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8
PREAMBLE—
Sweet innocence of childhood is now on the decay,Refined women's modesty has wandered far away.
The home is no longer a sacred retreat,
For the head and the heart have gone to the feet.
The church has forsaken the “thou shalt not's,”
But says, “Such is life.” If not, why not?
Society is rotten from surface to core,
To speak of reforming brings a shouting uproar.
Our national Congress has gone to the dogs.
No statesmen, no jurists—all political frauds.
No men of conviction, no men who delight
In asking their conscience what is right,
And then with a purpose, firm and strong,
To follow that conscience against all wrong.
Our nation is crumbling right over the brink
That caused Rome's downfall to a bottomless sink.
Now who will be here to write such a history?
Ah! my dear comrades, that is the mystery.
Agnostics say bring the Bible down to the people
Instead of lifting the race to the Bible's high steeple.
Let me drop you this candid thought in a plain and positive tone:
Let's elevate the masses; better let that Bible alone.
O God! give us a little faith, and into this darkness
That's growing darker every day, Oh! send a ray of rest.
All hopes deal with the future, Lord, we hope for a better day;
As we drift down with the tide, guide us the right way.
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