Robin Hood :: :: University of Virginia Library

On this day's purpose, Lord!
Send down thy blessing;
Hear thou the suppliant hearts
Thy throne addressing:—
Let thy light shine on this appointed place;
And perfect our imperfect work, thro' grace.

Full well, O Lord! we know,
That temples made with hands
Thou needest not, whose power
Creation spans;
Yet dwellest oft in shrines—not molten gold—
But some poor humble heart of human mould.

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But thou hast pledged thy word,
Where two or three
Are gathered in thy name,
Thyself will be.
Thus we behold, by Faith's far-stretching eye,
Thy presence in the future Sanctuary.

Therefore we lay this stone,
And humbly pray—
Be with us, Lord! and bless
Our act this day.
Be with their hearts and counsels who direct,
And with the builder's hand, Almighty Architect!

But chiefly be with those
Shall hither come,
When, consecrated, stands
The finished dome.
On all, O Father! let thy Spirit rest—
People and Priest—on all—in every breast.

179

On this day's purpose, Lord!
Send down thy blessing:
Hear thou the suppliant hearts
Thy throne addressing:—
Let thy light shine on this appointed place;
And perfect our imperfect work, thro' grace.