The Acolyte

The Acolyte

Shall we then consecrate those things we know,Clinging to patterns with complacent ease,—Or, tired with feigning meekness on our knees,Rise up in might and confidently go,Leaving the rest to kneel? The candles glowWhether or not we speak our litanies.Yet wiser men say hope cannot appeaseThe lasting voice that chants, “God wills it so!”Rather I think our fitful prayers ascendTo Him who lights the candles of our Love,Knowing we seek in Him our human best:Thus does the worth of God in man defendOur emulation, make us walk aboveMan’s world with Him while kneeling with the rest.HERBERT W. HARTMAN, JR.

Shall we then consecrate those things we know,Clinging to patterns with complacent ease,—Or, tired with feigning meekness on our knees,Rise up in might and confidently go,Leaving the rest to kneel? The candles glowWhether or not we speak our litanies.Yet wiser men say hope cannot appeaseThe lasting voice that chants, “God wills it so!”Rather I think our fitful prayers ascendTo Him who lights the candles of our Love,Knowing we seek in Him our human best:Thus does the worth of God in man defendOur emulation, make us walk aboveMan’s world with Him while kneeling with the rest.HERBERT W. HARTMAN, JR.

Shall we then consecrate those things we know,Clinging to patterns with complacent ease,—Or, tired with feigning meekness on our knees,Rise up in might and confidently go,Leaving the rest to kneel? The candles glowWhether or not we speak our litanies.Yet wiser men say hope cannot appeaseThe lasting voice that chants, “God wills it so!”

Shall we then consecrate those things we know,

Clinging to patterns with complacent ease,—

Or, tired with feigning meekness on our knees,

Rise up in might and confidently go,

Leaving the rest to kneel? The candles glow

Whether or not we speak our litanies.

Yet wiser men say hope cannot appease

The lasting voice that chants, “God wills it so!”

Rather I think our fitful prayers ascendTo Him who lights the candles of our Love,Knowing we seek in Him our human best:Thus does the worth of God in man defendOur emulation, make us walk aboveMan’s world with Him while kneeling with the rest.

Rather I think our fitful prayers ascend

To Him who lights the candles of our Love,

Knowing we seek in Him our human best:

Thus does the worth of God in man defend

Our emulation, make us walk above

Man’s world with Him while kneeling with the rest.

HERBERT W. HARTMAN, JR.

HERBERT W. HARTMAN, JR.


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