The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-25

The singers.
Hear the singers singing to the listning earth
their songs
Ere the morning bushes that shall gladden.
into day!
''Hallelujah hallelujah.' shout the tuneful
throngs
Loves Messiah sleepeth in the manger on the
hay,
While His star above is glowing
And to Him are wise men going:
Hallelujah, hallelujah. Christ. the Lord, is born
to-day"
Hear the sacred singers in their rapture and
delight
peace to earth from heaven descendeth with
the child that's born.
HalIelujah! love exceedeth now the warriors
And good will to men extendeth with the rising
morn:
Hallelujah! loud we sing it,
Men and seraphs join to wing 1t
To the worlds remotest nations. Hallelujah!
Christ is born"
Hear the swift impatient singers! brooking no
delay,
They proclaim love all triumphant ancient
wrong,
Crying. BEAT your swords to plowshares love
is lord to-day
Bend your spears to sickles now and join the
harvest song!
Hallelujah! Peace forever,
Light and gladness fading never.
For the meek the earth inherit and are, more
than giants, strong.''
Over batuehelds and prisons still the measures
roll,
Swelling ever down the ages. as they come
and go:
'Halelujah. Christ is with us and the race
is whole;
Whole in loves embrace supernal,
Whole in peace and joy eternal;
Man shall be to man united, heart to heart and
soul to SOUL
Trust the singers, my brothers! though the
way is long;
For the centuries are but measured school-days
of the race,
And though blood still flows as water and oppres-
sions throng,
Still the world of man moves forward to serener
grace:
Man shall be to true neighbor.
Honor shall join hands with labor,
Peace shall reign at last, through justice lock-
ing ell in loves embrace.
Hear the rapt, prophetic singers, there by
Bethlehem,
Singing to the tribes and nations, Christ, the
Lord, is born
Bring Him gifts of myrrh and incense. gold and
precious GEM
Not the vinegar and hyssop, not the bloody
thorn:
Bring to Him loves coronation,
Praise Him, every tribe and nation;
Hallelujah hallelujah! Christ, the Lord, is
born
New Castle, Ind. Ben S. Parker.
When Mary Went to Bethlehem.
wondrous maid of Galilee
Again across our vision sweeps
That far December dawn, when she
Came slowly down the terraced sleeps
OF Nazareth. The wind blew chilli
No lily nodded on its stem;
No bird heard any HILL
When Mary went to Bethlehem.
Against the gale her long gold hair
Streamed radiantly, she rode
Along the winding valley, where
The wintry waves of Jordan flowed;
While humby at her side there strobe
An heir to David's diadem,
Whose kindly face with honor glowed,
When Mary went to Bethlehem.
And ever as they Jared, the twain
With accomplishing patience bore
The cruel taunt and cold disdain
The naughty visit on the poor;
Nor any warm, fraternal hand
OF sympathy reached to them;
They passed, in silence, through the land
When Mary went to Bethlehem.
o wondrous maid of Galilee!
The vision fades and in the sky
A star burns, marvellous to see,
Above the circling hills thereby;
And bark! the drowsy herdsrnen. wake
To hear loves noblest apothegm,-
"Peace and goodwill" the angels spake,
When Mary went to Bethlehem.
The dream dissolves-another scene
With nober hope the world inspires
On Judah's plains the Nazarene
Is building loves diviner fires;
A fuller spendor fills the earth,
Whose light out-lusters every gem,
Since shepherds hailed the lowly BIRTH
When Mary went to Bethlehem.
Mason, Ill. James Newton Matthews
Alfred DOmett's "Christmas Hymn
1t was the calm and solemn night
Seven hundred years and ffty-three
Had Rome been growing up to might
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