Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1877-09-14
@
19oetrpp.
OREEDS OF THE BELLS.
BY GEORGE W. BUNGAY

UhhhUS VI IHE BELLS.
BY GEORGE W. BUNGAY.
How sweet the chime of Sabbath bels
Each one its creed in music tells
In tones that float upon the air,
AS soft as song-as pure as prayer;
And will put in simple rhyme
The language of the golden chime;
My happy heart with rapture SWellS
Responsive to the bellS-sWeet bells.
In deeds of love excel, excel!
Chimed out from ivied towers a bell;
This is the Church not built on sands,
Emblem of one not built with hands;
Its forms and sacred rites revere;
Come worship here, come worship here
In ritual and faith excel, excel!
Chimed out the EpiScOpalian bell.
Oh! heed the ancient landmarks well;
In solemn tones exclaimed a bell;
No progress made by mortal man
Can change the just, eternal plan
With God there can be nothing new;
Ignore the false, embrace the true,
While all is well, is well, is well!
Pealed out the good old Dutch Church bell
To tell the truth we tell, we tell!
Shouted in ecStaSieS q bell,
Come all we weary wanderers, see
Our Lord has made salvation free;
Repent. believe, have faith, and then
BE saved, and praise the Lord. Amen!
SalvatlOn'S Free we tell. we tell
Shouted the Methodistic bell.
We purifying waters swell!
In mellow tones rang out a bell,
Though faith in Christ alone can save,
Man must be plunged beneath the wave,
To show the world unfatering faith
In what the sacred Scriptures saith.
On! swell ye rising waters, swell!
Pealed out the clear toned Baptist bell.
Not faith alone, but works as well
Must test the soul! said a soft bell;
Come here and cast aside your load,
And work your way along the road,
With faith in God and faith in man.
And hope in Christ where hope began;
Do well, do well. do well, do we'll!
Pealed forth the Unitarian bell.
Farewell, farewell, base world, farewell!
In warning notes exclaimed bell,
Life is boon to mOrtaS given
TO fit the soul for bliss in heaven;
Do not invoke the avenging rod
Come here and learn the will of God,
Say to the world farewell, farewell!
Pealed out the Presbyterian bell.
In after life there is no hell.
In raptureS rang cheering bell;
Look up to heaven this holy day,
Where angels wait to lead the way;
There are no fires, no tiendS to blight
The future life: be just and right
No hell, no he'll, no hell, no hell
Rang out the Universalist bell.
The pilgrim fathers needed well
My cheerful voice! pealed forth bell;
No letters here to clog the soul,
No arbitrary creedS control
The free heart and progressive mind
That leave the dusty past behind.
Speed we'll speed well, speed well!
Pealed out the Independent bell.
No pope, no pope to doom to hell
The protestant! rang out bell
Great Luther left his fiery zeal
Within the hearts that truly feel.
That loyalty to God will be
The fealty that makes men free.
No images where incense fell!
Rang out old Martin LutherS bell.
All hail! We saints in heaven that dwell
Close by the croSS exclaimed a bell;
Lean over the battlements of bliss
And deign to bless world like this;
Let mOrtalS kneel before this shrine
Adore the wafer and the wine.
All hail. We saints! in chorus SWELL
Chimed in the Roman Catholic bell.