The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1908-04-16

rNr~r'NN ~ ~~AAN ANAp AAAcAhuuhs
Tho REV. "A. J. fIough, pastor Of Trim
Iity church IN Montpelier who ii know
NJ the poet laureate oil the Vermont con
4 ference and who has held similar posi-
\ lion In Tho Odd Fellows organization
read before the conference Ill this dit,
this afternoon the following origina
poems
veteransl
Veterans that's name Of honor
Borne BY men who wrought and laugh
That their fellows might be lifted
| TO high planes Of lie and thought
Not that age has lowered n pulsebeat,
Dimmed one radiant ideal,
Clouded any goal before them,
Or toned down their ardent zeal;
But the years Of service rendered
In the Masters holy cause.
Gives them right to relaxation
/ And the blessing OF pause,
Looking backward, forward. standing
On the heights serene and fair
Won by lifelong aspiration
And the upward lift OF prayer,
While the memories sweet and tender
From the far-of years arise,
Filling with unclouded splendor
All Their sweep of evening skies.
How they sweetened noisome places,
Succored souls when tempest -tost;
How they ligbtened Swallowed faces,
soothed the sorrowing, saved the lost
They are men who laid foundations,
Gardens out Of deserts made.
Spoke the truth without eyasions.
Opened Heaven as they prayed.
When the worlds long list Of honor
Angel hands at last unroll,
Then these ministers 81 Jesus
VIII stand highest on the scrolli
Reading o'cf the wondrous story
pr the triumphs Of the cross,
/ Tell us, veterans, has the glory
OF the Gospel suffered loss
Has something tender, gracious,
Heavenly unctiun, warmth and glow,
VANISHED from the modern pulpit
That YOU veterans used to know
Should we ever raise up preachers
Weak In heart and head and knee.
Who arc not quite sure that Jesus
Ever lived in Gaiilee,
That lie died for mans salvation.
Rose again in glorious power
To the right hand OF the Father,
And il there this very hour,
That His words the mightiest factor
IN this busy worlds affairs,
That He fills the Heaven OF Heavens
With the perfume Of His prayers.
So that one bold blatant skeptic
Rllts a million souls to rott
That are fed on don't know crackers
And the skim-milk Of Doubt
IL that sorrow ever strikes rs,
Come back, veterans; once again
In the pulpits Of the conference
Strike the old. majestic strain
Heard before the reign OF ritual
And the cottOn-vested choir,
And restore our lost evangel
OF the Holy Ghost and fire.
Certain is il soldiers never
VIII glorious battle win
Riding little hobby horses,
Blowing trumpets made Of tin.
Drawing wooden swords for conflict
Nor single wrong lay low
Firing ynleys al blank cartridge
AT the columns at the foes
Did YOU preach beloved veterans.
ln those glorious days Of old,
On the Worth Oh NiYisection, The
Evolution ot CioldHs
How the morning stars together
Their imprisoned ch0rals sang
knowing man WAS coming later
Ont I'll thr orang-outang
When your noeks On Sabbath mornings
Waited for the living bread,
Did Won throw them chunks of Darwin,
On d book review instead
AIT The hour of evening service
Did your people stand and quote
Little nothing bits of veTbiage
Learned, as parrots learn. BY roteg
Could YOU cage the alteration
OF soul made clean and fair
BY the precious blood Of Jesus,
In q little sentence prsverg
Or did men and women, thrilling
With the JOY oil newfoHnd love,
Speaking. shake the Amen corner
Praying, open Heaven above
When they sang, was it some ditty,
Jingle. Jungle, Iangie Jing!
Or some grand, majestic measure
Like the happy angels sing
Veterans, ere You leave Us. swinging
In bright ehariots through the air
Give us bacl, the old time singing,
Give us back the power Of prayer.
Give us, ere you 20, the secret
OF that preaching art Of yours,
Which sent home the gospel message, |
Saving sinners By the scores
II the church regains her prestige
In W fight with Sin It's plain
She must buglecail her veterans
10 the iring-line again
For it DER the pulpit stsirways
Which these mighty men have trod,
~ some little glib-tongncd takers
TO apologize for God,
inspirations pages.
Questioning mans fearful fall
And the very Rock ri Ages
Isn't any rock at all,
Then. the multitndes 10 weary,
Huneering for the Gospel news,
offered only blank negatious,
VIII be starved out from the pcws.
ralk az empty churches, drifting,
WHY. flock Of sheep will 60
over fences To the neighbors
When their feed is running low
J. beloved. YOU have spoken
Words that To the people Showed
When the heavenly bread was broken,
Where the living waters flowed,
low soul by sin defeated
Could find mercy's open door,
lear the Masters words repeated
eco thy way. and sin no more!
These the men that went forth weeping
Sowed the fields with precious grain
1or the harvests we are Teaping-
Shall we sec their like again