ,

Pe t er James and John He takes with Him !

, ,

With these He seeks the Garden that He lo v es .

They go within its S ilent S hade to pray !

But now the hour when Christ must stand alone ,

The depth of human agony to know ,

So even these He leaves to S ilent watch ,

And further goes into the Garden ways ,

Where on H is face He falls in agony

O f t his His greatest struggle of the flesh .

“ O My Father if it be possible
, ,

Let p ass from Me this cup ! but Father no t , ,

”
As I will but as Thou wilt be it done
, , .

Then turns He where His friends now S leeping

lie .

“ W h at could ye not watch with Me one hour ?

,

Watch
Ye and pray lest trial take ye unware !
,

Willing the spirit but the flesh is weak

, .

Sadly he turns to pray again that prayer

O My Father i f this cup may not pass
,

From Me except I drink Thy will be done ,

.

Then in dumb a n guish turns u nto the three

To ease if might be His last human need !
They sleep nor know the birth pangs of t his hour
,
- .

[ 3 1
]
Sphered now in solitude once more He prays ,

O My Father if this cup may not pass

,

From Me except I drink Thy will be done

, .

Now may His grief scarce ease itself in speech ,

But in grea t drops of blood it seeks relief .

When S tirs the p ulse of night to throb of wings ,

Parting her purple ways of woven stars ,

Comes from beginning of all time a hos t

Celestial whom Love through su ffering found .

Clothed now i n woven robes o f light they bring

Hope s rainbow cup sparkling and pure filled with
’

Love s crystal water from the throne of God

’
.

And 1 0 ! t he cup o e rflo ws as deep He q u a fls

'
’

Renewing faith till undismayed He cries

, ,
“
O Father not My will but Thine be done
, , .

And from the groun d He rises up divine .

Seeking them where they lie He bids them rise

, ,

For he that doth betray the Son of M an

Is well upon them with a multitude
O f men armed by the priests to take Hi m forth
, .

E en while He speaks Judas with friendly guise

’

S t eps from t he throng and hails H im with a kiss .

Sadly with gentle word he is rebuked !

“
Friend wher e fore ar t thou come with all this
,
”
power ?
What blow could equal strength of these few
words ?
No wonder that i n deep repentant rage
[ 3 2
]
 Ca n to Six th
He flin g s be fore the priests the guilty price ,

And in deep agony of spirit cries ,

“ Lo ! I have sin ned and innocence betrayed

, !
Then forth in suicidal madness rushed ,

And hanged himself for deed he ne er forgave ’

.

So lay they hands on Christ but no t before ,

With love that sheathed forever Peter s sword ’

An a éi of human pity He must do ,

By healing touch upon a servant s ear ’

Which had been shor n by Peter s over zeal ’

-

Ere forth unto the High Priest s hous e t h e y g o ’

And only Peter followed Him afar .

Now see we Lord Thy life as chalice fair

, ,

Filled t o o e rflo win g with Thy deeds of lo v e

’

That from li fe s bitterness

’

D rew forth a swee t ness born in darkes t nigh t !

Touched with Thy quickening morn
A s tre n gt h n in g wine of Spirit now dis t ill
’

Thy t hirst t o quench Thy life renew ,

I n that hushed hour o f deepest woe ,

When man crowned Love with thorn s of s hame ,

Till eart h en sanguined trembling woke and called

I n mighty t hunders to her sleeping dead .

To each dear Christ of Love

, ,

Thou giv s t a Holy Grail

’

To fill and cherish day by day and s o

[ 33 ]
Renew Love s Sacrament
’

With though t s divin e o f Th e e who s ymb o liz e d

I n daily bread of common need
The body broken and t he Spirit freed
To t ake Lo v e s Sacram e n t t o hungry s oul s
’
.

E en s o dear Christ
’
, ,

Thy life for us becomes

The blood by which all li ve
I n Thy new T e stament
O f bro t herhood divine .

I n re v erence we bow
Before each day and t ake anew t he cup
,

From Thy love kindling hands that flame

-

A fresh our failing hearts .

So li ft our lives that when t his little hour

O f troubl e d life shall as a dream be pas t ,

Le t naught be found within its quiet dep t h s

Bu t Stre n g th n in g wine o f Spirit purifi e d
’
.

[ 34 ]
 Can to the Seve nth
! o w i n t he heavens hang the lamps of God ,

Gray clouds of portent hurry o er the s k y

’

In fit fu l gusts comes breath o f res t less wind ,

While Christ i n peace abiding walketh calm .

A t last they reach that house in gardens s e t

High terraced and deep —
-
canopied with shade ,

Where foun t ains s plash and upward ca t ch t h e

gleam
O f vagran t moon o e rblo wn by dri fting cloud s
’
.

Here waited Caiaphas with s cribes and pries ts

For tha t mock trial of the Son of God
Who comes be fore them in maj estic peace .

And all the night they questioned of H is w o rd s ,

Till He in answer j ustice now demands

“ Before the world I openly have t augh t

In synagogue and market where men cam e ,

Nor may I be accused of secret speech .

Why asketh thou A s k them who heard my w o rds

”
What said I unto them Behold they know
.
,
.

Now when injustice m o u n t e th high i t find s

Those of an evil mind to walk with it ,

So ther e was one about t he court who cried ,

“ Wha t ! Thinkes t Thou to answer High Pries t

”
so ?
And st ruck Him on the face with open palm .

[ 35 ]
Then s h o we t h Christ a Hebr e w s sens e of righ t
’

“ If I have spoken evil witness bear

, !
I f well why smitest thou — and holds His peace
, .

So now are wit ness called well known to them , ,

And ere the morn i ng breaks full cou ncil meets .

Then i n the servants seats there came to pass

’

As Chris t had said that thrice was He denied

,

By him whose love pro t ested at the thought

I n heated words o f vehemen t s u rprise ,

For Peter now declares to mocking j ibes ,

I know Him not why as k ?

,
”
when crowed t h e
cock ,

And full on Pe t er Jesus t urned His ey e s ,

Who fled i n bitter consciousness o f love .

While s t ill t hey wa it th e pries t s fling fort h t h e ir

,

words
As pestilence of hell by ha t red bred ,

Till come their witne s ses again st the Tru t h !

Bu t when the solem n oath o f dea t h is read ,

Behold are some who fear to S peak t hat lie ,

Les t for all time it lay on them the blood

O f Him who now t hey falsely would accuse !
For s o it runs and further goes to s ay
, ,

Tha t as in Adam all men first were made ,

So may one man stand forth for all t h e world .

They may not dally with such words n o r look

Upon those clear deep visioned eyes o f love !
-

While others proud importanc e now t o find

, ,

[ 3 6 ]
 Can to Se ve n th
Cluck ou t t heir words with strut of foolish fowl
“ This fellow said D estroy the Temple then
‘
, ,

Will I in three days build it up

Here migh t not all agree save in t hat He ,

Had taken to himself the power of God

And thus blasphemed — this charge t he pri est s
,

had sought ,

So with one voice they cry Ar t thou the Chris t ?

“
,

Now may the Spirit o f His claim divine

W ith grave serenity the silence break ,

As one who wa t ched upon the brink o f tim e ,

Yet caught the sound of idle questioning

“ I f t his I tell you ye will not believe
, ,
”
And if I ask of you ye will not s ay
,
.

The words t ra n s figu re d shone with wistful lo v e

,

Tha t gave assertion greater than His speech ,

And filled with dull alarm t he hate of priests ,

Who as lean birds of prey that pendant swoop

, ,
”
Now harshly cry Art thou t he Son o f God ?
“
,

And from their mids t the High Priest Annas rose .

Imperious silence hung upon H is words ,

W hile he t he j udge supreme with hand upraised

, ,

Abj ure s Him by the living God to tell

I f He indeed be Christ the Son of God ,
.

Then as the s t arred and silen t sky glows with

The dawn so now He makes His last reply
,

“ It is as thou hast said and thou shalt s e e

,
”
The Son in power and glory yet appear .

[ 37 ]
Then did the High Priest rend his clo t hes and s ay ,

“ Bla S h e m
p y ! need we further witness seek ?
Ye all ha v e heard W hat think ye now of Him ?
.

A nd as one voice they answer 1 5 h M a v eth

“
,
”
He is a man of death and tear their robes
, .

Then comes a scen e o f deep disgrac e and

shame ,

They bu ffet Him and spi t upon His face !

Wi t h unclean lip s thrus t out an d mocking blow s
They rail upon Him through the weary nigh t .

A fearsome scene that hall by torches lit

, ,

That flamed across the face o f angry men ,

The loud uproar and clamor of their feet .

Incarnate hate and envy they appear !

Lo ! He the people s frien d t he Nazarene
,
’

, ,

I n whom the Son of Man and God were one ,

I s wi t h derision hailed to feed the scorn

O f t hose who la t e had loud Hosan nas sung !
And what o f him alas beloved of Chris t
, , ,

Why waits John there i n shameful silence why ? ,

H e hears false words yet utters not the truth

, ,

He sees t he cruel blows yet o ffere t h no t

,

Defence What keeps tha t loving spirit dumb ?

.

The tears of deep remorse which Judas shed ,

And those of penitence from Peter s eyes ’

He might not shed to ease so great a lo v e ,

Nor could those dews of life relieve t he hour .

Hi s spirit qui v ers i n i t s sheath and would

[ 3 8 ]
 Ca n to S e o e n th
Leap forth a sword of truth to save his Lo rd !
, ,

Yet now in silence does he bear with Christ

The m o cking insults and outrageous blows ,

For with h is steadfas t faith and S pirit pure

He sees t h e larger issues of the hour !
Sees from that form divine a radiance
That meets his ever understanding love
“ The cup My Father gives shall I no t drink ?
,

For only by the Spirit do we live .

Again t hese words from out the days j us t pa st ,

The larger vision brought to ease his pain ,

And love reliant loyal silence keeps ,

Drawing him closer to that t hought divin e .

Then as the day wi t h doubtful fervor br e ak s ,

They bind and lead H im to the Judgment Sea t ,

For they must have Hi m t ried by laws o f R o me .

And s o t o Pilate now they come — a man ,

To be obeyed re lentless s t ern and one

, , ,

Who cared no t for the J e w or his strange fai t h ,

But only cared to keep the province s t ill ,

And gather taxes without needless war ,

That he might favor find and s o advanc e .

He s t ood a bulwark of ma t erial power

’
Twixt Rome and phantoms of the Jewish mind .

While now dr e w near tha t artisan of man ,

That builder of a world not made with hands ,

Whose feet were shod wi t h love and on who s e

brow
R e s t ed th e crown o f labor s a n ét ifie d .

When Pila t e firs t from the Pr ae torium c o mes ,

He with his liéto rs meets them at the gate ,

For here no priest nor do ét o r o f th e law

May c o m e wh ile yet they keep their Paschal week
,
.

So when he sees the Man before him bound

He asks Wha t accusation do ye make ?
,
“ ”

An outraged j ustice weakens their reply !

“ I f He had not a m a le fa éto r been

”
Why should we bring Him here ? Their answer
comes
With calm con t emp t ! Then take ye H im an d
“

j udge
According to your law No t this t h e ir wish
.
,

For by their law they might not p ut to dea t h .

With craft th e y now their accusation make .

“ He do t h pervert t he nation for He said

,

Tha t none shall tribu t e unto s ar pay ,

An d too He ha t h proclaimed Himself a King

, , .

Now Pilate needs must heed s o grave a charg e .

He goes unto the Judgmen t Hall ! there bids

Them send t his Man whom t h e y accu se ,

And he will see i f any guilt be His .

Calm with a maj esty divine Christ comes ,

I n simple robes of white before him stands ,

And from Him shines a ligh t a radiance p ure

,

A s seen at early morn before the su n

Breaks t he white stillness with the rush of dawn ,

[ 4 0
]
 Can to Se ve n th
Whil e from H is eyes luminous as still st ars
, ,

Ther e shines the V ision of the law fulfilled

In love an d ages j oined in brotherhood
,
.

At once with quick dire ét n e ss Pilate asks

’
,

“ Art thou a King ? ”

And calm the answer falls ,

Thou sayes t Then in S ilen t st rength Christ

.
”

wai t s
,

Con fron t ing worlds invisible who s e fa te ,

Hangs on t he fai t h and pa t ience o f this hour !

W hile from withou t loudly the pries t s accuse ,

Till Pila t e marvels asks i f H e ha s heard

, ,

And still that silence wai t s above His calm .

So he again in wonder questions Him

”
What hast thou done ? As music in the nigh t
Presses upon the dark so now Chris t s words
,
’

Fall with dis t urbing beauty on the heart

My kingdom is not of this worl d or else ,

I f of t his world then were I no t brought here

, .

To this end was I born for this I came ,

In t o t he world a wi t ness o f the Truth

, ,

And he who is o f Truth will know My v oice .

E en now the splendor of that kingdom vast

’

The mind of Pilate s t rangely seems to s t ir ,

And s o perplexed tha t vi t al ques t ion asks

, ,

“
What is t ruth ? The conscious sil e nce wai t s
”

Before Incarna t e Truth Light o f the World

, .

What need of speech while Chris t in patience

stands ?
Th e n Pilate t urn s unto the Jew s who wai t
“ I find n o faul t i n Him — as if he said
, ,

Why waste t he time of Rome on idle dream s ?

H e knows no t of the temper of that crowd ,

That all t his while had been s o much increased

IS now a s e a by dark n in g t empest tossed
’

Remorseless surging by quick ligh t nings li t

, ,

O f passion s all a flam e and keen t o mark

,

The S ign o f indecision in his voice .

When in the t u m u lt o f t heir words he hears

‘

The name of Galilee he quickly turns

, ,

And a s ks of them Is He from Galilee ?

“
,

Then mus t H e go t o Herod Lead Him for t h . .

So straightway take they Him wi t h Roman guard

Unto t ha t Fox t he murderer of John
“
, ,

Whose voice had called to men on Jordan s shore ’

.

With subtle smile Chris t is received by him ,

And smooth his words for long he had desired

,

To m eet Him and His wonder working s e e -

,

O f which he hoped He now would give him proo f!

And clos e he ques t ioned Him of many things .

To priest and Pilate answer m igh t Christ mak e ,

B ut n ow be fore this man o f guil e is d umb !

, ,

H e kn e w t h e depth o f falseness i n his heart .

And chilling silence creeps on Herod s soul ’

A silence tha t rebukes and fills with fear ,

Till Herod t ouched as by a win d o f death

, ,

Turns now his words of insul t in t o hate .

[ u ]
 Can to Se ve n th
Wi t h cruel smile and lips thrust out he v i e s
Wi t h j ibes t he mocking soldiers to ou t do !
In purple robes o f scorn he decks H im forth ,

Then straightway un t o Pilate sends Him back ,

Who now but finds himself in harder pass ,

And hesi t a t es an e w the while he says

,

“ No fault I find in Him tha t He S hould die

,

Nor wa s there any fault by Herod found .

T h e re fo re whip Him with cords and let Him go

, .

The soldiers roughly plai t a Crown o f Thorns ,

And press i t on Christ s head scourging the while

’

“
With mocking cries of Hail King of the Jews
, ,

Till Pilate leads Him forth u nto the pries t s

Wi t h half con t emp t uous words
- “ Behold t he , ,

M an ! ”

Bu t when did dalliance with th e fire s of hat e

Bring augh t but a devouring flame ? So now
The quick relentless c ry Crucify Him !
“

”
Crucify Him ! shows how their hate has spread .

Impatient now comes Pilate s quick reply ’

“ Take Him yourselves and crucify I find

.

”
N o crime in Him ! I f Pilate find no guil t ,

Why stand the soldiers idle at their pos t s ?

Why waits the word that bids them clear the
court ?
No t hey would have their will and He mus t die
, , .

Then say those Jews who S tood without the ga t e

, ,
“ We have a law by which He ought to die
,

[ 43 ]
For He hath m ade H imself the Son o f God .

O f t hi s was Pila t e sore afraid He turns.

”
And asks Whence art Thou ? When no a n
,

swer comes ,

With boast pro v ed v ai n in tha t las t hour h e said , ,

“ D os t Thou not know my power to crucify

Or s e t Thee free ? Speak now whence ar t Thou

,

come ?
As breath of lov e t here comes to thos e calm lips
The word s t ha t j udge the weakness o f His ju dg e
“ Thou hadst no t power were it not given thee
,
”
B ut he that brought me here hath greater s in .

The n Pilate wished th e more t o s e t Him fre e .

As one s ore vexed in dream s who gropes about ,

So Pilate o fle re th another way

’

To s e t t his dreamer free A cus t om t was

.
’

At Paschal Feast to libera t e some Jew ,

Wha t e er his crime who then in prison lay

’

, .

So grasping now this thought does Pila t e a s k

“ Which will ye I at once release to you
,
”
Barabbas or t his Christ King o f t he Jews ?
,

And at t ha t word they cry Barabbas free !

“
,

No t Christ our wish Barabbas we will have !

.

Now he like quick grown weed in pregnant soil

-

Had t ried by crimes to choke the power of Rom e .

But yet again would Pilate j ustice show !

He speaks and tries once more their rage to quell .

“ Barabbas !” S till t h e cry “ Give us no Chris t !

.

[ 44 ]
 Ca n to Se ve n th
Here a swift message comes from Pilate s wife ’

Who lay like j ewel in this heart o f steel ,

Its point of fire melting where er it touched

’
.

She knew the Scriptures Jesus too had seen

, , , ,

So writes her lord of omens an d o f dreams ,

And begs les t evil on his head should fall

, ,

That he have naught to do with this j ust man .

The message troubles Pilate what to t hink

, ,

For omens are a part o f Roman faith !

Then to h is mind there comes that cus t om old
O f Moses law his wife mayhap have read
’
, ,

That those who would a murder disavow

May by the washing of their hands in cour t
All guilt or part y to the crime dissol v e .

He tries again to free this Man .

Too la te ,

While still he hesita t es the deed is done ,

For they declare that he may not be friend

O f C aesar s or o f Rome if this man does
’

”
Not die Hath He not said I am a King ?
.
“
,

And will he risk his place in Rome for this ?

But ere he speaks the tumult louder grows
From priests who cry
“
It is our wish He dies .

”
He shall be crucified ! Hang Him on high !
The people catch t h e wo rd and back they S hou t
'

“ Hang Him on high Crucify ! Crucify !

.

Then was there water unto Pilate brought .

 Now by your cus t oms ye shall have your will ,

I wash before ye all ! s e e ye to it ,

For He is in nocen t No guilt I find !

.

The n from tha t throng there breaks that awful cry

Whose echoes through the ages lead to death ,

“ Upon us an d our children be His blood !”

Then Pilate gives them Chris t t o crucify .

Crowned with the Crown o f Thorn s t hey lead

H im forth ,

A reed as sceptre in His han d they place ,

And round His wounds a scarle t robe they throw .

Now is t hat robe o f scarlet worn by priests

To show t ha t they their blood would shed fo r
Truth ,

And once agai n they mock and call H im King !

The travesty o f j ustice now is done ,

Nor priest nor king nor minion o f great Rome

, ,

Augh t can condemn His soul s high destiny

.
’

With maj esty beyond their carnal minds ,

M o v e s as a V iéto r o nward to the end .

[ 46 ]
 Can to the E ighth
W ITH lagging steps now comes the gentle Spring
Her sacred touch unfolding bud and leaf ,

While full streams sing and ripple with her smile ,

Bringing the j oy of winter overcome !

O n tireless wings earth s choristers return
’

And fill with songs of love the leafy boughs ,

While all await the blossoms promised hour

’
.

What blast is this that sweep s Es raldin s plain s

’

Bligh t ing the Rose of Sharo n with its touch ?

What winter chill has seized the heart of man ,

Wi t h breath of coming woe and misery ?

Lo ! now their evil min ds their lust fulfils !
Crowned st ill with sanguine cr o wn of c ru e lt h o rn s ,

Bearing on scourg ed back the Cross of shame ,

Through winding ci t y ways they lead the Chris t ,

Drawing the idle curious of the street ,

They that as cha ff are blown before t h e deep

Slow winnowings of time ! dead to all j oy ,

Upon the earth they lie as scattered hopes .

’
Twas meet that they should follow Him who
leaves
The t ares and whea t until their hour is come .

So in procession march they to that hill ,

The Hill of Execution ! like a S kull

I t lies outside Damascus Gate where mee t,

[ 47 ]
As o n e the many winding roads o f men .

But here perchance to pity stirred they pause

, , ,

Compelling one to take from Christ the cross

Ere tha t last upward climb o f burdened Love .

Then give they gall an d vinegar t o drink ,

To ease the thirst of those last mortal hours !

But Christ within tha t garden hour has q u a fle d
'

Too deep His Father s cup to need aught now

’
.

T is but their blindness brings to Him distress !

’

Then do they part His garmen t s casting lots

, ,

An d ancient prophecies are now fulfilled

“ My garments parted they among them all

And for my vesture then did they cast lots .

With t ragic tumult press t hey on the deed ,

Till they aloft have raised their King to die ,

And once again are words o f old fulfilled !

“ He shall be lifted up from earth a n
d draw
,

All men t o Him by very s t rength o f love ”

.

Above His head is W l l t i n every tongue

‘

“ Jesus of Nazareth
,
King of t he Jews !
From that great hour behold all men have brough t
Their deepes t love and homage to the Cross .

That S ign of S hame one man alone hath made

,

The symbol of an everlasting love !

I n patienc e and maj estic calm He wai t s ,

Orbed in pure love that mists o f earth dispel .

He sees His Mother weeping a t H is feet !

With loving words He gives her to the care
[ 48 ]
 Can to E ig h th
O f John whom ever did His spirit love !
,

Here s h o wm g that man s true relations are ’

Not ties of flesh but those that spirit bind

, ,

Or else to other son s had Mary gone .

Now to the wailing women comes His v oice

“ O daugh t ers of Jerusalem weep not
,

For me but for yourselve s and children weep

, .

Then godlike by the Spirit breathes one prayer

“ Father forgive They know not wha t t hey do
. .
,

But ere His spirit passes to its own ,

It wai t s in love to heal one anguished soul .

O n either side two thieves with Christ are hung ,

That they may to this hour bring greater shame ,

The one from clouds of dazzling pain cries out

With fierce and sc o fli n g words that bite the heart
“ If Thou be Christ now save thysel f and u s
, !
So challenges t he spirit of man s doubt ’

Rising from mis ty caverns o f the earth

Where hangs the heart s t rung lyre of broken -

chords ,

Tha t wails and sighs with brea t h of all m e n s ’

woes.

I t called to Him Love s Herald of t he day

,
’

About whom dawn s pale brilliance glow ed

’

That brighter shone till rose the ancient dead

An d followed to eternal realms of life .

Now burns that light to peniten t ial fire

“

The o t her s heart who shares this bit t er hour

’

,
.

[ 49 ]
 Chri us

The s c o fle r he rebukes with failing words

’

Made strong by Truth s first impulse in the hear t

’

“ We j ustly su f fer but n o t s o t his Man !

,

Has t thou no fear of God now thou art here ?

Then t o the Christ he turns with passing breath ,

Remember me O Lord wh e n Thou shalt come

, ,
”
I nto Thy kingdom ! No t in vain his cry !
Like balm t h e r e falls upon hi s anxious heart ,

“ I tell t hee truly thou shalt be with Me

This day in Paradis e Then from t ha t soul

”
.

Fell o ff the squalid garmen t s of the past ,

I n peace profound unto the last he rests .

Now over all the land deep darkness broods ,

As i f the wings of doubt were outward spr e ad ,

Circling for tha t las t fligh t to ou t er v oid ,

As from the Son o f Man burs t fo rth that cry ,

“M e
'

y G o d my God
,
hast,Thou forsaken M ?
Till now above the weakness of His doub t
The Spirit pro v es that Love is all in all ,

When in a v oice o f strong triumphant faith ,

The Son with God u nited speaks Father “

, ,

Into Thy hands My spirit I commen d .

Then as that spirit onward wings its way ,

O ne in its Father s love and proven faith

’

To higher t hought of God s immortal Tru t h ’

Lo ! at its brea t h the heavens of earth dissolve

In flame the thunders crash t he earth is ren t
, , ,

The dead rise at the trumpet call of Li fe ,

[ w]
 Can to E ig h th
And eart h i s as a raging seething sea !
,

A s if the powers of darkness knew their King ,

A n d im m o rt ality by man was won ,

And forth had belched the horror of each deed

O f t hose long hours when hate had wreaked i ts
,

S pleen !
Triumphant Truth rolls back the T e mple s gate s ’

And a t its touch the veil is rent in twain ,

That there may nothing stand twixt God and Man

’

While t hose that near Him keep in solemn awe ,

”
And fea r exclaimed This is the Son of God !
,
“

When drew the evening in with sullen gloom

The blood stained garmen t s of the passing day
-
,

There came from Pilate at the priests reque st ’

Soldiers to s e e that life had fled from each

,

Cross t ortured body that no sign remain

-
,

O f their ill deed to stir the people s hearts ’

When dawns t he high feas t of their Sabba t h

morn .

So hasten they ere darkness gathers in

To free the anguished flesh ! but when to C h rist
They come they find His spiri t pure has fled
, .

A soldier with a S pear then pierced His side

From ou t of which both blood and water flowed !
To John a precious symbol of His life ,

Washing the blood of sacrifice away

By Truth s pure water from t he hea rt o f Love
’
.

O Love that e v er does t he world upli ft ,

[ 51 ]
May we each day within Thy kingdom dwell ,

Finding our cross a cross of light to shine ,

And clear the n ight unto Thy p e rfe ét day ! ’

Seeing t ha t all is o er there goe t h one

’

, ,

Christ s friend t o beg that Pilate give him now

’

The body of his Lord that it may rest

,

I n that unfi nished tomb o f h is near by , ,

Which like a pearl in that fair garden lay

At foo t of the high hill where S tood the Cros s !
And to the place came one t o Truth new born
With myrrh and aloes swee t and precious oil .

Tha t body fair together they anoin t ,

And wind i n linen fine wi t h spices rare ,

Till love s las t ri t e by gentle hands is don e

’
.

Then came the guard t o s e t the massi v e s t on e ,

An d seal with C aesar s ow n imperial S ign

’

To quiet Fear who heads the h osts o f ea rth

, ,

Lest Love the Great Deliverer arise

, ,

And be proclaimed the Lord of Life and Death .

Three days the soldiers in that garden watched ,

Till weary n ights heavy with ome ns grave

, ,

Silenced their words vag u e p it ile s s thoughts arose

, ,

The n passed i n restless wonder at the task .

Great stars swun g in their ordered way on high

To rhythm of the music o f those feet
Who do the H igh e s t s bidding Still they watched
’
.
,

Whil e day took up t he vigil of t he nigh t .

Wi t h br e a t hless awe the su n mo v ed on his way ,

[ 5 2
]
 Can to E ig h th
And lo ! within that silent tomb came Dea t h
,

But dared no t on the glory of Christ s face

’

Look lest in brightness Death itself be slain

, .

Eternal Love had won Eternal Li fe !

[ n ]
 Can to the Nin th
A ND now behold the dawn that brings t o eart h
Through man the first great R e s u rre étio n Morn !
From Life s dim vistaed way Immortal M ind
’
-

Rolls back the stone for Him the Lord o f All , ,

While Love s eternal antiphone peals forth

’

That shakes with primal j oy the heart of earth .

As when in tha t first morn God walked with man ,

So n ow her vast serenity is stirred

As from her womb He rises Man Supreme , ,

Strong with the deathless passion o f His deed .

The soldiers on their faces fall as dead ,

Then flee with conscience — stricken hearts b e fore

The dread and glo ry of t hat solem n hour .

Deserted i s that garden tomb and drear '

W hen sadly cometh one to weep and pray .

And 1 0 ! with fear s h e sees the stone is gone ,

And a t the e ntrance of the empty tomb

The angel of t he prese n ce waiting s t ands .

As lightning i s his face his raimen t gleams

,

White as the snow smiting her eyes with nigh t

, ,

While as r e memb e red m usic fall his words ,

Fear not I know t is Jesus whom ye seek

.
’
.

H e is not here but risen as H e said

, , .

Come s e e t he place wherein the Lord did lie

, ,

Then t o the others go and to t h e m s ay !

,

[ 54 ]
 Can to Nin th
‘
Behold our Lord is risen from t he dead !
,

Love s star of faith shone dim through clouds o f

’

doub t ,

As back un t o t he o t hers now she speeds ,

And fin de th John and Peter watching long

O quickly come ! They ve t aken awa y our Lord
’

”
I know not where ! but quickly come and s e e .

And John outru nning Peter is the firs t

, ,

To reach that silent tomb yet waits in awe

, ,

Till Pe t er entering finds no form wi t hin ,

But folded near the garments of His Lord .

Then in bewilderment he stands bu t John ,

Wi t h j oy beholds triumphant Love revealed .

Afar had Mary strayed in garden ways ,

In quest of Him Who now before her S tood !

From eyes made dim by grief the slow tears fe ll ,

So knew S he not the presence of her Lord ,

But thought it one who cared for this sweet place .

Oh sir I pray thee tell where He is laid

, , ,

Hold Him not back for I wo u ld take Him hence

,
.

The little flowers send ou t their sw e etest scen t ,

Nor comes the wind of dawn to stir a leaf ,

I n depths of stillness glows t he early morn ,

When speaks that V oice of Love its deepes t no t e ,

“ Mary ” She turn s wi t h ou t s t retched hands and

!
cries ,
”
Master ! Again that V oice falls on her ear
Touch me not for I am not ascended
,
Ye t un t o t he Father ! but go and s ay
To those my bre t hren t ha t I go un t o
”
My Father and t o t heirs .

Wi t h j oy she goes !
From w e llsprings of her love the message pours
Sparkling and clear ! touch e d with eternal spring
It falls on doubting hearts with grief o e rbo rn e
,
’

That ha v e not yet tha t Higher V ision seen .

B ut tha t same evening comes He t o them all

Where they are gath e red i n bewildered talk !
As fragrance wafted from a heavenly shore
H is presence fills the room ! Peace b e t o you
“ .

Upon t heir wounded hearts His words as balm

Fall with a healing S tre n g t h tha t faith renews .

A nd then He leaves t hem they can bear no more .

Bu t once again He comes wi t h those same words

O f peace ! wi t h breath o f love o n t hem He
breathes
The inspira t ion o f His spiri t t ill , ,

Mor e firm t heir fai t h now bids He them t o t each

,

And heal the s ick the dead to raise Then come

,
.

“
Those words o f power Whose sins soever
,

Ye do remit they are remit t ed them

, ,

And whose soever sins ye do retain ,

They ar e re t ained Again with brea t h of peace

.
”

He passes from their sight that now their hearts

,

May feel and learn in silence of His words .

O gift of Christ that man for long has kep t

,

5 6
 Can to Nin th
Cry s talled within a form of passing power ,

That as a child he might a fault con fess

And absolution gain by word of priest !
Bu t now with love anew has Spirit br e athed
, , ,

And each as High Priest of a heavenly love

, ,

May hold or set at naught all earthly sin ,

By patient faith that may imp ute no ill ,

Bu t knows the deep abiding of all good .

Still did the clouds o f earth their vision dim ,

The witness of the outer eye as yet

Seemed more than wha t t he light within t hem
showed ,

As when succeeding day drives shadows fort h ,

Ye t o er the dawn nigh t trails her purple robe !

,
’

So may the soul awake though not as ye t

,

Are lost the lingering shadows of her nigh t .

O nce more on that same day when from t he

tomb
Christ rose a vi étor o er t he powers of dea t h
’

Behold we find Him on a country road

, ,

Where talk and reason of the S trange events

O f those last days two of his chosen twelve .

Now a s a stranger Christ draws near and asks

Whereo f they speak .

With sad surprise they s t and

To give more full import ance to their words
“ Dost thou live i n Jerusalem nor know

The things which came to pass in these las t days ?

[ 57 ]
 Wha t things ? Chris t asks Wi t h wond e r now
”
.

the y s ay,

“ Concerning Jesus who a Nazarene

, , ,

Ye t was a prophe t great i n word and deed .

And glad t o ease their minds they tell Him all .

Thoughtful H e wai t s searching with inward gaze

,

Their troubled hear t s ! then as a Father speaks

“ O thoughtless ones and slow of heart are ye
,

To res t your faith on all t he prophets s ay .

Was n o t it n eed ful that these things should be ?

Beginning now from Moses He explained
All things in Scriptures that concerned H imself ,

And shows how still such su fferi n g mus t be ,

Till all have come into t ha t p e rfe ét love

Tha t holds men i n eternal brotherhood
And comradeship o f minds divinely set ,

To make t he social highway clear for God ,

And bring with peace the kingdom o f the soul .

Now burn their heart s aglow with he av e nly

fire
,

Lighting dim ways o f s oul s un fettered range

’

That str et ch b eyond the horizons of thought ,

Till as day sinks t o restful calm they come

,

Where in the s unset s glow Emmaus stands

’
.

Here seemed to part t he Stranger s way from ’

theirs,

But they thrilled with the Great Companionship

, ,

En t reat Him now to stay for night draws near

,

[ fi ]
 Ca n to Nin th
Abide with us for day is n ow far spent
, .

And so constrained He seeks with them the inn

, .

There as they sat at meat it came to pass

That bread He broke and blessed an d gave i t
them .

Then was their Lord re v ealed all blindness fled !

,

O ne simple a ét in daily usage found ,

And lo !the Christ once more stood in their midst .

With opened eyes they would detain Him now ,

But as before He passes from their sight

, , ,

And they unto Jerusalem re t urn ,

That quickly might their brethren know of Him ,

And learn how they tha t day had t alked with

Christ
.

They find the chosen few together drawn ,

Lost midst the shadows of the great e ven t s .

And they assure them of a risen Lord ,

When lo ! He is among them as they speak .

That not one heart may question o f the truth ,

With gen t le words Christ turns where Thoma s

s t ands
Aside i n doubt and bids him come a n d pro v e
,

That as h e knew Him s o he now may s e e

,

No phantom of the mind but risen Christ

,

“ Behold t he marks upon My hands and fee t

,

Arise and touch the wound upon my side ,

That thy las t doubt may flee before t hy sigh t .

B e t hou no t faithless but believe in Me

,
”
.

[ 59 ]
And Thomas overpowered may scarce exclaim ,
”
“
My Lord my God ! Then sadly speaks the
,

Christ ,
“
Because thou sees t Me th ou hast believed
, ,

B u t blessed they tha t have not seen as thou ,

Yet have belie v ed and by their simple faith

,

K now tha t the Christ is Lord o f Life and

Death .

I n silence and st range peace t hey go their

ways ,

Re t urning once again to daily tasks !

And t hose who i n the waters cast their ne t s ,

We find again beside fair Galilee .

A night when all in v ain wearied they t oil

, ,

Casti n g their nets ! yet empty now t hey lie ,

While o er the violet hills with t ender glow

’

Lightly the day draws near With ge ntle breath

.

She rocks t he idle boat The t ired men

.
,

Soothed as a child by mother softly swung ,

I n slumber rest till labor calls them forth !

When falls o n consciousness t hat voice
Whose mingling tones re fle ét with gentle str e ngth
God s fatherhood and motherhood of love
’
.

It calls the m Children asks what t hey have

“ ”
,

caught ,

And wai t s t he weary answer from t heir lips ,

Then bids t hem on t he right side cast their net .

The s e a i t s s t ore releases at His word ,

[ 60 ]
 Can to Nin th
And lo !their nets they scarce can pull for weight .

Then with one voice they cry It is th e Lord

“
,
.

And Peter filled with ins t an t faith springs forth

, ,

U pon the s e a but now by fear o e rc o m e

,
’

,
”
“ Sav
e
,
Master or I perish
,
! loudly cries .

With love whose strength may weakness bear ,

Christ saves ,

I n faith unbroken leads o er quie t seas ’

Where in the smile of morn ing lies the land .

Upon its welcome shore a fire of coals

Bears witness of an omnipresent Love
That meets and makes our human needs di vin e .

Again He breaks for them t he daily bread !

But s e e what j oy is at this morning meal ,

That supper at the even ing hour how s ad !

Then knew they not but now the Light has ,

come ,

And always with them will this Light abide .

The little waves low ripple on the shore ,

And still and calm the sea as Love s own smile ! ’

The dew fille d chalice of the flowers o e rbrim

-
’

With light and odor and the wings of dawn

,

Fan from t he mounta i n side the veil of nigh t

-
,

While earth new born sends up her hymn o f

pra i se
.

Now half in morning peace and half in awe ,

Within His S pirit s radiance they rest

’

Till Christ with searching tones t o Peter turn s .

[ 61 ]
Three times He asks les t impulse lead as t ray
,

“ Simon thou son of Jonas lo v s t thou Me ’

, , ,

Y e a m o re than these ? pointing to o e rfille d boa t

” ’

, ,

As symbol of the world that calls to men ,

Till Pe t er grieved at heart falls at his feet

, ,
.

“ Thou k n o w s t Lord all things so must Thou

’

, , ,

know
” “
My love for Thee Then feed My sheep lest
.
,

thou
By others should be led where thou woulds t no t
When thes e firs t fires o f early love are pas t ,

Keep thou thy burning zeal and follow Me , .

B u t Peter ever hasty turns and sees

John standing near And what wouldst Thou
“
.

with him ?
Christ s quiet look brings shame for idle words
’
.

“
What s this t o thee ? I said Feed thou My
’

,
‘

”
sh e e p f

Now shows Christ ho w t rue fishers they must be ,

Drawing all men within the Spirit s net ’

By cords made S trong with gentleness and love !

And s o with pregnant words their minds He fills ,

Till each goes gladly on his daily way .

Then leaves H e them once more to reappear

,

To open wide new gates of life for them ,

With promise of the Com forter to come ,

That would as flame of Love upon them rest ,

Con suming fear giving new tongue to speech

, ,

[ 62 ]
 Can to Nin th
Kindling the souls of men with grace of God ,

Till blind and dumb get light and speech again .

Where Church of God has fled t hy dear bough t

, ,
-

power ,

Where s q u a n de re st thou thy dower ?

For what pale forms and eart hly crowns o f g o ld
Hast t hou thy birthrigh t sold ?
See how in shadowy terrors at thy gate
The stricken people wai t .

S t irs not thy S pirit s chalice to o e rbrim

’ ’

With healing love of Him P

Or leaving all i n wilderness dost seek
, ,

O ne starving poor or weak ?

,

Where is thy faith tha t Truth alone makes fre e ,

Why bend t he servile knee ,

And robed in p urple w here thy balm of peace

, ,

That bids men s pain to cease ?

’

F o rge tte s t thou Whose robes with purple stain e d

By love the world regain ed ?
Thou hast the golden key of life to op e
The hidden door o f h Op e ,

Let it no longer rust in silken fold ,

Nor thy great gifts withhold ,

B ut ope n throw thy Gate of Beau t y wide ,

Let Love a healing tide

, ,

Cleanse all thy courts and j oy return to eart h

, ,

Till each heart feel thy worth ,

[ 63 ]
And thou through love man s bro t h e rhood con
,
’

fe ssed ,

Find Chris t t hy con s t ant gues t .

Awake O earth for former things ar e pass e d !

, ,

Behold t he light that shall E t erni t y

Rej oic e for 1 0 ! upon H is love paved way
,
-

Christ comes From out thy urn of s t arry dew

.

Anoint His fee t t ha t now with beauty press

Upon t hy Mount by peace ful olives crowned ,

For now His S piri t leave s the ways o f earth .

Here where i n stillness came the v oice of God ,

Wh e n day on amethystine al t ar s burned

The golden inc e nse of her passing hours ,

Her e found that larger freedom of t he will

Wi t hin the Will D i v ine tha t made them on e ,

And once again the Lamp o f Truth renewed

That dim had burned for many ages past ,

Hid neath the bushel o f t he world s dull though t !

’ ’

And with t his Lamp had to His people come

To show the flower or weed of every a ét ’
.

Tha t they had cas t Him for t h nor would recei ve

,

The Ligh t of Lights brok e forth in bitter cry

,

When on the Cross doub t s passing shadow fell

’
.

As wind of memory passes o er His heart ’

Touching the lyr e o f earthly pain s and j oys ,

Again is heard the Shepherds song of old ’

Chanting th e glad refrain o f peace and love ,

[ 64 ]
 Ca n to Nin th
With rhy t hmic pulse o f S trong archangel s wings
’

Beating across the s e a of liberty !

And on this strain higher His thought ascends ,

His pa t h thr ough Mind s exal t ed realm grows

’

brigh t ,

As He t he Son of Li fe break s t hrough earth s

, ,
’

clouds ,

Their rainbow S plendor lost in flame o f Love

That kindles Time s ye t formless years with Hope
’

And floods with ligh t t he void abysm of death .

Lo v e ru le s lT h e Man Supreme unveils His power !

Within it s glory beauti ful and free
, ,

He passes from the veil ed sight of e art h,

Triumphant in eternal viét o ry !’

The E n d