 | Songs in many keys |  |
205
IN MEMORIAM.
THE VERY REV. FRANCIS CLOSE, D.D., DEAN OF CARLISLE, DIED DECEMBER 17, 1882.
O clear of mind and large of heart,
Who battled for the right so long;
Tears mingle with our Christmas song,
And dim the eyes from which they start.
Who battled for the right so long;
Tears mingle with our Christmas song,
And dim the eyes from which they start.
We sorely miss thee from the field,
Where, fearing God and never man,
Thou gallantly didst lead the van,
God's truth thy buckler and thy shield.
Where, fearing God and never man,
Thou gallantly didst lead the van,
God's truth thy buckler and thy shield.
Thine was the rich and ripened thought,
The chastened judgment, tempered zeal,
As prompt to act as 'twas to feel,
The wisdom by experience bought.
The chastened judgment, tempered zeal,
As prompt to act as 'twas to feel,
The wisdom by experience bought.
206
Thy lips, touched with a living flame,
In burning words scathed vice and sin,
Which, heard above the world's loud din,
Won honours for the Master's name.
In burning words scathed vice and sin,
Which, heard above the world's loud din,
Won honours for the Master's name.
But now that voice in silence lies,
Those true eyes closed whate'er befall,
And though we loudly on thee call,
Thine ear is deaf to all our cries.
Those true eyes closed whate'er befall,
And though we loudly on thee call,
Thine ear is deaf to all our cries.
Where shall the Church find such a man?
The will resolved,—the busy hand,
The power to lead and to command,
The brain to think,—the mind to plan?
The will resolved,—the busy hand,
The power to lead and to command,
The brain to think,—the mind to plan?
But yet we would not mourn him gone,
For he was ripe and full of years,
And therefore we press back the tears;
His noble work on earth was done.
For he was ripe and full of years,
And therefore we press back the tears;
His noble work on earth was done.
And God had need of him above,
And called him with Himself to be,
Where spreads the bright and glassy sea,
Reflecting depths of wondrous love.
And called him with Himself to be,
Where spreads the bright and glassy sea,
Reflecting depths of wondrous love.
207
God send us one to fill his place,
To take the banner from his hand,
Against the hosts of darkness stand,
And fling it in the foeman's face.
To take the banner from his hand,
Against the hosts of darkness stand,
And fling it in the foeman's face.
Farewell, O dear and steadfast friend!
We look to meet thee once again
Beyond this world of sin and pain,
Prove we but faithful to the end.
We look to meet thee once again
Beyond this world of sin and pain,
Prove we but faithful to the end.
| Songs in many keys | |