Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-12-23
REMARKABLE POEM.
Written by Miss Alice J. Whittier, q
Missionary in Western China.

The following remarkable poem was
written by Miss Alice ]. Whittier, a
missionary located in Western China,
after visit to Gin Din. the Golden
Summit Of Mount Omei. Omei is sit
uated in the province of Szechuen,
and is regarded by the Chinese as
sacred. Miss Whittier says of it,
Every spring and early summer y
constant stream of biue-elad folks
wend their way up what is known as
The Pilgrim Path 10 Gin Din, the
Golden Summit of Omei. Each one
carries little yellow bag of sandal
wood and II staff in hand, or perhaps
a basket on the back full of incense
sticks and paper prayers.
AT each of the tepples-and there
are 200 of them.they climb the steps
hewiHg 10 each idol in turn. These
may be Of gilt and bright paint and
fifteen feet tall. or a stone dog or q
. Tiger. half finished of clay and pro-
truding straw. or perhaps sacred
tree. Each gets its bow Just the
same. and perhaps an incense stick
or some sandawood Is burned, and
80 on and on, till the top is reached
that they cali the Gin Din or Golden
Summit Here important questions
are settled by casting lots; the pray
ers' are burned and the pilgrim hur-
ries down again. as blind as a bat to
all the real wonder and glory of the
journey.
but sometimes they do not go
down, nut leap from the throwing
away the body rock. hoping to be d.
reetly absorbed into 'Buddha's glory.
which they think they see when the
clouds are below and the sun is just
right and throws the spectators own
shadow down on the clouds, where 1t
appears with halo round it's head.
| Sometimes the halo is double or even
| triple. and almost as bright as n
rainbow."-Editor Christian Herald.
The Pilgrim Path.
| Up the rock-set. age-old pathway, deep
| worn by the weight of pain,
In the cool, sweet beauty of morning,
bathed of a summer rain,
| Surging onward blindly. moon-drawn, far
out from beyond our ken.
A tide is ebbing and flowing of the lonely
souls of men.
| o restless tide of human hearts,.
sweeping on forever
Seeking for truth in emptiness, find.
/ 'c @NAANSS hNfN''
II.
Glory of foam-fiecked river dashed into
| crystal spray,
Grandeur of mountain and forest, will
young birds roundelay;
Glory OF sun and shadow or OF white
| wreathed, sudden rain
| Down cleaning leaf and mighty cliff
i to the misty, dreaming plain.
| o shining flood from Gods own heart
| flowing down foreveri
| Seeking to feed thy Chil0reu'S need
finding answer never!
Rugged and steep. winds the pathway
| and the crowding mass tolls on
With paper prayers and incense stick
till faith and hope are gone:
Bowing to beast or demon of clay darl
/ with the dust of time,
To human gods of ancient dreams in thu
temples gloom and CRIME.
| o need of body and spirit, seeking
yearning ever
| Cropping for gods in hazy dreams
finding fulness never,
l oh. we of fair, brighter days than dawi
on Omeis Mountain
| We of a straiter, sleeper way, washed
| by costler fountain
| Find we God in the pilgrim path? !
Christ our very brother2
Do we see his smile in cliff and flower
| x,r do we look for another?
| The love of God the face of Chris
shining on forever!
| o JOY and might of sacrifice, failing
| fading never.
VI
Or do we yet. with. the moon-drawl
throng grope in the fog of dreams?
The tiger-crouch by the beast of sell
or chase fantastic CLEANS
OF man. ods--Pride and Ease and Fam
the demons of cringing fear
I Giving to God an incense stick, pape
prayer--or a tear II
| 0 temple bells by pilgrims pain
clang We on forever?
@ droning priests by Form's crud
/ shrine, cease we droning never
VI.
Yes they will cease when that lonel'
heart next us is our very nelghbor
1 When sacrifice is Joined with JOY an
/ love is more than labor
| When God Is near in the humble Chris
and He in each crippled brother,
We shall reach the Golden Summit