Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-06-11
A UNITARIAN POEM.
oliver Wendell Holiness Effort at the
Boston Unitarian Festival.
Boston Advertiser.

BOslOu AuNeIllhtT.a
Judge Lowell then, proof of his des-
potic power, said he had the great Autocrat
of the Breakfast Table under his thumb, and
then presented DIR. Oliver Wendell Holmes,
who was greeted with hearty applause. His
words were as follows: 81 had written a
theological prelude TO the lines am going
to read you but | thought it better on the
whole to keep it fer some other occasion,
and not preach sermon TO a congregation
largely made up OF clergymen. One thought
only / will venture to give expression 10 in
the humble form OF prose. 1t is this: | am
surprised as we'll pleased at finding how
much nearer the two christian folds with
which ] have mostly worshiped have come
together. In my younger days the church
and congregation over which my father was
settled in Cambridge had a difference
among themselves which ended in sep
aration. They built new edifces, which
stood apart from each other and SYM
bolized their spiritual alienation. By and
by the parish which we call the orthe-
dox one, built that fine stone church situated
near the Washington elm. l see the place
of my birth, with all its steeples, and Mount
Auburn in the background, from my library
windows. The two spires OF the two once
alienated folds fall 80 almost exactly into
line that they look as if they were one.
Righteousness and peace have kissed each
other. We winter Unitarians are many Of
US summer Baptists, Methodists, Episcopa-
lians. And what do you think, dear brethren
of the stricter creeds, we are most afraid OF?
OF too many concessions. We do not want
the thickest cream of orthodoxy, still less its
skim milk, but give 1t to us honest, give II to
us warm, as it comes from the living foun-
tain, and we will thank you, and honor you,
and help you so far as in US lies. We have
destroyed enough, i. may be, of the indefen-
sible outposts of what called itself christian
ity; the garrison is in the citadel, and its Of
ficers are letting in those whom they once
called enemies; let us help them build up
the wall that keeps out heathenism.
The waves unbuild the wasting shore;
Where mountains lowered the pillows sweep,
Yet still their borrowed spoils restore
And raise new empires from the deep
So. while the foods of thought lay waste
The old domain of chartered creeds,
Its heaven-appointed tides Will haste
To shape new homes for human needs,
Be ours to mark with hearts unchilled
The change an outworn age deplores;
The legend sinks, but Faith shall build
fairer throne on new found shores,
The star shall glow in Western skies
That EhOne DER Bethlehem's hallowed shrine,
And onceRgain the temple rise
That crowned the rock of Palestine
Not when the wondering shepherds bowed
Nor yet TO Israel's kReeling crowd
Did Heavens sacred doom belong
Let priest and prophet have their dues
The Levite counts but half a man
Whose proud salvation OF the Jews
Shuts out the good Samaritan
Though scattered far the flock may stray,
His own shepherd still shall claim
The saints who never learned to pray
The friends who never spoke his name
Dear Master, while we hear Thy voice
That saws THE truth shall make you Free
Thy servants still, BY loving choice.
| o keep us faitbhu unto Thee
\