f 
 
 LIB RARY OF,ppNGR ESa 
 
 Shelf ...tf.i7.2 
 
 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 
 
A STORY IN VERSE 
 
 FROM:^^~> 
 
 M m m Mil, 
 
 MRS. A. L WASHBURN. 
 
 ^^The moimtains heaved, the earth quaked, and 
 forth stepped— \ mousp:. 
 
 PHILADELPHIA. 
 
 A.. W. SELDEN, PRINTER, 
 13 & 15 N. Ninth St. 
 
P6 3X5] 
 
 I 
 
 COPYRIGHT 1083, 
 
 Bv MRS. A. L. WASHBURN. 
 
r 
 
 TO BIGOTRY^, 
 
 — IN— 
 
 All Its Forms and Wherever Found, 
 
 — AND— 
 
 TO ALL DEVOTEES OF BIGOTRY, 
 
 —WHO— 
 
 HOLD THEIR OPINIONS THROUGH THEINFLUFNCE 
 
 EDUCATION AND PREJUDICE, 
 
 —AND NOT— 
 
 From Thought and Illuminated Reason, 
 
 Fervide Narraiio Tragida ea Dedicata est 
 SCRIPTORE. 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 •:o:- 
 
 There was no thought, at first, of this poem's ex- 
 tending over more than a few pages ; nor of its being 
 published in the present form. But the real facts 
 which underlie it were rather numerous, and in gath- 
 ering them up as a foundation, the poem itself kept 
 extending, till it assumed its present dimensions. If, 
 as "Mark Twain "would express it, I could have 
 ''suppressed my facts," the result might have been 
 characterized by more brevity. But I could not. They 
 would " ooze out." Then the desire arose in the per- 
 son most concerned to have those facts given to the 
 public in the dress they assumed. And as they are 
 facts, and as religious bigotry in milder aspect still 
 holds too large sway in the minds of so-called religious 
 people, no reason was seen whj* this should not, like 
 other satirical writing, contribute its modicum of in- 
 fluence toward ridiculing out of existence a spirit that 
 could hardly be reached by sober thought or Christian 
 teaching. 
 
 A, L. W. 
 Philadelphia, July 17, 1883. 
 
IN the land of sylvan forests. 
 In the land erewhile called Penn's Land, 
 In the region where the fox chase 
 Gave to hunter's hound a swift race. 
 Leaving, thus, to future ages. 
 Sport-man's legend, which the sages 
 Utilized to name a village, — 
 In this land and in this village, 
 Recent rose portentous mutter: 
 Certain things which whispers uttef 
 In dark hints, with wise nod, saying 
 More than words could ; thus portraying — 
 By the aid of *' Well, I never ! " 
 "You don't say !" "My!" " Did you ever ! 
 To the mind the import pond'rous, 
 Of the subject strange and wondrous. 
 In this land where forests only, 
 Long years since, rose grand and lonely, 
 Nestles now the village, Fox Chase. 
 From its centre but a short space, 
 
In the bounds of small enclosure, 
 Stands, with solemn, quaint composure, — 
 Flaunting no tall steeple eyry, 
 Topped by vane to show contrary 
 Winds that blow transverse direction 
 From the course of due ''election," — 
 Stands the church that, under water. 
 Plunges every son and daughter. 
 As a pure and holy figure 
 Of the Stream that doth transfigure 
 Souls of all, who, to its fountain — 
 Having source in highest mountain — 
 Come; and in its water flowing, 
 Wash from btain of sin ; thus showing, 
 One thus washed should hence, directly. 
 Guide his life more circumspectly. 
 
 From this church where erst one Hand 
 Wielded sacerdotal wand 
 From the high and "sacred" (?) "stand," 
 While before him sweetly slumbers 
 One of those called "leading members" — 
 Known to be but sparse in numbers; — 
 (Though asleep, no whipper-snapper 
 Dandiprat, in aspect dapper). 
 From this church came forth the rumble 
 Of the sound of smothered grumble ; 
 And the ground began to crumble. 
 On which stood, "in church," a brother. 
 Once beloved as any other. 
 For, had he not not dared to utter, 
 Though in accents kind and quiet. 
 What was breeding now this riot. 
 
And invoking soon a fiat 
 
 That would snap each chain and fetter, 
 
 Leaving him thus free, the better? 
 
 Louder grew the uncertain mutter. 
 More d'stinct became the charges; 
 And, as flowing stream enlarges. 
 So the words grew loud and stronger. 
 And the wise groups tarried longer, 
 To discourse the mode of action 
 Which would give most satisfaction. 
 One, with wise and upraised index. 
 Gives each tone its proper inflex, 
 As he tells the knot of sages 
 What will make the coming ages 
 Laugh, and think of ancient stages— 
 Quite behind the age of progress, 
 When slow travel found its egress. 
 And shall truth be less progressive 
 Than invention r — less aggressive? 
 Shall we not, beyond old data 
 Move, in soul, with ju-t pro rata? 
 But, w^e leave that up'ai-ed finger, 
 While we with this query linger : — 
 
 "Now, you see," the brother's saying, 
 " Plain it is, from truth John's straying. 
 Why, he really thinks incumbent. 
 Keeping, daily, God's commandment ! 
 While we know we must be sinning. 
 All our li'^e, e'en from beoinning. 
 Else, how proud and self-sufficient. 
 And in meekness how deficient 
 We become! True, we must ever 
 
8 
 
 Try to keep them, though we never 
 
 Overcome the inclination 
 
 Daily leading to transgression. 
 
 But, like marksmen, better aim high. 
 
 Though our mark we ne'er should come nigh. 
 
 Then spoke up a thin, lank brother: — 
 
 "Well, my friends, there is another 
 Charge that's straight from Mrs. Grundy; — 
 They do say that now on Sunday 
 He sells milk 1 If true, then surely. 
 Dealing with him quite severely. 
 Is our duty now, most clearly. 
 At his sin if we are winking, 
 In his guilt our souls are sinking." 
 A solemn hush fell at this juncture! 
 Presently a keen, sharp puncture 
 Pierced the air in accents nasal. 
 With a zeal which to the weasel 
 That slays mice, had done much credit ; 
 And, in accents sharp, thus said it: — 
 
 "Surely, now, our Pastor Pauhn 
 Better words to couch a call in. 
 Has at his command, in writing. 
 Now, an early letter citing 
 To appear at our church-meeting 
 And make answer to these charges. 
 Which, by waiting, time enlarges, — 
 Surely this seems most befitting ; 
 And, in solemn church-court sitting, 
 Having sent official greeting. 
 By the hand of clerk or pastor, 
 Will, ere long, and quite much faster. 
 
9 
 
 Bring to justice this bold breaker 
 Of commandment of his Maker." 
 
 Ah, how weak is man's endeax'or, 
 Though he think himself quite clever. 
 If he blindly thus p-ejudgesl 
 If to freedom he begrudges 
 Right of speech in any matters, 
 Tears he not our flag to tatters? 
 And how strange that these men knew not- 
 Passing strange how otheis do not! — 
 That, by such strange contradiction. 
 Justice soon becomes a fiction .' 
 Had they not eewhile decided — 
 (And for different \ iew derided 
 Him from whom they now turn coldly), 
 Had they not proclaimed, quite boldly. 
 That to keep our Lord's commandment 
 Surely could not be incumbent ? 
 *' Had not justice long since been met? 
 Had we not in freedom been set? 
 Why then, with such strong presumption, 
 Dare to utter the assumption. 
 That man could by any doing. 
 Or vain effort of his showing. 
 Keep a law of the Infinite! 
 We should cite him here this minute!" 
 
 Strange, the ludicrous amendments 
 Writ by men to God's commandments! 
 Strange that, saying man can't keep them, 
 They should say, because we break them. 
 That, before their church tribunal, 
 Such a charge is surely penal ! 
 
10 
 
 Well, they wrote the charge and sent it. 
 (Not long since to me he lent it.) 
 
 " Fox Chase, 
 
 Mr. John Blake, 
 
 Dear Sir : 
 At our church-court you'll appear. Sir, 
 There to answer some citations, 
 Herein given by intimations. 
 To these charges you will therefore, 
 At our meeting show cause wherefore, 
 You from us should not be sundered, 
 With us being no more numbered, 
 From church duties as you still shirk. 
 By church order, 
 
 John Rhodes, 
 
 Church Clerk. 
 
 On sixth evening of December, 
 
 Is our meeting. Please remember." 
 
 But, as storm and rainy weather 
 Came, they could not meet together. 
 Thus securing by postponement, 
 Greater space for John's atonement. 
 But a second herald sent him, 
 Bade him later to present him. 
 
 At the appointed time appearing, 
 Was presented in their hearing. 
 This reply to their citation. 
 It was read in due rotation, 
 And with proper annotation; 
 
11 
 
 ** Bethany Baptist Church — 
 
 My Brothers: 
 
 Whom 't concerns," (or any others) ; 
 
 "Your citation, '4th October,' 
 
 Does not meet my judgment sober. 
 
 Its one charge might be tremendous, 
 
 Seeing it is so compendious 
 
 With words our language is prohfic; 
 
 I ask you then, be more specific. 
 
 Your general charge, please itemize. 
 
 It is not best to generalize. 
 
 Please to note the texts of Scripture, 
 
 Authorizing now this stricture. 
 
 Having made your charge more pointed, 
 
 And your reason less disjointed, 
 
 Then, by argument conclusive, 
 
 Prove me guilty. More conducive 
 
 This will be to satisfaction, 
 
 Than indefinite detraction. 
 
 Quote the Bible to sustain you, 
 
 And in justice to restrain you. 
 
 Surely now, it is your mission, 
 
 To prove fact of my transgression ; 
 
 Not my place by a negation 
 
 To retain my church relat'on. 
 
 Common justice at courts civil, 
 
 Deals thus freely with the evil ; 
 
 And shall churches less decorum 
 
 Manifest, than does the forum? 
 
 Tell what duties I've neglected; 
 
 What, from me, you have expected ; 
 
12 
 
 Then, when you have thus defined, 
 1 shall surely feel in'.:lined. 
 In defense of my position, 
 To bring proof .above tradition. 
 I to you this answer make. 
 Truly yours, I'm 
 
 John C. Blake. 
 Jenkintown, 6th of December. 
 
 As flash of powder, in hot ember, 
 So these words, in that church meeting. 
 Surely it were worth repeating, 
 Had one power to portray it, 
 And in colors just, array it. 
 Up arose the knights Teutonic, 
 And with reason quite Platonic, 
 And in statement so laconic. 
 And with tone somewhat ironic. 
 Though the accent was euphonic, 
 'Spite their manner dithyrambic. 
 And their sentences iambic. — 
 Up they rose, their eye-balls flashing, — 
 Into words their thoughts quick dashing — 
 And their face with color flushing, 
 And their tongues with utterance gushing. 
 
 "We will not," they say, "in writing 
 Give specific charges, citing 
 You before our. church-court, sitting: 
 Oral words will be befitting. 
 This is not our way of doing 
 Business. Nor will we write showing 
 What the church of God comprises. 
 
13 
 
 •What our covenant devises 
 Is the point that now arises. 
 We claim not prestige like the Papists,-— 
 We have met you here as Baptists. 
 And it was our soc to call you 
 Ere some evil should befall you." 
 
 Here once mo-e the brother speaks, 
 His request again repeats, 
 That in writing he be granted 
 What, with loud words, they had vaunted, 
 That he might more clearly know them. 
 And him guiltless, better show them. 
 
 Louder then rang the testudo; — 
 Louder words, and unco pseudo. 
 Echoed back from wood and plaster. 
 Faster wagged the tongues and faster. 
 
 "Not content to wait till Monday, 
 You have sold your milk on Sunday. 
 You have failed to pay your church dues, 
 Thus decreasing rent for church pews." 
 
 Now the first had show of reason. 
 How to babes could it be treason ? 
 "Why should babies whine and jabber 
 If we feed them bonnyclabber 
 But one day in all the seven? 
 Surely they'll not go to heaven 
 If their fleshly appetite, — 
 Like devouring parasite — 
 Feeding on their better nature. 
 Gives loose rein to the mere creature. 
 And it's plain upon the showing. 
 And a sick man should be knowing, 
 
14 
 
 That his fever's aggravated, 
 
 And his pulse is overrated. 
 
 If he take much lacteal fluid. 
 
 Heard he not through ancient Druid, 
 
 That he must do penance truly. 
 
 Mortifying his flesh duly ? 
 
 And, he point is easier gained, 
 
 If sweet milk can't be obtained. 
 
 And epicure should cease to stickle, — 
 
 Cease at once his taste to tickle. 
 
 If, in his coffee, cream to curds. 
 
 Turns, like refuse, stringy hurds, 
 
 He should, like good "Brother Bundy," 
 
 Recollect the day is Sunday. 
 
 But, the principle's foundation, 
 Farther back, lies, in creation. 
 Why could not cows one day give double? 
 Saving, thus, from further trouble. 
 Let them devote to meditation, 
 This day, so sacred (?) to the nation. 
 With stomachs four, they might let pass, 
 One day in seven, minus grass. 
 Thus, lacteus udders might have rest. 
 On this, the day of all, the best. 
 
 But, we've left that church assembly, 
 Which scarce seems to be quite friendly ; 
 Seeing they a matter potent 
 Elucidate with reasons patent. 
 'Midst the angry din and clatter 
 Rose our friend to explain the matter : 
 
 "We cannot Hsten to your statement. 
 Of your guilt there's no abatement. 
 
15 
 
 Of unsound mind, your views erratic, 
 
 Designate you, a fanatic. 
 
 It is useless to defend you. 
 
 Such grave charges now attend you. 
 
 While our time would be but wasted ; 
 
 And our business not hasted, 
 
 If we listened longer to you. ^ 
 
 Surely this cannot be due you. 
 
 We are ready now for action." 
 
 Cries of " Question ! question ! question ! " 
 
 Rose a form : Not a wise Nestor, 
 One they designated, ** pastor." 
 He, the august moderator, 
 Proved deficient arbitrator. 
 Stopped at once sonorous clangor, 
 And they ceased their words of anger. 
 To their duty then alluding, 
 
 "You've to vote now, on excluding 
 This, our brother, from our number. 
 Shall he longer be a member? 
 You have heard the sad, grave charges ; 
 And your voting now discharges 
 Your incumbent duty, clearly. 
 Understand, I say this, merely 
 To denote the next proceeding. 
 His church duties in not heeding, — 
 To false doctrine, in.acceeding, — 
 By accepting the ecstatics 
 Of those two perverse fanatics. 
 He his unsound mind exposes; 
 And on us he thus imposes 
 That, within our jurisdiction, 
 
We lay on him just restriction. 
 We shall now await your pleasure, 
 ^n deciding this grave measure." 
 
 Then he put the question to them.. 
 In a manner that was due them. 
 For, had they not proved their saneness 
 With a dignified, bold plainness? 
 Others, sure, if more romantic, 
 Might have proved themselves less antic. 
 Of course, their course must be magnanimous. 
 So their vo*e was now unanimous, 
 (Save one silent, weeping sister. 
 Whose pale cheeks her hot tears blister). 
 The whole matter thus compended, 
 Showed the church relation ended ; 
 And the bad, milk-selling brother, 
 Thus cast out to wind and weather. 
 
 "Brother Blake is now excluded," 
 (The "pastor's" voice the words exhuded), 
 "From this church for remiss duty. 
 In not paying his church booty; 
 And because of mental weakness, 
 Demonstrating its completeness, 
 In being led by two fanatics, — 
 His views simply anacamptics." 
 
 "Brother 'Blake" then rose up, saying, 
 In a tone no hate betraying, 
 '* Since you have decision rendered. 
 And to me dismissal tendered, 
 I shall now proceed to leave you, 
 Hoping time may undeceive you. 
 I am sound of mind as any, 
 
17 
 
 Though Tm one against your many. 
 
 But in light of truth eternal, 
 
 If you reach that Hfe supernal, 
 
 You will see the wrong you've done me, 
 
 And the way in which you wrong me. 
 
 No more of you, then, I leave you. 
 
 Farewell! May the truth retrieve you." 
 
 Out into the star-ht night, 
 Walked alone this strange wight. 
 To the vaulted chamber o'er him, — 
 To the gems that blazed before him, 
 Lifted he his up-turned vision. 
 In his soul was no collision 
 With the quiet and the peaceful — 
 With the soothing and the restful 
 Voices in the realm above him. 
 But some inward thoughts will move him, 
 Though he feels no winter's cold blast. 
 Chill as scene through which he's just passed. 
 
 ** Paying church dues," he reflected. 
 *' If I'm right, we're not expected 
 In the world of trade around us, 
 With the rules that now surround us, 
 To make payment of our treasure. 
 
 If we do not, in full measure. 
 
 In return receive the value. 
 
 Now, the minisier, they tell you. 
 
 Is to feed with bread of heaven, 
 
 For at least one day in seven. 
 
 In return for this collation, 
 
 You, by certain, fixed notation 
 
 Of a sum thus designated, 
 
18 
 
 For the service stipulated, 
 
 Are to nake in turn a payment. 
 
 To the preacher who is claimant. 
 
 But, if he hould fail to feed you, 
 
 With the bread that he's decreed you. 
 
 And instead, should filing husks to you. 
 
 Stone for egg should say would do you — 
 
 Are you still to be his debtor, 
 
 As if he had fed you better ? 
 
 Do you pay the merchant moaiey, • 
 
 If he gives you soap for honey?" 
 
 Traveling on in home direction, 
 
 Such was this, his strange reflection. 
 
 Now, we'll make a short gyration 
 In our course of meditation. 
 And re-enter that church meeting, 
 Just in time for farewell greeting. 
 The minister, false to conviction, 
 Dismisses them with benediction. 
 '*That peace which passeth understanding. 
 He with out-spread hands commanding, 
 Is not what, erewhile, he taught them ; 
 Nor, by heavenly message, brought them. 
 "While in 'these low grounds of sorrow,' 
 We may little comfort borrow. 
 When death comes and makes us holy, 
 Good, and true, and meek, and lowly. 
 Then on peace and rest we'll enter; 
 Then our thoughts on God will centre. 
 But, while here, 'tis not expected 
 That our minds will be directed 
 All the while to heavenly subjects, 
 
19 
 
 While around us many objects 
 Draw the mind and heart's affection 
 In the course of their direction. 
 But in heaven, unending pleasure, 
 Good and wisdom without measure, 
 Peace and rest and every treasure, 
 Harps, and palms, and garments white, 
 Songs of gladness and delight, — 
 These, in heaven, we'll have most truly, 
 When we're disembodied duly " 
 
 Such, in substance, he had taught them 
 Such the bread he weekly brought them. 
 Inconsistent, then, his action, 
 In imploring benefaction 
 Such as. in that benediction, 
 Gave his teaching contradiction. 
 Peace and " these low grounds of sorrow," 
 Find for union space too narrow. 
 Yet, our peace flows as a river. 
 From the throne of God the Giver, 
 When we enter land of mountains, 
 Heavenly plains and flowing fountains, 
 Finest wheat, and milk, and honey, 
 Sparkling wine bought without money,— 
 Enter there and take possession, 
 As we daily leave transgression. 
 
 Well, the meeting then disbanded. 
 Silence little space commanded. 
 All must now, in groups, talk over, 
 Course pursued toward the brother. 
 Plain their minds were not quite restful. 
 Conscious right is ever trustful. 
 
20 
 
 One is saying, " Now I told you,— 
 
 Though I do not mean to scold you — 
 
 From the first, that women-preachers 
 
 I did not receive as teachers ; 
 
 I warned you if that man and wife 
 
 Should come here it would breed some strife. 
 
 She'd look better darning stocking ; 
 
 Or the cradle to be rocking 
 
 She should read the Apostle Paul, 
 
 Who bids women, ' Silence all! " 
 
 But, I never saw one like her. 
 
 When a Scripture thought does strike her. 
 
 Her tongue knows not any balking — 
 
 Never knows when to stop talking " 
 
 "Well, I think he's little better, 
 Or I'm sure he'd never let her 
 Thus appear before the public. 
 That, I think, is good, plain logic. 
 But, no sooner her flight ended, 
 Than his mouth becomes distended. 
 And his metaphysics blended. 
 And, with his fine talk commended. 
 And his thoughts are so connected, 
 And his fine words so inflected, 
 And his pathos so directed, 
 And his flashes unexpected. 
 That, in truth, before you know it, 
 You are saying. Amen ! to it. 
 That's how John Blake got his notions, — 
 Led astray through his emotions." 
 
 " Well," said one. " Now let me tell you, 
 It's a pity this befell you. 
 
21 
 
 John is surely a good fellow, 
 And his nature very mellow." 
 
 "Of course! Of course!" they said in chorus, 
 And with accent quite sonorous. 
 " But sometimes our duty present 
 Is, to us, not very pleasant ; 
 
 And I'm sure we all felt badly, (^ 
 
 And discharged our duty sadly." 
 "Ah me!" "Dear me!" " What a pity ! " 
 " Wish they'd never left the city!" 
 This, and other, of like import, 
 Of their converse formed the purport. 
 Then they home went to their pillows. 
 Doubting if they were "good fellows." 
 Each had heard his feeble conscience 
 Make some faint show of remonstrance. 
 
 Soon the ** pastor" wrote a letter, 
 Thus to ease his conscience better. 
 And, in making this brave venture. 
 Proved, by this plain, bold indenture, 
 That, direct from Mr. Adam, 
 And not from the little Madam, 
 Had to him come by transmission. 
 This, his lucky disposition. 
 Adam sought to avert displeasure, 
 By the very self-same measure. 
 So, this son of worthy Sire, 
 Pulling now the self-same wire, 
 Sought to lay the blame on others, — 
 The accusing, voting brothers. 
 
 *'Sad complaint I hear you've entered; 
 And on me I hear you've centered 
 
9:> 
 
 All the blame of your exclusion, 
 
 Which, indeed, is a delusion. 
 
 The church is of this act the master, 
 
 Hence, you wrong much your poor pastor. 
 
 Who has been your firm defender. 
 
 And whose sympathy most tender, 
 
 You have had from the inception, 
 
 Of this sad, church disaffection. 
 
 From the first, the friendliest feelings, 
 
 I toward you, in our dealings, 
 
 Entertained And when I called, — 
 
 Your pastor having been installed — 
 
 With your purity and your kindness. 
 
 With your zeal, e'en though in blindness, 
 
 I was pleased ; though with your flights, 
 
 To peculiar, airy heights, 
 
 I could not agree in conscience. 
 
 Without making some remons'rance. 
 
 But, abo/e all views or doctrine, 
 
 I was satisfied of one thing. 
 
 Which I deemed of greatest moment, — 
 
 And, 'twas surely heaven's bestowment — 
 
 That you were an honest Christian, 
 
 Conscientious to conviction. 
 
 I think Dear Brother, that ere long, 
 
 You will see you've done me wrong. 
 
 I have always you defended. 
 
 And your honest life commended. 
 
 While I under censure lay. 
 
 Because I called on you to pray. 
 
 What occurred at our church-meeting. 
 
 There is little use repeating. 
 
But you surely to me listened, 
 
 While the tears in my eyes glistened, 
 
 As I sought to show you wholly 
 
 Irresponsible, and solely 
 
 For the reason, plain and pointed, 
 
 That your mind had got disjointed. 
 
 Thus, with tenderest affection, 
 
 I plead for you their kind protection. 
 
 Yet, on me you lay the burden, 
 
 Of what was the church's guerdon. 
 
 I am but the church's servant ; 
 
 And, wiih zeal and manner fervent, 
 
 I must preach the gospel to them, 
 
 And the doctrines as I view them. 
 
 Hence, you see, with just exaction, 
 
 I could not for their church-action, 
 
 Than youngest child be more decreed 
 
 Responsible. This was their deed. 
 
 Just or unjust, the majority 
 
 Must decide, not the minority. 
 
 Altogether, I hope still. 
 
 The Lord will help us se his will ; 
 
 And, harmoniously to live, 
 
 May He in his goodness give ! " 
 
 Then he said, " Yours in the Lord," 
 
 And signed his name without more word. 
 
 If" in the Lord " how could they sever? 
 
 One in Him, means union ever. 
 
 How strange it seems, in looking over, 
 Seeing they all called him " Brother," — 
 Judged him good, and pure, and honest, 
 Always doing what he'd promised, — 
 
24 
 
 Called him "true to his conviction," 
 
 Charged him with no derehction 
 
 In his morals. — yet how strange I 
 
 How very, very, passing strange ! 
 
 That, though this their estimation. 
 
 By their plain, bold declaration. 
 
 They should yet. for '* whims and fancies, 
 
 Turn him to the world's expanses. 
 
 Who e'er thought the charge portentous, - 
 
 That one was non compos ?ne?itis, — 
 
 Reason just for his ejection 
 
 From the church ? O, sad reflection ! 
 
 Did the Savior, whose example 
 
 They profess to follow, trample 
 
 Thus on weakest one who loved him ? 
 
 Not our Savior it had proved him. 
 
 Do you think there'd been Epiphany 
 
 To the loving three at Bethany, 
 
 If He'd proved himself unch'-istlike ? 
 
 Ah, those friends could celebrate. 
 
 And his star commemorate, 
 
 For, not only did they love him. 
 
 Love, in turn, himself had proved him. 
 
 But this Baptist church called " Bethany ' 
 
 Could it celebrate Epiphany, 
 
 In that true and inner meaning 
 
 That sees star of truth, bright gleaming ? 
 
 Why call it, "Bethany Baptist Church," 
 
 If in vain we find we search 
 
 For the home of his best friends ? 
 
 Sure, the name this end portends. 
 
 And, how strange no time effaces, 
 
25 
 
 But, the rather, it retraces 
 
 O'er and o'er the disposition 
 
 Of the mind to inquisition ! 
 
 'Twas ever inquisition lighted 
 
 Fire and fagot which ignited 
 
 Robe and body of the martyr ; 
 
 Thus securing him the charter, 
 
 For a chariot of fire. 
 
 Through their own rehgious ire. 
 
 And a winding-sheet of flame, 
 
 To return from whence he came. 
 
 Civil laws, though, now revoke 
 
 This practice. Hence, no fire and smoke 
 
 Are now allowed on such occasions. 
 
 And so, by civil law's provisions, 
 
 No permission, in this nation. 
 
 Is given now, for such cremation. 
 
 Still, law has limit to its own field, 
 
 Reaching not to smell of Smithfield ; 
 
 Reaching not to persecution. 
 
 Though it hinders execution. 
 
 It cannot expunge the spirit. 
 
 Which the followers inherit 
 
 From that same religiosity, 
 
 Which was really animosity. 
 
 Hence, we often see repeated. 
 
 Though the outward act's defeated, 
 
 The hatred and intolerance 
 
 For religious difference, 
 
 Which then built up the funeral pile. 
 
 That, happily, is passe style. 
 
 But, though now they cannot burn you. 
 
26 
 
 They can from their presence spurn you. 
 
 Though, like Feegee's, they don't eat you, 
 
 They c .n hash, and stew, and cheat you. 
 
 They can exclaim ** not orthodox ! " 
 
 ** That doctrine, now, is heterodox ! " 
 
 To exorcise you for opinion. 
 
 They think the right of their dominion. 
 
 If you find their bounds too narrow, — 
 
 Their straight- jackets your souls harrow — 
 
 In defense of their small " ism," 
 
 Th 'y resort at once to schism. 
 
 If lucre the desideratum, 
 
 They give you soon the lowest stratum. 
 
 And how often is repeated, 
 S 'If-complacent and conceited 
 Story of the " mote " and '* beam ;" 
 So, in this case, it would seem. 
 One of these ecclesiastics, 
 Like the ancient ritualistics. 
 Took a grave and sore offense 
 At the use of common sense. 
 Which plucked the ears of corn and fed 
 Those who hungered for their bread. 
 He saw this " mote " of desecration, 
 And he viewed with condemnation. 
 Serving milk to meet a need ; 
 Yet saw not his "beam" of greed 
 In spending this same "day of rest" — 
 Don't smile — it really seems a jest — 
 In guarding chestnut trees from urchins 
 With his bellicose, stout birchens. 
 Not sitting meek in front of ambo. 
 
27 
 
 But wishing those bad boys in limbo. 
 First, he had better plucked his " beam," 
 And then, the '* mote " he had not seen. 
 
 Ah, glorious day of rest from toil, 
 When we have left the sad turmoil, — 
 The altars of our own hands' making, 
 Of our nature, hence, partaking ! 
 It is not our " our new moons and Sabbaths," 
 Our " oblations " and our '* incense " — 
 Our "spreading forth " of upraised "hands," 
 That divine accord commands. 
 '* Wash you " — " Make you clean," He says ; 
 " Leave the evil of your ways ; " 
 " Cease oppression " and " seek judgment," 
 These are things of greater moment. 
 '* To my people " then " remaineth" 
 " Day of rest," and what pertaineth. 
 Not mere outward ceremony. 
 With a heart of acrimony. 
 But, ** ye shall eat good of the land," 
 And his richest boon command. 
 
 But, we need not apostrophize. 
 Nor from this story moralize. 
 It can speak its own plain dictum, 
 From its ritualistic tantrum. 
 But the tantrum now is over, 
 So we'll lay it under cover 
 Of the clear and perfect union. 
 That now dwells in that communion. 
 Having cast out note discontent, 
 Harmony is now concordant. 
 Clear and perfect did I tell you ? 
 
2S 
 
 1 wonder if it e'er befell you 
 
 In the frigid Arctic regions 
 
 To make voyage ? In those regions 
 
 Float the icebergs, high up-reiring, 
 
 Clear and crystal, and appearing 
 
 In indissoluble union, 
 
 Held with perfect, close communion „ 
 
 And the iceblink dazzling oVr them. 
 
 Casts back radiance before them. 
 
 In this union, on and ever. 
 
 They are held, the same, together. 
 
 Like this glistening proto ype, — 
 Like this solid antitype, — 
 Like to this is now the union, 
 And the solid, " close communion," 
 Which exist, 'mid all exposure. 
 In the bounds of that enclosure. 
 In the limits of that small space. 
 In the village called the '*Fox Chase," 
 In the region once called Penn's Land, 
 In the land of sylvan forests. 
 In the church called " Bethany Baptist." 
 And the iceblink dazzling o'er them. 
 Casts back radiance before them. 
 And you draw your furs about you — 
 Closer draw your wraps about you. 
 When you feel their aura strike you. 
 When you feel their keen air smite you. 
 In this union, on and ever, 
 They are held the same together, 
 Come sunshine, storm, or rainy weather. 
 Such is the fruit from their endeavor.