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The First Telegraphic Message
What hath God wrought? What hath God wrought?
Along the iron wires,
The electric current, swift as thought,
Of this our Age enquires.
Along the iron wires,
The electric current, swift as thought,
Of this our Age enquires.
What marvel in these latter days,
His purpose to fulfil;
Has God, to whom be all the praise,
Wrought with sublimest skill.
His purpose to fulfil;
Has God, to whom be all the praise,
Wrought with sublimest skill.
From land to land, from shore to shore,
He stretches wide the chain;
Which shall in one forevermore
Link all earth's broad domain.
He stretches wide the chain;
Which shall in one forevermore
Link all earth's broad domain.
The wandering Indian of the west
Shall see it stretching on,
To where the setting sun finds rest,
And hear what God hath done.
Shall see it stretching on,
To where the setting sun finds rest,
And hear what God hath done.
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And where again, from ocean's bed,
On eastern lands he shines;
By millions shall the words be read,
Transmitted o'er its lines.
On eastern lands he shines;
By millions shall the words be read,
Transmitted o'er its lines.
The North and South shall hear the word,
O'er all their frozen plains;
And nations with new thought be stirred,
Where Winter ever reigns.
O'er all their frozen plains;
And nations with new thought be stirred,
Where Winter ever reigns.
And each in his own tongue shall hear
The Message it has brought,
And all shall say, with love and fear,
Behold What God Hath Wrought.
The Message it has brought,
And all shall say, with love and fear,
Behold What God Hath Wrought.
Poem No. 772; 24 November 1855
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