ulw Book_ ^ Copiglit}^?. CQEXRIGUT DEPOSm Digitized by the Internet Arciiive in 2011 witii funding from Tine Library of Congress http://www.arcliive.org/details/templetorcliesOOgarn TEMPLE TORCHES TEMPLE TORCHES By JUDITH L. C. GARNETT Author of "Sermons in Rhyme," "Twenty-two Messages for You," and other poetical works. NEW YORK AUTHORS & PUBLISHERS CORPORATION 4th Avenue & 30th Street MCMXXI ^^'^'\, >^^^' ^^^ Copyright, 1921, by the Authors & Publishers Corporation m 30 1921 ICI.A653314 CONTENTS title page Still Subtle 7 Full Value 9 To-day 10 Midnight 11 To THE Work 12 Damocles 13 The Great Message : The Paid Price of Peace 14 You Too! 15 The Unmindful 16 Lessons 17 As a Bride 18 Indicted 19 Hold Fast I 20 Children . 20 In Lowly Guises 21 The Obedient Suffragette » 22 Patriotism 23 A Devil's Game 24 Called . 25 "Ten Years for Criticism" 26 The Final Surprise 27 "And Ireland?" 28 Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde 30 A Mother's Charge 31 TITLE PAGE "I Stood By a Grave as the Sun Went Down" 33 The Defense of the Pacifist 34 Discontent 35 The Ten-cent Idolizer 36 In the Narrow Path 38 Sister of Mine . 39 The Restless Corpse - 40 Forever "Subtil" 41 The One-pound Miser ....... 43 STILL SUBTLE Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of tl field. — Genesis, Hi, 1. "Just one more State, then Suffrage !" — Lo! the fight seems just begun, — The luring deceit of the Devil That isi rife from sun to sun ; , And only the measure of sorrow Can fathom the precipice That yawns at the feet of the woman Who heeds his croon and hiss. Only the whole of perdition Is great as the avalanche That rolls in the tide of Suffrage To poison both root and branch. So I charge ye, O ye women. To heed not this Devil's plea That will sink both hearth and nation In that deep, impure sea ! I charge ye, O ye women! Are God's commandments dead? Shall every place be a place of strife,- Each home with a hydra head? I charge ye, O ye women. By all the woes of the past, That ye hearken to God's instructions And hold to His wisdom fast ! FULL VALUE For the life is more than meat, and the body than raiment. . I remember when I saw him, a white-haired, tottering man, — Not even a chance thought he seemed of the great Godly plan, — And idlers gloomed and turned as on he feebly came and passed : "A bad-luck dog he's been from youth, — he'll be so till the last." But once I knew this "dog" to do a great and golden deed; And standing by his grave to-day, this eulogy I plead: "Were it not well, — the journey long, his penury, his need, — When he could breathe the fragrant breath of a great, golden deed? O lasting monument so tall, with praise in graven stone. How weak beside memorials that reach to God's own throne! For in great deeds, O blessed Lord, — who'er the doer be, — We praise and bless and glorify the likeness there of Thee." 9 TO-DAY ; / must wofk the works of him that sent me, while it is day. — John, ix, 4. To-day ! To-day ! Now my best for God and you ; Be the pathway sweet with fragrance, Be the rough road rank wih rue. To-day ! To-day ! Now my best for God and you ; May He find me ever faithful, Ever watchful, prompt and true! 10 MIDNIGHT The night cometh. — John, ix, 4. I look, and see the dance is past, — The gleam gone, hushed the band; And now around the shattered feast The ghouls, all smirking, stand. I look and see the harvest ripe. O heart nigh still with guilt. The night stays now, — "the door is shut,"- The clown's crown dulled, a-tilt ! I look, and see the broad highway That leads from God's domain : The Cain-marked clown has trod its length- He cries to heaven in vain. 11 TO THE WORK Let us lay aside every weight. — Hebrews, xii, 1. Come, — you and I, — lay our great weights down At the foot of Christ's dear cross : The fears, the pain, the loss. The pitch, the dirt, the dross, — Yes ; lay them down. Let us cast them ofif ! With such weights how can we rise, Free from earth's tyrannies, To win the crown we prize? 12 DAMOCLES {The War-lord's Canticle) Conscience also bearing witness. — Romans, ii, 15. The spring smiles from the hedges ; The wind is singing south — / see the myriads lying With curse on gaping mouth. The earth gleams wide with glory; The sky is smiling back — / see hordes groping, moaning, Along the bloody track. The gold shines in the storehouse; The feast is on the board — / see the 'pending death-blow, — The thread that holds the sword. 13 THE GREAT MESSAGE: THE PAID PRICE OF PEACE Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners. — / Timothy, i, 15. I Would that never a man would hold to his griefs to-day ! Would that all these clouds of tears might roll away ! Would that I now were writing on the ground beneath God's sky, Where the smitten crowds of mankind go sadly surging by. In letters of scarlet made brighter with gold The greatest of greetings that ever was told! We might then all have joy; we might then all be winners : For the Saviour Himself has died to save sinners. No message but this could render me free As the far-stretching land and the unbounded sea : "Lo, by His blood the price of peace Is paid to make my sorrows cease, — Is paid to lift you from hell's slough, — To cleanse your soul and grace your brow! Lo, great is the message, glad the news! Salvation for all but those who refuse !" 14 YOU TOO! How shall they hear without a preacher? — Romans, x, 14. What is it that you stand for in this unregen- erate time, When the world seems tossed in torment on a sea of hate and crime? — While, headlong, hordes sweep hellward with a red sword in the heart, And the devil gathers millions more with all his gold and art. What is it that you stand for? — standing in the pulpit, too ! Did God's Son have to suffer, that hell's child his work undo? What is it you are teaching, with you idols and your gold. While men must bear the lot of slaves, — while blood is bought and sold ? What is it you are teaching, with your idols ness, greed, and theft? What are these words you utter? — ^Are so few of God's sons left? 15 What is it you are teaching with your devil's cant and skill, While myriads sweep on hellward (by the churches' gentle will) ? And going there for "freedom" on the Devil's blood-red tide, How many can remember why the Lord and Saviour died? THE UNMINDFUL Have I not chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil? — John, vi, 7. O Lord, despite Thy care and toil, ■ The Devil sets his net. To daze, to blind, mislead, defile, — The Devil with his greed and guile! — Thus, Lord, some Thee forget; 16 LESSONS Be not overcome of evil, hut overcome cznl with good, — Romans, xii, 21. What have you given to your bad neighbor? Sword, shell, shot, sabre. Gas from the gun and gas from the mouth, — East, west, north, south, — Are our gifts to our evil neighbor. What have you taught to your bad neighbor? After years of endless labor, Numberless lessons both doubtful and vile, — And the hypocrite's brag to fill the while, The devil's mint where the billions grow From blood and wound, disgrace and woe, — Have we taught to our bad neighbor. In the Hght of the sun, in the mist of the dew, Has your neighbor ever learned good from you? 17 AS A BRIDE That where I am, there may ye he also. — John, xiv, 3. Oh, dress me now as a bride, to go To meet the One who loves me so ! Leave not a stain on my dead, white face, — On the dress of white with its spotless lace; Lay one white rose on my quiet breast ; Then leave me so, to wait and rest. Yes, leave me so, to rest and wait For my Saviour's voice, — the open gate ; And one favor grant : As you softly tread, Say not, — oh, say not: "She is dead!" 18 INDICTED For all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword. — Matthew, xxvi, 52. The sword, the gun, the battle ! — Remember, ye guilty of this : The reapin is e'er for the sower, Though the sword be aimed, true or amiss. The sword and gun for the battle, — The canker and sword for the breast — The reaping is e'er for the sower, Be the fighting a-rage or at rest. Yes, sword and gun for the battle. And canker and sword for the breast, While the whirlwind sweeps onward for evil, Be the storm in the east or the west. And though far away from the battle, — Afar from the sound of the blast, — The reaping is still for the sower When the storm of the battle is past. 19 HOLD FAST! Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast. — Hebrews, vi, 19. Hold fast to the anchor! The wind is swift and the tide is high : And myriads float and, floating, die When the wind is swift and the tide is high. Hold fast to the anchor! CHILDREN lind whosoever shall offend one of these little ones. — Mark, ix, 42. O little children of the earth, I plead to-day for you. No matter what your land be called Nor what your sires may do. : . '^ - "'Hi O little children, — with the wind Upon your naked breast, — Who dares to look on you with scorn, Or speak of you with jest? 20 IN LOWLY GUISES Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these. — Matthew, xxv, 45. Comes the Lord in lowly guises To the latch at gate or door To the garden's smiling blossoms, To the gold-grain-threshing floor. Comes the Lord in lowly guises Where the prison's shadows are, — Where the soul in durance suffers Fetters' gall and binding bar. Comes the Lord in lowly guises, — Lo ! the long, long hours of pain ! — Where the soul in anguish seeth As through misty night of rain. Comes the Lord in lowly guises. Whether on the sea or shore, — Comes the Lord in lowly guises, To test souls forevermore! 21 THE OBEDIENT SUFFRAGETTE Kings' daughters were there among thy honourable women. — Psalm, xlv, 9. When a woman weds a man She utters her consent To whatsoever pledge May mark the sacrament. So, why the fistic pose, — The wedding day once sped? Your silly, monkey airs Wear patience', to a shred. Who honors promises Will keep them, nor them break — Why make yourself an ape For any street crowd's sake? 22 PATRIOTISM ! Because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walk- eth about seeking whom he may devour. — / Peter, v, 8. O God of might and mercy, Prince o'er earth and sea, — O God of might and mercy, 1 plead for my country with Thee ! O God of might and mercy, O Prince o'er earth and sea. Blast Thou the Devil's counsels. That the country I pray for be free. Blast Thou the Devil's power. Whose hand has gripped her heart Till she forgets her Saviour, The lessons His life did impart; For, guided by hell's teaching, She pleads Thy cause with guile. As she piles up her treasures At the shrine of the Devil the while. 23 A DEVIL'S GAME Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! — Matthew. — xxiii, 13. What mockery, this devil's trick that would a land deprave, — This fight for "freedom" that would loose another tyrant's slave! While its own sons are gagged and bound and sent across the wave, To help war's reek, in prison lie, or fill a ghastly grave. 24 CALLED Shew forth tht praises of him who hath called you out of darkness. — / Peter, ii, 9. O people of God, with your churches so fine, With their pictures that gleam and their chancels that shine, How hard are your hearts! your souls, ah, how dark! — As dense as the darkness that lurks in the mine. O people of God, with your churches so fine. With their pictures that gleam and their chancels that shine, How hard are your hearts! your souls, ah, how dark! When will you come out from the depths of the mine? — The deep-dug mine of the Devil's own keep, Where he lures you to worship and drugs you to sleep! 25 "TEN YEARS FOR CRITICISM" Be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. — Daniel Hi, 18. "Ten years for criticism?" Ten years ! — and where ? Ten years within a living tomb ; Ten years of prison's grisly gloom, — Of prison fare! "Ten years for criticism!" Ten years ! — and how ? Till darkness dry the sap of life; Till madness in the mind be rife, And bowed the brow'! "Ten years for criticism !" Ten years, O king! Behold, thou land so fair and free! How can the Land of Liberty Bear such a thing? ''Ten years for criticism ?" Ten years ! — and why ? 26 Because you were not tied of tongue; Because no fear your honor stung To speak a lie ! "Ten years for criticism!" O king, beware! Do you believe there is no God? Think you to bend those 'neath your rod Who do and dare? THE FINAL SURPRISE And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. — Matthew, vii, 23. O Thou Almighty, Thou All True, All Wise, For Thy Son's sake, save from this last sur- prise Those who will boldly Thy great judgment face, — To find their doom is darkness, — Hell their resting-place. 27 "AND IRELAND?" (The Voice of the People) A righteous man hateth lying, but a wicked man is loath- some, and cometh to shame. — Proverbs, v, 13. Behold now, ye riders and masters, We are tired of mirage and rime: , You have rifled the hear^t of the nation; Now show us your hand, — it is time. We have dripped out our red blood for "free- dom" ; Our dead strew the earth, choke the sea; We have fought for the "freedom of na- tions," — To set each of earth's bondsmen free! But what now of long-fettered Ireland, — The Emerald Isle by the sea? — What now of the rights of the Irish? We are waiting to hear your decree. Aye, what of the rights o^ the Irish, So long and completely enslaved? Behold now their royal defender Who prates of the "liberty" craved. 28 Now a glint of the glittering gold-pot, — Now the glimpse of a purpose fair — Say, what of the shackled Irish? Come, show us your hand, — if you dare! Why, what is there wrong with "freedom," That Ireland's chains, rest unshed? The links of those chains are rusty, Nor are all her patriots dead. We are tired of mirage and word-play, We have come to the time of the test. Now show us the meat from the shelling,- Now open your hands with your best ! "All are in line for freedom," — The large, sirs, and the small. And never a share for an ancient slave ! — What no share, sirs, at all? We are tired of "gas" and the movies, — And victims still in the slough! — We are tired of the noise of the "rappings,"- We want the whole truth now! 29 We want the "consent of the governed"; The chain from the heart and the hand; We are tired of the plea of the henchman And the rasping blare of the band. DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. — Mat- thew; vii, 20. We see you with your dual face By God's own book revealed; We hear your words that cheat the world, With motive vile concealed; And while your lips prate Plans of Peace That scare could cheat a child, Your heart is in the bin of blood Where all your gold is piled. 30 A MOTHER'S CHARGE And they shall no more offer their sacrifices unto devils. — Leviticus, xvii, 7. Yes, mine own once, men and brethren; and free from taint and vice, — By all a mother's care and prayer, by all a mother's price! Yes, mine own once, men and brethren; and fit for a man's full part, — By all the whiteness of his soul and the pure- ness of his heart! But this object, men and brethren, that is cast from the camp and sea, — Cast back from the Devil's pitch and mire, where blackest vampires be ! — Yes, mine own once, men and brethren; and free from taint and vice, — By all a mother's care and prayer — Now th? war-lords' stolen price ! Yes, the war-lords' will has steeped him in the caldron hot of vice, And by his blackness, pitch, and mire I weigh the war-lords' price. 31 Is any theft more vile than this in all the devil's range? This loathsome thing come back to me is the war-lords' "fair" exchange! Yes, the virar-Iords' price, my brethren, — de- spoiled, sirs, gagged and ground, To make the shekels drop, my lords, where the devil's mills go round! — I am robbed, O men and brethren ; none may the loss repair, While the hell-pit still returns its store of the war-lords' devil's-ware ! 32 "I STOOD BY A GRAVE AS THE SUN WENT DOWN" For he hath no pleasure in fools. — Ecclesiastes, v, 4. "I stood by a grave as the sun went down" Where symbols of triumph, — Heaven's gates, glory's crown, — Wrought in delicate blooms, hid the fresh grave's brown. Yet the symbols of triumph, — ^Heaven's gates, glory's crown, — But mocked on that grave as the sun virent down ; For the soul of a tyrant, the soul of a clown, Had gone to its doom ere the sun went down. 33 THE DEFENSE OF THE PACIFIST // ye love me, keep my commandments. — John, xiv, IS. "The pacifist is a softie you may walk on all you please." Nay, I tell you ; for the Prince of Peace shall deal with such as these. These lovers of the Great One will yet fill your guns with rust, — By the power of Jehovah and the meekness of their trust. 34 DISCONTENT Be content with such things as ye have : for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.-~ Hebrews, xiii, 5. Surely I would have longings for the things not meant for me, — Like the fretting at its limits of the yearning, resless sea, — If I did not remember (and in remembering, rest), That the Great Love cares for me, — God, who doth all things best. Let me not be like children who fret to grasp the brand. Because they know not values and cannot understand ; But let me trust in the Master who gave His life for me. So that I ne'er would lack for joy, no matter where I be. 35 THE TEN-CENT IDOLIZER / am he which searcheth the reins and hearts : and I mill give unto every one of you according to your works. — Revelation, it, 23. There once on a time was a man, — E'en to-day he is found in the land, — With a few pennies at his command. There once on a time was a man, And he sat where he heard one say: "Will you not give something to God, — Some gift to your Maker to-day?" There once on a time was a man, And he said: "Hear that preacher, the fool! I, who live by poverty's rule. Could ne'er found a church or a school." There once on a time was a man, And he saw one who gasped by the sea. Who cried : "I die ! Heed my last plea, — Give a drink of cold water to me!" There once on a time was a man Whose answer was : "I feel your stress ; 36 But ten cents is all I possess; — I must think of my own neediness." There once on a time was a man Whom a starving child cried to, and said: "I have never a morsel of bread; A cent, please, sir ! I'm nearly dead." There once on a time was a man Who, with frowning brow, turned on his heel, And who answered the poor child's appeal With: "I wonder how these rich men feel!" There once on a time was a man Whose excuse wandered on, as you see: "Waste and revel where'er the rich be, — Yet a starved child begs alms of poor me!" There once on a time was a man, — Ah, pity that man gone astray,— Who many an ill might allay. But from God's light he e'er turned away. 37 IN THE NARROW PATH Come out from among them, and be ye separate. — II Corinthians, vi, 17. Lo, what a people we should be Who have been called the "friends"* of God! Lord, save us from the Devil's guile! Lord, save us from a Devil's rod! Lo, what a people we should be . Who have been called the "friends" of God! Lord, keep us in the narrow path, — The way no Devil's child hath trod! * John, XV, 15. 38 SISTER OF MINE Though I give my body to be burned, and have noi charity, it profiteth me nothing. — / Corinthians, xiii, 3. Sister of mine, with your bare, cold breast, The bleak, black night comes down ; Sister of mine, could I pass you by With the flaunt of my silken gown? Sister of mine who has strayed so far. You perish while you wait, — Sister of mine, come, hasten with me, Let us speed to the pearly gate ! 39 THE RESTLESS CORPSE She that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth.- Timothy, v, 6. O wanton Folly's daughter, You barter joy and rest For a mess of pottage gilded, — For some baubles on your breast ; And your heart is blown by wild winds; And your hopes are weft of sand; And you're lured on by the mirage And the gleaming firebrand! 40 FOREVER "SUBTIL" Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. — Genesis, Hi, 1. The Devil drew a lovely veil o'er all his loath- some face, — A veil that hid his hideousness, his cunning, serpent's eyes, — And, eager every vestige of his nature to efface. He covered his whole person with soft draperies of disguise; Till he seemed a friendly woman, who, with soft hand, on me pressed; One who spoke with depth of earnestness, or, again. With gentle jest. These were her words: "How can you be so far behind the age? , It troubles me, nor can I hide my grief and my surprise. Why stay you here in ignorance, — despise your heritage? Well, even though you were a fool, there still are millions wise. 41 "E'en Madame Backwoods has emerged from brushwood rank and sage, And helps me polish up the brass and start the engine fire ; Yet here you stay, ten hundred years behind the lighted age. With none to bear you company, and none to pay your hire. "So silly, and so obstinate! You fease me, I avow. Why not be dead and buried if you can't and won't progress? For all earth's gold I would not have you sink in sin's sad slough. But I would have you reasonably wise, I must confess. "Think of the joys you let slip by, the chances of earth's bliss, — A woman of your talent, and a woman of your charm ! — These words that I am saying, I mean them not amiss. Yet you are as contrary as if I were plan- ning harm. 42 "I simply chide you for your good, you way- ward, lovely child; You dwell too much aloof from all: it makes the brain less bright. You might do lots of oiling, flame high where wealth is piled; Yet here you stay, quite satisfied, — a dreamer in the night." THE ONE-)POUND MISER And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin. — Luke, xix, 20. Do you sigh to be able to do great things? Do you grieve o'er vile poverty's darts and slings ? O man, woman, child, pray hard to be wiser. And live not and die not a poor one-pound miser! 43 LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 015 898 244 4 ' I