 | Poems by Elizabeth Akers (Florence Percy) |  |
129
THE NEW TEMPLE.
How shall we make a house of worth
Fit for the Builder of the earth,—
A temple high and broad,
A dwelling for our God?
Fit for the Builder of the earth,—
A temple high and broad,
A dwelling for our God?
Build the wide windows fair and high,—
Let in the light of sun and sky;
Shut not the Master's face
Out of His dwelling-place.
Let in the light of sun and sky;
Shut not the Master's face
Out of His dwelling-place.
Make room for tender Charity,
And Love's unwearying ministry;
Let Patience mild and meek
Her gentle teachings speak.
And Love's unwearying ministry;
Let Patience mild and meek
Her gentle teachings speak.
Build all the doorway arches wide,
Yet make no room for pompous Pride,—
So Vanity and Sin
Shall never enter in.
Yet make no room for pompous Pride,—
So Vanity and Sin
Shall never enter in.
130
Let not the false similitude
Of marble shame the honest wood;
Let not Hypocrisy
Within our temple be.
Of marble shame the honest wood;
Let not Hypocrisy
Within our temple be.
Let not the breath of worldly gain
Its sacred atmosphere profane;
Let Mammon come not near
The souls which worship here.
Its sacred atmosphere profane;
Let Mammon come not near
The souls which worship here.
Let Bigotry, and Fear, and Doubt
Remain forevermore without;
Let not their shadows fall
Within its holy wall.
Remain forevermore without;
Let not their shadows fall
Within its holy wall.
Lest, when the Christ—as once of yore
He entered at the temple door—
Shall come to see how dim
Our love has grown for him,—
He entered at the temple door—
Shall come to see how dim
Our love has grown for him,—
To see how much of good and grace
We 've gathered to His dwelling-place,
He speak reproofs, as then,
Against the sins of men,
We 've gathered to His dwelling-place,
He speak reproofs, as then,
Against the sins of men,
131
And grieving, ask us, “Is it well
Within my house to buy and sell?
Behold, my eye perceives
Only a den of thieves!”
Within my house to buy and sell?
Behold, my eye perceives
Only a den of thieves!”
No! When, in answer to our prayer,
He comes and walks among us there,
O, may we hear anew,
“My peace I leave with you!
He comes and walks among us there,
O, may we hear anew,
“My peace I leave with you!
“For in this earthly house of mine
I feel my Father's presence shine;
My children here alway
Live even as they pray!”
I feel my Father's presence shine;
My children here alway
Live even as they pray!”
| Poems by Elizabeth Akers (Florence Percy) | |