Sequences, Hymns, and Other Ecclesiastical Verses By the Rev. J. M. Neale |
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Hymn for the Dedication of a Bell.
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 | Sequences, Hymns, and Other Ecclesiastical Verses |  |
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Hymn for the Dedication of a Bell.
Lift it gently to the steeple,
Let our bell be set on high;
There fulfil its daily mission,
Midway 'twixt the earth and sky.
Let our bell be set on high;
There fulfil its daily mission,
Midway 'twixt the earth and sky.
As the birds sing early matins
To the God of Nature's praise,
This its nobler daily music
To the God of Grace shall raise.
To the God of Nature's praise,
This its nobler daily music
To the God of Grace shall raise.
And when evening shadows soften
Chancel-cross, and tower and aisle,
It shall blend its vesper summons
With the day's departing smile.
Chancel-cross, and tower and aisle,
It shall blend its vesper summons
With the day's departing smile.
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Christian men shall hear at distance,
In their toil or in their rest,
Joying that in one communion
Of one Church they too are blest.
In their toil or in their rest,
Joying that in one communion
Of one Church they too are blest.
They that on the sick bed languish,
Full of weariness and woe,
Shall remember that for them too
Holy Church is gathering so.
Full of weariness and woe,
Shall remember that for them too
Holy Church is gathering so.
Year by year the steeple-music
O'er the tended graves shall pour,
Where the dust of Saints is garnered,
Till the Master comes once more:
O'er the tended graves shall pour,
Where the dust of Saints is garnered,
Till the Master comes once more:
Till the day of sheaves in-gathering,
Till the harvest of the earth,
Till the Saints arise in order,
Glorious in their second birth:
Till the harvest of the earth,
Till the Saints arise in order,
Glorious in their second birth:
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Till Jerusalem, beholding
That His glory in the east,
Shall, at the Archangel trumpet,
Enter in to keep the feast.
That His glory in the east,
Shall, at the Archangel trumpet,
Enter in to keep the feast.
Lift it gently to the steeple,
Let our bell be set on high;
There fulfil its daily mission,
Midway 'twixt the earth and sky.
Let our bell be set on high;
There fulfil its daily mission,
Midway 'twixt the earth and sky.
Christ, to Thee, the world's redemption,
Father, Spirit, unto Thee,
Low we bend in adoration,
Ever blessed One and Three.
Father, Spirit, unto Thee,
Low we bend in adoration,
Ever blessed One and Three.
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The above hymn is taken from an Office for the Benediction of a Bell, compiled by the writer for that of one, by the Bishop of Oxford, at Aston-Bampton, Oxon; the first example, it is believed, of such a service, if not since the Reformation, at all events since Caroline times. It was again used by the Bishop of Salisbury, at the Benediction of the newly recast Wolsey bell, at Sherborne Minster.
Amen.
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