THE SPLENDOUR OF THE TEMPLE AND THE VALUE OF THE MAN.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1714, 19 May 1917, Page 4

THE SPLENDOUR OF THE TEMPLE AND THE VALUE OF THE MAN.

The followingverses were inspired by reading the following: — “I had studied it before, but the Cathedral of Cologne, Germany, never impressed me as it did the last time I saw it. It is admittedly the. grandest Gothic structure in the world, its foundation laid in 1248, only in recent years completed. More than six hundred years in building. All Europe taxed for its construction. Its chapel of the Magi with precious stones enough to purchase a kingdom. Its chapel of St. Agnes with masterpieces of painting. Its spire springing live hundred and eleven feet into the heavens. Its stained glass the chorus of all rich colours. Statues encircling the pillars and encircling all. Statues above statues, until sculpture can do no more, but faints and falls back against carved stalls and down on pavements over which the kings and queens of the earth have walked to confession. Nave and aisles and transept and portals combining the splendours of sunrise. Interlaced, interfoliated, intercolumned grandeur. As 1 stood outside, looking at the double range of flying buttresses and the forest of pinnacle's, higher and higher, until I almost reeled from dizziness, I exclaimed, ‘Great doxology in stone! Frozen prayer of many nations!’ “But while standing (here I saw a poor man enter and pul down his pack and kneel beside his burden on the hard floor of that cathedral. And tears of deep emotion came into mine eyes as I said to myself: ‘There is a soul worth more than all the material surroundings. That man will live after the last pinnacle has fallen, when not one stone of hi! that cathedral glory shall remain uncrumbled.’ And what is true of that man is true of us all. But where shall we spend that eternity ? Shall it be in the unveiled light of the countenance 'of Him who made the seven stars and Orion, or in the outer darkness prepared for the devil and his angels ? That must be decided in this life by your acceptance or non-acceptance of the salvation of Christ .Jesus.” Let all be hush’d: This is the House • of God! Omnipotent Deity—Mighty King. And down these aisles the feet of kings have trod With hush’d and rev’rent awe, homage (o bring. He is Holy, Inlinite —He is God, Beings celestial, the earthly clod, Angels, archangels, and ev’ry cherubim Ascribe all pow’r and majesty to Him. Yes, here has bow’d in penitence Royally before Omnipotence. Oh, wondrous beauty! sacred edifice, The art and skill of centuries of men In intercolumn Vi grandeur found in this Speaks to our souls from those beyond our ken; And here, 'midst solemn, sacred, holy things, Our minds, borne on Imagination's wings, View ages passing through these portals — Beggars, kings and laymen —now immortals. For all have pass’d beneath the sod, All must bow-at the feet of God. The labours of six hundred years of men Have flung thy spires, two hundred metres - high; The skill of ages wrought thy splendour, then Each generation laid its weapons by And doff'd its workman’s clothes, and mortal life. Gave up the human struggle and its strife, Fuss’d through the shadows, solv'd the mystery, And read the riddle of Eternity. Each one has gone—we know not where; We follow on —soon will be there. Yon man who enters now thy sacred gales (Frail guardian of an immortal soul), And kneeling low in penitence, awaits "While years of guilt and sin from him shall roll! Oh, sacred vision, hallow’d holy scene — Oh, Blessed Saviour, Love’s great sacrifice, With bleeding, nail-pierc'd hand, the NaXamie Writes his name in the Books of Paradise. He leaves the church, sobs shake his frame, And breathes a pray’r in Jesus’ name. Oh, priceless worth of yonder mortal hand! All pow’rfnl he to will, decide, control (By faith in the infinite Son of .Man) The destiny of his immortal soul. His soul shall live while endless ages roll. Thou church! A time-forgotten incident Nor dust, nor ashes —a forgotten goal; Not e’en the mem’ry of an effort spent, Nor speck on Time’s receding flood. Yet he shall be at home with God. “Ruahine te Auau.” Foxton, 17/5/17.