The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-04-07


And my gate is high and wide;
There is room enough for you and for me,
To travel side by SIDE"
Half shyly the Church approached the Woi4u,
And gave him her hand of snow;
And the old World grasped 1t and walked along
Saying in accents low,
''Your dress is too simple to please my taste,
have gold and nearls 10 wear;
Rich velvets and silks for your graceful form,
And diamonds to deck you hair"
The Church looked down at her plain white
rohes.
And then 1T the dazzling World,
And olushed as she saw MS handsome lip,
With a smile contemptuous curled.
~ will change my dress for eostlier one,
Sud the Church, with smile of grace"
Then her pure white gar hents drifred away,
And the World gave i'll their place
Beautiful satins and shining silks,
And ruses a.ld gems and pearls;
And over her forehead her bright hair fell,
Crisped IN thousand curls.
your house Is too plain" said the proud old
World.
'rli build you one like mine;
With Kitchen for feasting. and parlor for play.
And furniture ever so fine"
So lie bnt her costly and beautiful house
Splendid it was To behold:
Her and her daughters met frequently
there,
Shining in purple and gold.
And fair and festival-rrolics untold,
We're held in the place of prayer;
And maldens bewitchng as syrens of old,
With worldly Eraces rare.
Invented the very cnnninsest tricks
Untrammeled by gospel or laws,
To beguiie and amuse and win from the world
Sumo help for the righteous cause.
Tho Angel of Mercy few over the Church.
And whispered, az KNOW thy SIM"
Then the Church looked back with sigh and
To gather the children in;
But some were off at the midnight ball,
And some were off at the play;
And some drinking in saloons,
AS she quietly went her way.
Then the siy World CALAMITY said to her,
Your children mean no harm,
Merely INDUCING in innocent sPOrfs;'
So she leaned ON his pr0tfered arm,
And smiled and chaored and gathered flowers.
AS she walked along VIII the World;
Willie millions ami millions OF precious souls
To the horrible gulf were hurled.
Your preachers are all too old and plain"
Said the gay World, with sneer;
'grhey Brighten my children with dreadful tales,
Which do not ike them TO hear.
They talk OF Judgment, fire and pain,
And the horrors of endless night;
They talk OF place that should not be
Mentioned TO ears polite;
1 win send you some of better stamp,
Brilliant, and CAV, aud fast;
Who will show how people may live as they list,
Aud go to heaven at last.
The Father is ilerciful. great and good
Loving and tender and kind;
Do You think He wonld take one child to
heaven.
aud leave the rest behind?"
So she called for pleasing and gay divines,
Gifted. and great, and learned,
And the plain old men that preached the Cross
We're our of her pul3its turned.
Then Mamnon came in and supported the
Church,
Renting prominent pew:
Aud preaching and singing and floral display,
Proclaimed period new.
"You give too much to the poor" said the World,
Ear more than yOu ought to do;
Though the poor need shelter and food aud
clothes,
why ueed it trouble youq
Aud afar TO the heathen III foreign lands,
Your thoughts need never reanf:
The Father of inercies viii care for them,
Let charity begin Mt home.
Go take your money and bny rich robes,
And horses and carriages fine,
And nearls and jewels aud dainty food,
Aud the rarest and costiiest wine.
My children they dOte all such things,
And If you their love would win,
You must do as they do, ana walk in the ways
That they are walking in"
Then the Church held tightly the strings of her
And gracefully lowered her bend:
And simpered, "I've given 100 much away,
l VIII do, sir, as yOu have said"
So the poor were turned from her door in seorn,
And she heard not the OIL lan's ory;
And she drew her beautiful robes aside,
As the widows went weeping by.
Her mission treasures beggarly piead,
And Jesus commands were in vain;
While half Of the millions for whom he died
Had never heard his name.
Ard they of the Church and they OF the World
Walked closely, hand and heart,
And only the Muster, VINO knoweth all,
Gould tell the two apart.
Then the Church sat down to her case and said,
81 am rich and in goods Increased:
Ihave need OF nothing and 1aught to do,
But to laugh ana dance and feast:'
And the sly world heard her. and lsIUohp1 in
sleeve,
And nocknely said aside,
''Ihe Church has fallen. the beautiful Church,
And her shame 10 her boast and pride"
Then the Angel drew near the mercy seat
And WHISPERED in signs her name;
And the saints their anthems of RAPTURE hushed
And covered their heads with shame;
And voice came down through the hush of
heaven,
From Him who sat on the throne;
81 know thy works and what thou hast said,
And how thou hast not known
That thon art poor. and naked, and blind,
With PRIZE and ruin entlrailed
The sxpectant Bride of heavenly Groom
Nov the harlOt of the world!
Thou hast ceased TO watch for that Blessed
Hope,
And hast fallen from zeal and grace;
SO now, alas, must cast thee our,
And blot thy name from its place."
Religious Notes.
The Hindoos pray to $50, 100000 gods.
Morocco. peoped by the finest Mosiem
race in the world, is wholly closed to Chris