Many mansions, Lord, are Thine
In the universe, Thy home;
Glowing planets bear Thy sign,
Seething yet with primal foam.
Star-clouds, still a shapeless horde,
Nascent cells
And burned-out shells,
Unborn worlds that wait Thy word
Hold Thee as their tenant, Lord.
Yet no fairer home is Thine
Than the fields of Autumn Earth,
Where the fruit of tree and vine
Spread a feast of matchless worth;
Every field her gift hath sent,
All the year her labor spent;
Every man hath shared his gain
From the wealth of mine and plain.
Yes, the stars of newer birth
By their beauty praise Thy name,
All the heavens joining Earth
Thy wide bounty to proclaim;
All Thy mansions, Lord are fair,
Yet can none with Earth compare,
For Thy Holy Son dwelt there,
When He came, man's life to share.

ON EASTER DAY

My waking eyes
Behold new skies
With Easter's dawning glory bright.
Since Thou didst rise
New meaning lies
In morning's young, transforming light.
For Thou art the dawn of the world, dear Lord,
Our Christ of the breaking day.
Death was the night
And Thou, the first light
That showed where God's pathway lay;
Sin was the dark
And Thou, the first spark
That rolled the late shadows away.
Thou art the dawn of the world, dear Lord,
Our Christ of the coming day.

A CHRISTMAS CAROL

Come, weary ones, with care oppressed,
Cease earth-born care and strife.
Come children, too, rejoice in life,
The Holy Child is born.
Disease and sorrow, yea, e'en death,
Have reigned on earth too long;
Her rightful monarch praise in song,
The Child of Bethlehem.
Behold the night in silence wrapped,
With perfect peace bespread,
The star above Christ's infant head
Which guides the Wise Men there.
Glad angels guard yon manger-bed;
Now hearken how they sing
The praises of their new-born King,
The Child of Bethlehem.

THE MESSAGE OF THE CHIMES

“Joy to all, this Christmas morn,
Christ our Saviour has been born.”
Peal the chimes in yonder steeple
Ringing forth to all the people.
“Joy to all, this Christmas morn!
None are friendless, none forlorn.
Those whose hearts by grief were saddened
By the Saviour's birth are gladdened.
“Joy to all this Christmas morn!
Barrier gold and selfish scorn
Vanish, while in hymns of praise
Rich and poor their voices raise.
“Joy to all this Christmas morn!
Overflowing plenty's horn,
Wondrous treasures round us fall,
Gifts from God to great and small.
“Nature's gift's a cloak of snow,
Under which to live and grow;
But to man is given love,
Love of Christ, from God above.”