Classic Poem

ONE brighter beam, of all the starry year,
Shines out beyond the rest, with lustre clear.
Across the deep behold our Brethren come,
From their own land, from our ancestral home,
To knit more closely still the loving band,
With all who on the same Foundation stand.
Warm was their welcome. Hearts were deeply stirred,
Where'er their words of winning love were heard.
And when they parted hence, their errand o'er,
What crowds went clustering round them to the shore!
What fervent, deep farewells their brethren gave;
What prayers went with them o'er the Atlantic wave!

And was this all?
No. From the obscure womb
Of the wide future, distant visions loom,
All slow and shadowy; yet, to faithful eyes,
In form and substance fair they seem to rise.
From England's realm the assembled Bishops see,
Gathered once more, for solemn Synod free;
State shackles—broken, cast off, once for all—
Shall henceforth never more their powers enthrall.
With them their brethren stand—from mountainous Wales;
From Ireland's soft, green hills, and richer vales;
From Scotland's rugged rocks, 'mid northern seas;
From frozen Iceland, and the Hebrides;
From Sweden's ancient cities, marts and mines;
From Norway's fiords and overhanging pines;
From wide America's outspread domain,
Stretching from sea to sea: and north, again,
'Till Greenland, Labrador, and Newfoundland
Send Bishops, too, to join the lengthening band
That comes from tropic isles; and westward, on,
Till golden California, Oregon,
And myriad isles that, in their blindness, be
Like emeralds set within a silver sea,
That wait but morning's sun rising in sight,
To leap at once from darkness into light;
From twin New-Zealand's deep-indented shores;
From vast Australia's mines of shining ores;
From Borneo, Burmah, China, and Japan;
From dusky plains, and groves of Indostan;
From dark Caffraria; from the deadly coasts
Whence slavery long has shipped her shackled hosts;
From steep Gibraltar's rock:—from all the earth,
Sons gather round the cradle of their birth.
In spotless robes I see them move along,
Passing on either hand—a joyous throng—
Then enter through its western portals; while,
Through Canterbury's huge Cathedral pile
Unnumbered thousands, with glad voices, raise
The overwhelming burst of choral praise.
Up the long nave they pace, then, mounting higher
And higher, the line ascends the rising choir;
'Till, rank on rank, their numbers multiplied
'Compass the Altar round on every side.
There, let the full T E D EUM roll and swell;
The Catholic Creed its faithful oneness tell;
Then let the sacred Gifts be offered up—
Break the pure Bread, and bless the ruddy Cup.
Then, from full hearts, from greatest unto least,
With breath yet fragrant from the heavenly Feast,
The whole immense assembly lift the strain,
That, long ago, on Bethlehem's star-lit plain,
Angels began, and Saints shall never cease:—
“G LORY TO God ON HIGH: AND ON EARTH PEACE !”
In sacred Council seated soon, I see
The assembled Church prepare its firm decree.

But, lo! the sudden shadows envious rise.
And veil the glorious vision from mine eyes.
Yet from the cloud a voice, like trumpet clear,
Rings forth, and earth's remotest bounds obedient hear!