ESPERANTO HYMN OF PEACE.
Translated by W. M. Bassett.
O Thou mighty spirit in mystery shrouded, Whose hand is controlling and guiding, O fountain of truth and of love never clouded, And life-source for ever abiding, How varied our notions concerning Thy being! But sense of Thy presence brooks no disagreeing; And therefore we come, O Creator, before Thee, This day and adore Thee.
To Thee we come not with the creed of a nation, Or zeal for inconstant opinion; All discord abandoned and vain disputation The faith of the heart has dominion; Suffices this faith ever just and impartial, Whose weapon is truth—not an implement martial: Before Thee we children of men take our station, In deep adoration.
All men in the beauty of grace Thou didst fashion, But hate parted one from another, And nation arose against nation in passion, And brother took arms against brother. O Thou the unknown and the mighty and holy, Regard with compassion the prayer of the lowly, Grant peace to humanity’s children and bless them— Let war not distress them.
We called Heav’n to witness the promise recorded, To make human friendship our mission, And O Thou most High if Thy help be afforded, Success will attend our ambition. Thy blessing command to inspire and assist us, Thy aid that when forces of evil resist us, However determined they will not dismay us,— Thou, Thou wilt repay us.
The fair flag of Hope waves in glory and splendour, Of beauty and goodness the token; The great unseen Power of the world, our defender, Will honour the word he has spoken. The walls of partition that long have divided The peoples—by error and folly misguided— Shall fall; and Love’s empire grow greater and greater From pole to equator.
Note.—Music to the above will appear shortly.