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42
Hymn,
Sung At The Dedication of The New Stone Church of The North Society In Salem June 22d, 1836.
The weight of years is on the pile
Our fathers raised to Thee, O God;
On this, our temple, rest thy smile,
Till bent with days its tower shall nod.
Our fathers raised to Thee, O God;
On this, our temple, rest thy smile,
Till bent with days its tower shall nod.
Thy word awoke, O Power Divine!
The hymn of praise in nature's hall;
To man Thou gavst to rear thy shrine,
And on Thee as his Father call:—
The hymn of praise in nature's hall;
To man Thou gavst to rear thy shrine,
And on Thee as his Father call:—
To pour in music's solemn strain
The heart's deep tide of grateful love;
And kindle in thine earthly fane
A spirit for his home above.
The heart's deep tide of grateful love;
And kindle in thine earthly fane
A spirit for his home above.
Thou bad'st him on thine altar lay
The holy thought, the pure desire;
That light within a brighter ray
Than sunbeam's glance, or vestal fire.
The holy thought, the pure desire;
That light within a brighter ray
Than sunbeam's glance, or vestal fire.
'Twill burn when heaven's high altar flame
On yon blue height, has ceased to glow;
And o'er earth's dark dissolving frame
The sun-light of the spirit throw.
On yon blue height, has ceased to glow;
And o'er earth's dark dissolving frame
The sun-light of the spirit throw.
Father! within thy courts we bow,
To ask thy blessing, seek thy grace;
O smile upon thy children now!
Look down on this, thy hallowed place!
To ask thy blessing, seek thy grace;
O smile upon thy children now!
Look down on this, thy hallowed place!
And when its trembling walls shall feel
Time's heavy hand upon them rest;
Thy nearer presence, Lord! reveal,
And make thy children wholly blest.
Time's heavy hand upon them rest;
Thy nearer presence, Lord! reveal,
And make thy children wholly blest.
Poem No. 592; c. 22 June 1836
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