Connecticut western news., 1917-04-12
WAVE, FLAG OF FREEDOM, WAvEf Patriotic Poem by Presiding Bishop
 of New York Confereuce

The New 10rK Tribune or Aprll $.
 A copy of the poem, attractively printed, was presented 10 each member of the New York Conference over which Bishop Wilson was presiding. Rev. l.. E. Travis exhibited his copy to his congregation Sunday and we have his permission to publish the same. Wave. flag of freedom, wave While ala
 the winds that blow Rude winds that ride the furiour
 pillows, CT gentle winds that come From lovemaking with orchards bloB-
 soming and gardens beautiful-whiIe.
 all the winds Tell to thee that weary men are pray
 ing and heartsick women, That homeless folk long piteously for
 home; Or whiie the winds come freighted With the whispered hopes of those Who trembling under the cruel hand of
 unsated power yet dare to hope So long as weary hearts shall turn Co
 thee with yearning, and thou shalt
 send to them Thy cheer, thy gospel of the equak
 chance, the pledge of chiyalrous power To weakness everywhere-so long as- thou shalt claim The redeemer's part in the sublime sd
 venture of succoring The needy Wave, flag of freedom, waver But if the day shall come when with
 conscienceless wealth or sulleH
 poverty or braggart might ... Or cringing cowardice, we should for
 get the good old days, Or bodies satisfied should outlive the
 souls unselfish passion Or strength should reckon as its compel
 ling task the guardianship Of self, or on land the fainting shoul&
 cry unheard, Or on sea the sinking should stretofz.
 forth pitiful hand unseen Or if the winds which bring appeal
 should watt and wait And then go back to say. There is no
 fiutter of it's folds, It does not see, it does not hear. We
 searched But could not feel one heart. throh
 Or if the winds that bring The cry from any land should carry
 back the message "Yes, the fiuttering of the folds de.
 clared the old flag heard, but stilA
 there was No bending of the staff, no tuggiug az
 the halyards, as though it strugHheG
 to bring answer Should there come an hour when tbss
 face of Washington would sadly turn.
 away, Or Lincoln's great heart break again
 if anguish such as that can come kcr
 the immortals- If ever there should come day when
 crimson stood for shame and not tex.
 sacrifice, When white betokened pallid indeoisionl
 rather than radiant righteousness Or blue seemed more the sign of feas
 than truth, Or if the stars upon the field so far for
 got the burden of Key's ancient song. So lost the flashing splendor of greaa
 hesrtedness ... That all the blazing stars of heaverS
 among which the immorals dwell Should look upon the stars for which
 the immortals strove, Despising them, counting their very
 presence an offence If such day should come-ah then ahr
 then! But, oh, it must not be. Nor wealth.
 nor poverty Nor pride, nor fear, nor glamour of
 allurement, nor shadow of d!sooup-
 agement, Nor vagarious dream confusing state,
 craft, Nor the delusive cry, "All's welIs
 even as the lookout lights Tumultous breakers with the laggeh
 rocks ahead, Nor the bewildering message of fatse
 prophets, who smile and cannot frown Who never knew the majesty of sinles-~
 wrath, And greet with equal warmth the g,,Iss-
 and true; The prophets who discern no sceysTC
 who ne'er have looked upon the great
 white throne Nor one nor all must blind thee to higk
 destiny Nor rob thee of the glory consummate. the glory of guiding the storm -tossed home, The glory of unmeasured wrath against foul wrong, The glory of uncalculating sacrifice fon all mems good .. Such be thy glory The glory of the pure and true, who
 rather Than live on and on and on, witfz cowardly endurance of dishonor, Or with mere mumbling protest feeble and soon forgot Would hazard all and gladly welcome death, if so must be, With hands unstained would beckor death Would laugh at death with that fiAs scorn which only hearts coursgeosr know.