Chapter 3

And as he lay there sorrowing, Up came the felon crew. They flailed him with their dead bodies They heeded not his rue.

They flailed him with their dead bodies, They heeded not their spleen. "_I wotted not! I wotted not! Dear Master, take me in_!"

And then ... a Vision and a Voice,-- And the Word made manifest,-- "_Lay down thy load where I abode, And I will give thee rest_!

"_And ye,--no more hunt Iscariot! He repents him of his sin. And never a soul that repenteth But he may enter in_.

"_This Day the Door is opened That shall never close again, And never a soul that would come in Shall seek to come in vain_."

And the dead soul of Iscariot Was born again that night; For the Lord Christ came dead souls to claim And lead them into Light.

And the souls of the unburied, When they looked upon His face, Were cleansed of sin and entered in To His redeeming grace.

So, by that wonderful great Love Which highest heaven extols,-- To Mother Earth their dead bodies, And unto Christ their souls.

PROFIT AND LOSS

Profit?--Loss? Who shall declare this good--that ill?-- When good and ill so intertwine But to fulfil the vast design Of an Omniscient Will?-- When seeming gain but turns to loss,-- When earthly treasure proves but dross,-- And what seemed loss but turns again To high, eternal gain?

Wisest the man who does his best, And leaves the rest To Him who counts not deeds alone, But sees the root, the flower, the fruit, And calls them one.

FREE MEN OF GOD

Free men of God, the New Day breaks In golden gleams across the sky; The darkness of the night is past, This is the Day of Victory. For this our fathers strove, In stern and fiery love-- That men to come should be Born into liberty-- That all should be--as we are--Free!

Free men of God, gird up your loins, And brace you for the final fight! Strike home, strike home for Truth and Right! --Yet bear yourselves as in His sight! For this our fathers fought, This with their lives they bought-- That you and I should be Heirs of their liberty-- That all should be--as we are--Free!

Free men we are and so will be; We claim free access unto Him, Who widened all the bounds of life, And us from bondage did redeem. Let no man intervene, Or draw a vail between Us and our God, for He Would have His people free,-- And we would be--as Thou art--Free.

Free men of God, your Birthright claim! Our fathers won it with a price. They paid in full to axe and flame, Nor counted up the sacrifice. This is our heritage, And here we do engage, Each man unto his son Intact to pass it on. So shall they be--as we are--Free!

Our Sure Defence, in times of stress, Thy gates stand open, wide and free, When men provoke and wrongs oppress, We seek Thy wider liberty. With loftier mind and heart, Let each man bear his part! So--to the final fight, And God defend the right! We shall, we must, we will be--Free!

TREASURE-TROVE

Lord Christ, let me but hold Thy hand And all the rest may go. For nothing is, but only seems, And life is full of idle dreams, Until Thyself we know.

The whole wide world is nought beside The wonder of Thy love. And though my state be mean and strait, Give me but heart to work and wait, And I have Treasure-Trove.

THE GATE

"A little child shall lead them."

I trod an arduous way, but came at last To where the city walls rose fair and white Above the darkening plain,--a goodly sight. And eagerly, while yet a great way off, My eyes did seek the Gates--the Great White Gates That close not ever, day or night, but stand Wide as the love of Christ that opened them. But nought could I discern of gate or breach, The wall stood flawless far as eye could reach.

"But when I drew in closer to the wall, I saw a lowly portal, strait and small; So small, a man might hardly enter there, Low-browed and shadowed, and close-pressed to earth-- A very needle's eye--scarce visible. I looked and wondered. Could this trivial way Be the sole entrance to the light of day? And as I stood perplext, a clear voice cried,-- _Come! Enter in! The Gate is open wide_."

And while I stood in doubt, there came along One of earth's mighty ones--a conqueror Of Kings. He looked for gates that should swing wide To meet his high estate and welcome him. He stood and gazed, then raised his voice and cried, "My work on earth is done. I would within," And from the City wall the voice replied,-- "_Come! Enter in! The Gate is open wide_." He stood perplext, then set himself to wait, Till Might should help him to discern the Gate.

Another came,--a man of mind so rare, He scarce had breathed the common earthly air. Knowledge was his, and wisdom so profound, All things he knew in heaven and earth. No bound To his accomplishment, until he sought The great wide-opened Gate,--and found it not. He stood perplext, and then cried wearily, "Pray give me entrance. I am done with earth." And from the City wall the clear voice cried,-- "_Come! Enter in! The Gate is open wide_." He looked in vain, then set himself to wait, Till Wisdom should direct him to the gate.

I saw a woman come, noble and fair, And pure of heart, and in her goodly deeds More richly robed than Fashion's fairest queen. And to myself I said,--"Surely for her A way will open that she may go in!" She said no word, but stood and looked upon The shining walls, with eyes that answering shone. And from the City wall the clear voice cried,-- "_Come! Enter in! The Gate is open wide_." She looked in vain, then set herself to wait, Till Love should help her to discern the Gate.

And one there came, with clear keen face--a Judge Of men on earth, and famed for fearless truth. His robes were stainless and his heart was clean. "Entrance I crave," he cried, "to well-earned rest,-- And mercy-tempered justice and no more." And from the City wall the clear voice cried,-- "_Come! Enter in! The Gate is open wide_." He looked in vain, then set himself to wait Till Judgment should direct him to the Gate.

And one there came, sad-eyed, his brow still raw From pressure of an earthly crown. He too Sought glorious entrance through wide-opened gates, And stood perplext. He had borne well his part, And served his people and his God, and died The Martyr's death, and yet he found no gate. "I fain would rest," he cried. "My life has been One ceaseless striving. I would enter in." And from the City wall the clear voice cried,-- "_Come! Enter in! The Gate is open wide_." Perplext he stood, then set himself to wait, Till Patient Waiting should discern the Gate.

And one who had had riches beyond most, And yet subserved them to his Master's good, Came searching for the heavenly gates, and stood Amazed to find no opening in the walls. "I gave of all I had," he cried, "and held Nought as my own,--yet entrance is denied." And from the City wall the clear voice cried,-- "_Come! Enter in! The Gate is open wide_." He stood perplext, then set himself to wait Till Charity should point him to the Gate.

And many more there were who entrance craved, And sought the Great White Gates, and stood perplext. And ever, from within, the clear voice cried,-- "_Come! Enter in! The Gate is open wide_." They sought in vain, and set themselves to wait Till Light was given them to discern the Gate.

And then--a child in white came carolling Along the arduous road we all had trod. He stopped and looked, then laughed with childish glee,-- "_Why wait ye here without? Come, follow me_!"-- And passed, scarce bending, through the lowly door,-- We heard his singing,--him we saw no more.

The woman stooped and looked, with eyes that shone, Into the doorway where the child had gone; Then loosed her robes and dropped, and in a shift Of pure white samite, on her hands and knees She crept into the doorway and was gone, And we stood gazing at the way she went.

And, one by one, they followed. First the Judge Laid by his robes, and bowed him to the ground, And followed--where the little child had led. And he whose brow had borne that weighty crown Bent low and followed,--where the little child had led. And he who knew so much of earthly things Discarded them, and, on his hands and knees, Crept through the doorway,--where the little child had led. And he of riches laid him in the dust And followed,--where the little child had led. And, last of all, the War Lord cast aside His victor's wreaths, and all his pomp and pride, And followed,--where the little child had led. And, groping through my fears, I bowed my head And followed,--where the little child had led.

BRING US THE LIGHT

I hear a clear voice calling, calling, Calling out of the night, O, you who live in the Light of Life, Bring us the Light!

We are bound in the chains of darkness, Our eyes received no sight, O, you who have never been bond or blind, Bring us the Light!

We live amid turmoil and horror, Where might is the only right, O, you to whom life is liberty, Bring us the Light!

We stand in the ashes of ruins, We are ready to fight the fight, O, you whose feet are firm on the Rock, Bring us the Light!

You cannot--you shall not forget us, Out here in the darkest night, We are drowning men, we are dying men, Bring, O, bring us the Light!

ALL'S WELL!

Is the pathway dark and dreary? God's in His heaven! Are you broken, heart-sick, weary? God's in His heaven! Dreariest roads shall have an ending, Broken hearts are for God's mending. All's well! All's well! All's ... well!

Are life's threads all sorely tangled? God's in His heaven! Are the sweet chords strained and jangled? God's in His heaven! Tangled threads are for Love's fingers, Trembling chords make heaven's sweet singers. All's well! All's well! All's ... well!

Is the burden past your bearing? God's in His heaven! Hopeless?--Friendless?--No one caring? God's in His heaven! Burdens shared are light to carry, Love shall come though long He tarry. All's well! All's well! All's ... well!

Is the light for ever failing? God's in His heaven! Is the faint heart ever quailing? God's in His heaven! God's strong arms are all around you, In the dark He sought and found you. All's well! All's well! All's ... well!

Is the future black with sorrow? God's in His heaven! Do you dread each dark to-morrow? God's in His heaven! Nought can come without His knowing. Come what may 'tis His bestowing. All's well! All's well! All's ... well!

Peace and heaven lie all about us. God's in His heaven! Peace within makes heaven without us. God's in His heaven! God's great love shall fail us never, We are His, and His for ever. All's well! All's well! All's ... well!

HIS MERCY ENDURETH FOR EVER

Our feet have wandered, wandered far and wide,-- _His mercy endureth for ever_! From that strait path in which the Master died,-- _His mercy endureth for ever_! Low have we fallen from our high estate, Long have we lingered, lingered long and late; _But the tenderness of God Is from age to age the same, And His Mercy endureth for ever_!

There is no sin His Love can not forgive;-- _His mercy endureth for ever_! No soul so stained His Love will not receive; _His mercy endureth for ever_! No load of sorrow but His touch can move, No hedge of thorns that can withstand His Love; _For the tenderness of God Is from age to age the same, And His Mercy endureth for ever_!

So we will sing, whatever may betide;-- _His mercy endureth for ever_! Nought but ourselves can keep us from His side;-- _His mercy endureth for ever_! What though no place we win in life's rough race, Our loss may prove the measure of His grace. _For the tenderness of God Is from age to age the same, And His Mercy endureth for ever_!

GOD IS GOOD

I faced a future all unknown, No opening could I see, I heard without the night wind moan, The ways were dark to me,-- "I cannot face it all alone O be Thou near to me!"

I had done sums, and sums, and sums, Inside my aching head. I'd tried in vain to pierce the glooms That lay so thick ahead. But two and two will not make five, Nor will do when I'm dead.

And then I thought of Him who fed Five thousand hungry men, With five small casual loaves of bread,-- Would he were here again!-- Dear God! hast Thou still miracles For the troubled sons of men?

He has, He will, He worketh still, In ways most wonderful. He drew me from the miry clay, He filled my cup quite full. And while my heart can speak I'll tell His love unspeakable.

"Rest in the Lord!"--I saw it there, On the tablets of the night. And, comforted, I dropped my care Where burdens have no weight. Then, trustfully, I turned and slept, And woke, and it was light.

God works to-day as He did of old For the lightening of men's woes. His wonders never can be told, His goodness no man knows,-- His Love, His Power, His Tenderness,-- Nor shall do till life's close.

His kindness is so very great, His greatness is so good. He looks upon my low estate, He gives me daily food. And nothing is too small for Him,-- Yes, truly! God is good.

SOME--AND SOME

Some have much, and some have more, Some are rich, and some are poor, Some have little, some have less, Some have not a cent to bless Their empty pockets, yet possess True riches in true happiness.

THE PRINCE OF LIFE

O, Prince of Life, Thy Life hath tuned All life to sweeter, loftier grace! Life's common rounds have wider bounds Since Thou hast trod life's common ways.

O, Heart of Love! Thy Tenderness Still runs through life's remotest vein; And lust and greed and soulless creed Shall never rule the world again.

O Life of Love!--The Good Intent Of God to man made evident,-- All down the years, despite men's fears, Thy Power is still omnipotent.

O Life! O Love! O Living Word!-- Rent Vail, revealing God to man,-- Help, Lord! Lest I should crucify, By thought or deed, Thy Love again.

JUDGMENT DAY

Every day is Judgment Day, Count on no to-morrow. He who will not, when he may, Act to-day, to-day, to-day, Doth but borrow Sorrow.

DARKNESS AND LIGHT

There is darkness still, gross darkness, Lord, On this fair earth of Thine. There are prisoners still in the prison-house, Where never a light doth shine. There are doors still bolted against Thee, There are faces set like a wall; And over them all the Shadow of Death Hangs like a pall. _Do you hear the voices calling, Out there in the black of the night? Do you hear the sobs of the women, Who are barred from the blessed light? And the children,--the little children,-- Do you hear their pitiful cry? O brothers, we must seek them, Or there in the dark they die_!

Spread the Light! Spread the Light! Till earth's remotest bounds have heard The glory of the Living Word; Till those that see not have their sight; Till all the fringes of the night Are lifted, and the long-closed doors Are wide for ever to the Light. Spread--the--Light! _O then shall dawn the golden days, To which true hearts are pressing; When earth's discordant strains shall blend-- The one true God confessing; When Christly thought and Christly deed Shall bind each heart and nation, In one Grand Brotherhood of Men, And one high consecration_.

INDIA

A land of lights and shadows intervolved, A land of blazing sun and blackest night, A fortress armed, and guarded jealously, With every portal barred against the Light.

A land in thrall to ancient mystic faiths, A land of iron creeds and gruesome deeds, A land of superstitions vast and grim, And all the noisome growths that Darkness breeds.

Like sunny waves upon an iron-bound coast, The Light beats up against the close-barred doors, And seeks vain entrance, yet beats on and on, In hopeful faith which all defeat ignores.

But--time shall come, when, like a swelling tide, The Word shall leap the barriers, and The Light Shall sweep the land; and Faith and Love and Hope Shall win for Christ this stronghold of the night.

LIVINGSTONE

To lift the sombre fringes of the Night, To open lands long darkened to the Light, To heal grim wounds, to give the blind new sight, Right mightily wrought he. Forth to the fight he fared, High things and great he dared, He thought of all men but himself, Himself he never spared. He greatly loved-- He greatly lived-- And died right mightily.

Like Him he served, he walked life's troublous ways, With heart undaunted, and with calm, high face, And gemmed each day with deeds of sweetest grace; Pull lovingly wrought he. Forth to the fight he fared, High things and great he dared, In His Master's might, to spread the Light, Right lovingly wrought he. He greatly loved-- He greatly lived-- And died right mightily.

Like him he served, he would not turn aside; Nor home nor friends could his true heart divide; He served his Master, and naught else beside, Right faithfully wrought he. Forth to the fight he fared, High things and great he dared, In His Master's might, to spread the Light, Right faithfully wrought he. He greatly loved-- He greatly lived-- And died right mightily.

He passed like light across the darkened land, And dying, left behind him this command, "The door is open! So let it ever stand!" Full mightily wrought he. Forth to the fight he fared, High things and great he dared, In His Master's might, to spread the Light, Right mightily wrought he. He greatly loved-- He greatly lived-- And died right mightily.

LIVINGSTONE THE BUILDER

_With a will! With a will! With a will and surely! Without fail, Drive each nail, Build we so, securely_!

The Pioneer,--the Undaunted One, Worn with long journeyings through the Great Dark Land, Rests for a season from his mighty labours, And seeks fresh vigour in a change of toil.

_Labour is sweet, When hands and hearts are willing,-- Who truly works Is God's own law fulfilling_.

With his own hands he helps to build a temple, Here, in the wilds, a temple to his God, Rough-hewn and roughly thatched, but still a house Of prayer, a holy place, and consecrate To Him whose noblest temples are not built With hands, but in the opened hearts of men.

_The Master worked, With His own hands expressing His sure belief That therein lay God's blessing_.

Thus, as he toils, with axe, and nail, and hammer, His heart rejoices,--so the Master worked, And by His lowly toil for ever stamped True labour with its highest dignity.

_With a will! With a will! With a will and surely! Without fail, Drive each nail, Build we so, securely_!

LIVINGSTONE'S SOLILOQUY

"My heart to-day Is strangely full of home! How is it With the dear ones over there? Five years! Five long-drawn years! And one short moment is enough To alter life's complexion for eternity! Home! Home! Home!

* * * * *

How is it with you all At Home?

* * * * *

And you, my dearest one, Are ever nearer to me than the rest! Your body lies Beneath the baobab In far Shapanga; But your soul is ever nearest When I need you most. Where a man's treasure is His heart is. And half my heart is buried there with you, And half works on for Africa. Home! Home! Home!

* * * * *

Why should such thought of home Drag at my heart to-day? Why should I longer roam? Why should I not go home? Five years of toilsome wanderings May claim a rest!

* * * * *

Nay! God knows best! When He sees well He'll take me home and give me well-earned rest. The work is not yet done. This land of Night Is not yet fully opened to the Son And His fair Light. But--when the work is done-- Ah--then!--how gladly will I go-- Home!--Home--Home!-- To rest!"

KAPIOLANI

Where the great green combers break in thunder on the barrier reefs,-- Where, unceasing, sounds the mighty diapason of the deep,-- Ringed in bursts of wild wave-laughter, ringed in leagues of flying foam,-- Long lagoons of softest azure, curving beaches white as snow, Lap in sweetness and in beauty all the isles of Owhyhee.

Land more lovely sun ne'er shone on than these isles of Owhyhee, Spendthrift Nature's wild profusion fashioned them like fairy bowers; Yet behind--below the sweetness,--underneath the passion-flowers, Lurked grim deeds, and things of horror, grisly Deaths, and ceaseless Fears, Fears and Deaths that walked in Darkness, grisly Deaths and ceaseless Fears.

NOTE.--Kapiolani--pronounced Kah-pee-o-lah-ny, with slight accent on second syllable.

Mauna Loa--Mona Lo-ah.

Kilauea--Kil-o-ee-ah.

Hale-Mau-Mau--Ha-lee-Mah-oo-Mah-oo.

On the slope of Mauna Loa, in the pit of Kilauea, In the lake of molten lava, in the sea of living fire, In the place of Ceaseless Burnings, in her home of Wrath and Terror, Dwelt the dreadful goddess Pele--Pele of the Lake of Fire; Pele of the place of torment, Pele of the Lake of Fire.

In the dim far-off beginnings, Pele flung the islands up From the bottom of the ocean, from the darksome underworld; Built them for a house to dwell in, built them for herself alone, So she claimed them and their people, claimed them as her very own, And they feared her, and they worshipped-- Pele, the Remorseless One.

But, at times, when she lay sleeping, underneath the lake of fire, They forgot to do her reverence, they forgot the fiery one; Then in wrath the goddess thundered from the Lake of Ceaseless Burnings, Flamed and thundered in her anger, till the very skies were red, Poured black ruin on the island, shook it to its rocky bed.

Then in fear the people trembled and bethought them of their sins, And the great high priest of Pele came like Death down Mauna Loa, Came to soothe the awful goddess, came to choose the sacrifice, Chose the fairest youth or maiden, pointed with a deadly finger, Led them weeping up the mountain, victims to the Lake of Fire.

On the snowy beach of coral, youths and maidens full of laughter, Flower-bedecked and full of laughter, sported gaily in the sun; Up above, the slender palm-trees swung and shivered in the trade-wind, All around them flowers and spices,--red hibiscus, sweet pandanus, And behind, the labouring mountain groaned and growled unceasingly.

"_Sea and sunshine, Care is moonshine, All our hearts are light with laughter. We are free As sun and sea, What care we for what comes after?"

Bride.

"Life was sweet before Love found her, In his faery bowers. Life is sweeter, And completer, Since he found her, There, and crowned her With his fadeless flowers."

Bridegroom. "Love sought long before he found her, Ne'er was love like ours! Long he sought her, E'er he caught her. But he found her There, and bound her With his fadeless flowers."

"Gaily sporting, Pleasure courting, Nought know we of care or sorrow. We are free As sun and sea, What care we what comes to-morrow_?"

Louder still and louder, Pele roars within her lake of fire, And the youths and maidens trembling look in fear up Mauna Loa, Dreading sight of that grim figure stalking down the mountain side; For when Pele claims her victims none the summons may avoid. Pele calls for whom she chooses--whom she chooses goes,--and dies.