THE CHURCH

                           and

                    the WORLD     

The Church and the World walked far apart

On the changing shores of time,

The World was singing a giddy song,

And the Church a hymn sublime.

“Come give me your hand,” said the merry World,

“And then walk with me this way.”

But the good Church hid her snowy hand

And solemnly answered, “Nay.”

“I will not give my hand at all,

And I will not walk with you,

Your way is the way of eternal death,

And your words are all untrue.”

“Nay, walk with me a little space,”

Said the World, with a kindly air,

“The road I walk is a pleasant road,

And the sun shines always there.

“Your way is narrow and thorny and rough,

While mine is flowery and smooth;

Your lot is sad with reproach and toil,

But in rounds of joy I move.

My way you can see, is a broad, fair one,

And my gate is high and wide,

There is room enough for you and me,

And we’ll travel side by side.”

Half shyly the Church approached the World,

And gave him her hand of snow;

And the false World grasped it, and walked along,

And whispered in accents low.

“Your dress is too simple to please my taste;

I have gold and pearls to wear,

Rich velvets and silks for your graceful form,

And diamonds to deck your hair.”

The Church looked down at the plain white robes,

And then at the dazzling World,

And blushed as she saw his handsome lip,

With a smile contemptuous curled,

“I will change my dress for a costlier one,”

Said the Church with a smile of grace;

Then her pure white garments were put away,

And the World gave in their place

Beautiful satins, and fashionable silks,

And roses and gems and pearls;

And over her forehead her bright hair fell

And waved in a thousand curls.

“Your house is too plain,” said the proud World,

“Let us build you one like mine;

With kitchen for feasting and parlour for play,

And furniture never so fine.”

So he built her a costly and beautiful house -

Splendid it was to behold;

Her sons and her daughters met frequently there,

Shining in purple and gold.

And fair and festival – frolics untold,

Were held in the place of prayer,

And maidens bewitching as sirens of old –

With world winning graces rare.

Bedecked with fair jewels and hair all curled –

Untrammelled by Gospel or laws,

To beguile and amuse and win from the World,

Some help for the righteous cause

The angel of mercy rebuked the Church,

And whispered, “I know thy sin,”

Then the Church looked sad, and anxiously longed

To gather the children in.

But some were away at the midnight ball,

And others were at the play;

And some were drinking in gay saloons,

And the angel went away.

And then said the World in soothing tones –

“Your much loved ones mean no harm –

Merely indulging in innocent sports,”

So she leaned still on his proffered arm,

And smiled, and chatted, and gathered flowers,

And walked along with the World;

While countless millions of precious souls

Were hungering for truth untold;

“Your preachers are all too old and plain,”

Said the gay World with a sneer,

“They frighten my children with dreadful tales,

Which I do not like to hear.”

“They talk of judgements and fire and pain,

And the doom of darkest night;

They warn of a place that should not be

Thus spoken to ears polite!

I will send you some – a better stamp,

More brilliant and gay and fast,

Who will show how men may live as they list

And go to Heaven at last.”

“Thy Father is merciful, great and good,

Loving and tender and kind;

Do you think He’d take one child to Heaven,

And leave another behind?”

So she called for pleasing and gay divines,

Deemed gifted, and great, and learned;

And the plain old men that had preached the Cross,

Were out of her pulpits turned.

Then Mammon came in and supported the Church,

And rented a prominent pew;

And preaching and singing and floral display

Soon proclaimed a gospel new.

“You give too much to the poor,” said the World,

“Far more than you ought to do;

Though the poor need shelter, food and clothes,

Why thus need it trouble you?”

Go take your money and buy rich robes

And automobiles fine;

And pearls and jewels and dainty food,

The rarest and costliest wine.

My children they dote on all such things,

And if you their love would win,

You must do as they do, and walk in the way,

The flowery way they’re in.”

Then the Church, her purse-strings tightly held,

And gracefully lowered her head,

And simpered, “I’ve given too much away,

I will do, sir, as you have said.”

So the poor were turned from the door in scorn,

She heard not the orphans’ cry;

And she drew her beautiful robes aside,

As the widows went weeping by.

And they of the Church, and they of the World

Journeyed closely, hand and heart,

And none but the Master, who knoweth all,

Could discern the two apart.

Then the Church sat down at her ease and said,

“I’m rich and in goods increased,

I have need of nothing, and naught to do,

But to laugh, and dance, and feast.”

The sly World heard her and laughed within,

And mockingly said aside,

“The Church has fallen - the beautiful Church,

Her shame is her boast and pride.”

Thus her witnessing power, alas, was lost,

And perilous times came in;

The times of the end, so often foretold,

Of form and pleasure and sin.

Then the angel drew near the mercy seat,

And whispered in sighs her name,

And the saints their anthems of rapture hushed,

And covered their heads with shame.

A voice came down from the hush of Heaven,

From Him who sat on the throne;

“I know thy works and what thou hast said,

But alas, thou hast not known

“That thou art poor and naked and blind,

With pride and ruin enthralled;

The expectant Bride of a heavenly Groom

Is the harlot of the World!

Thou hast ceased to watch for that blessed hope,

Hast fallen from zeal and grace;

So now, alas, I must cast thee out

And blot thy name from its place.”