CHRISTMAS
Who will sing the Christ?Will he who rang his Christmas chimesOf faith and hope in Gospel ray,That pealed along the world's highway,And woke the world to purer times—Will he sing the Christ?Or that new voice which vaguely gives—One day its song for Rome—the next,In soul-destroying strife perplextFor England's faith and future livesShall he sing the Christ?Or the sweet children in the schools,That hymn their carols hand-in-handAll purely, can they understandThe wisdom that must make us fools—Can they sing the Christ?Or yearning priest who to his kindFrom carven pulpit gives the Word,Or praying mother who has erred,And blindly led her erring blind—Have they not sung the Christ?"Lord! I of sinners am the chief!"One, seated by his Christmas fires,Hearkens the bells from distant spires,But hangs his head in unbelief—He cannot sing the Christ.Grant to such, Lord, the seeing eye!Grant as the World grows old and cold,All hearts Thy beauty may behold.Grant, lest the souls of sinners die—That All may sing the Christ.
—From S. Frances Harrison's Pine, Rose and Fleur de Lis (Toronto: Hart & Co, 1891)
Merry Christmas from our home to yours!
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