BV 18? ^RN? fcouvernr S&&. JesKval 3F, Jfl,,A, fr Class. Book. PRESENTED BY jfree IReliGtous association Souvenir Festival Hymns BOSTON FREE RELIGIOUS ASSOCIATION 1899 -aM a Press of James H. West Co., Publishers boston, 1899 P. Put*. '03 T'lVHtlZ Souvenir jFeetival 1b£mns Note. It has been a common prejudice that the graces of Art, the charms of Song, belong especially to the old mythologic forms of faith. But everything in its time was new, and it is the young, fresh life of freedom and love that sings most rapturously. So Free Religion, while not casting away old songs which still express the universal thought, has felt the need of its own expression. At the yearly Festival of the Free Religious Association it has been the custom to sing hymns adapted to our broad, liberal views. V jfree IReligioue association Many of these were written especially for these occasions ; some of them have already been published in other collections ; but we feel that those actually written for or sung at our Festivals will form a welcome Souvenir of these occasions devoted to our Third pur- pose — developing " fellowship in the spirit.'* Such a collection may also lead in the future to a larger collection of songs which express the freest religion in the sweetest strains. E. D. C. Souvenir jfestivml to^mus Contents. PAGE " The Goodly Fellowship of the Prophets " F. L. Hosmer n "Oh, How I Love Thy Law" John W. Chadwick 14 "Consider the Lilies, how they Grow ! " . . Wm. C. Gannett 17 u The Light which Lighteth every Man " . Samuel Longfellow 20 The Glory that Remains . Wm. C. Gannett 22 E Phiribns Unum . . . Ednah D. Cheney 26 Light D. A. Wasson 29 In Memoriam Wm. C. Gannett 31 JFrce IReligious Bssociatton PAGE Apple-Blossoms .... Ednah D. Cheney 34 Our October Supper . . . F. M. Holland 36 "Watchman, What of the Night?" . . . Samuel Longfellow 38 Past, Present, Future . . . . T. L. Harris 40 A Hymn F. M. Holland 42 Free Religious Welcome Ednah D. Cheney 44 The Law of Liberty . . John W. Chadwick 46 Life of Ages Samuel Johnson 49 Raphael's Saint Cecilia at Bologna . . . Julia Ward Howe 52 Festival Mottoes 55~6o *6 Souvenir jfestivml Ifosmns Festival Hymns x The Goodly Fellowship of the Prophets" Tune,— " Hummel." 'ROM age to age the prophets rise, Still in unbroken line ; Above the passing centuries Like beacon-lights they shine. ii F 1 jfree IRelistous association Through differing accents of the lip One message they proclaim ; One growing bond of fellowship, Above all names, one Name. They witness to one heritage, One Spirit's quickening breath ; One widening reign, from age to age, Of freedom and of faith. Their kindling power our souls confess ; Though dead they speak to-day : How great the cloud of witnesses Encompassing our way ! Souvenir festival 1b£mns Through every race, in every clime, One song shall yet be heard : Move onward in thy course sublime, O everlasting Word ! — F. L. Hosmer. Written for Festival, F. R. A., June 2, 1899. 13 jfree IReligioua Association " Ofi, How I Love Thy Law." Tune,—' 4 Auld Lang Syne." FATHER, we come not as of old, Distrustful of Thy Law, Hoping to find Thy seamless robe Marred by some sudden flaw, — Some rent to let Thy glory through And make our darkness shine, If haply thus our souls may know What power and grace are Thine. 14 Souvenir ^festival ihgmns Thy seamless robe conceals Thee not From earnest hearts and true ; The glory of Thy perfectness Shines all its texture through ; And on its trailing hem we read, As Thou dost linger near, The message of a love more deep Than any depth of fear. And so no more our hearts shall plead For miracle and sign, Thy order and Thy faithfulness Are all in all divine : r 5 jfree TReliaious association These are Thy revelation vast From earliest days of yore, These are our confidence and peace, — We cannot wish for more. — John W. Cbadwick. May 30, 1873. 16 Souvenir ^festival Ibgmns "Consider the Lilies, how they Grow ! " Tune,—" Missionary Hymn." HE hides within the lily A strong and tender care That wins the earth-born atoms To glory of the air ; He weaves the shining garments Unceasingly and still, Along the quiet waters, In niches of the hill. 17 Jfree IReligioue Association We linger at the vigil With him who bent the knee To watch the old-time lilies In distant Galilee ; And still the worship deepens And quickens into new, As brightening down the ages God's secret thrilleth through. O Toiler of the lily, Thy touch is in the Man ! No leaf that dawns to petal But hints the angel-plan. The flower-horizons open ! The blossom vaster shows ! 18 Souvenir festival Iftgmns We hear Thy wide worlds echo, — See how the lily grows ! Shy yearnings of the savage, Unfolding thought by thought, To holy lives are lifted, To visions fair are wrought ; The races rise and cluster, Transfigurations fall, Man's chaos blooms to beauty, Thy purpose crowning all ! — William C. Gannett. May 30, 1873. l 9 jfree IRelisious association " The Light which Lighteth Every Man." Tune,—" Sweet Hour of Prayer." OLIFE that maketh all things new, — The blooming earth, the thoughts of men ! Our pilgrim feet, wet with thy dew, In gladness hither turn again. From hand to hand the greeting flows, From eye to eye the signals run, From heart to heart the bright hope glows ; The lovers of the Light are one. Souvenir festival Ib^mns One in the freedom of the Truth, One in the joy of paths untrod, One in the soul's perennial youth, One in the larger thought of God ; The freer step, the fuller breath, The wide horizon's grander view, The sense of life that knows no death, The Life that maketh all things new. — Samuel Longfellow, May 29, 1874. jfree IReltsioua association *& The Glory that Remains. "If that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious" Tune,— "Autumn. " FAIRER grows the earth each morning To the eyes that watch aright ; Every vision is a dawning Of some marvel come to light, Souvenir jfesttval 1b£mns Of some unsuspected glory Waiting in the old and plain ; Traveler ne'er told the story / Of such wonders as remain. As we seek — the quest is duty — Inward toward the heart of things, Everywhere the gate called Beauty Fresh across the pathway swings ; And we enter, foolish mortals, Thinking now His throne to find, Just to gaze on grander portals, — Still the Temple lies behind ! 23 jfree IReligious Bssoctatton O my miracles ! you flowers, Laughing secrets in my eyes ! Well I know the Heavenly Powers Hide from me your best surprise. O dear brothers 'neath the flowers, Glory that was torn away ! Vanished faces light these hours More than all the shining May. Faith I love ! I love you deeper That to lose you would be gain ; Seed may perish, if the reaper Comes home singing after pain. 24 Souvenir festival 1h£mns All our creeds are hinting only Of a Faith of nobler strain, — God is living ! Who feels lonely With the glories that remain ? — William C. Gannett. Sung at the Social Donation Festival, May 29, 1874. ^y 25 ffree IReligious association E Pluribus Unum. Tune,—' 4 Marlow." M ANY in one, our fathers said, Many in one, say we ; Of different creeds, of differing forms, Love brings us unity. Let Science scan the open page Of sky and sea and land, 26 Souvenir Jfesttval Ibm^ne And tell the secrets written there By Time's mysterious hand. Let Art reveal the inner thought In Nature's forms of grace, And feel God's presence everywhere, See everywhere his face. Let Faith attune the hidden strings That Science cannot sound, And Future, Past and Present bind In one harmonious round. Jfxcc 1Reli0iou6 Association From each, from all, may life outflow, To each and all flow in : It needs us all to swell the chords Of life's triumphant hymn. — Ednah D. Cheney. Social Donation Festival, F. R. A., June i, 1877; and October, 1884. 28 Souvenir jfeettval H^mns Light. Tune,—" Old Hundred." HAIL to the sun that never sets, But holds its heavenly place for aye, And in the soul of man begets, Age after age, a growing day ! Hail to the light that is the same For Christian, Paynim, Jew, and Greek, And, varying not with various names, Is light for all that truly seek ! 29 jfree IReligtous Association Blow, winds of thought ! to clear our skies That vex the light with darkening change ! No more let clouds the day disguise, No more man's heart to man be strange. — D. A. Wasson. Social Donation Festival, F. R. A., June i, 1877. 30 Souvenir festival Ih^mns In Memoriam. ss Green Pastures and Still Waters." CLEAR in memory's silent reaches Lie the pastures I have seen, Greener than the sun-lit spaces Where the May has flung her green Needs no sun and needs no star-light To illume these fields of mine, For the glory of dead faces Is the sun, the stars, that shine. 3 1 3Free IReligious Beaociation More than one I count my pastures As my life-path groweth long ; By their quiet waters straying Oft I lay me, and am strong. And I call each by its giver ; And the dear names bring to them Glory as from shining faces In some new Jerusalem. Yet, O well I can remember, Once I called my pastures, Pain ; And the waters were a torrent Sweeping through my life amain ! Now I call them Peace and Stillness, Brightness of all Happy Thought, 32 Souvenir festival Ibsmns Where I linger for a blessing From my faces that are naught. Naught ? I know not. If the Power Maketh thus his pastures green, Maketh thus his quiet waters, Out of waste, his heavens serene, I can trust the mighty Chemist Of the May-lands and the soul, And the faces of my dead ones Pledge no waste within the Whole ! — William C. Gannett. Festival, F. R. A., at Parker Memorial Meeting- House, May 27, 1881, and June 1, 1877. 33 jfree IRelteious association Apple - Blossoms. AS the apple-tree to-day Blossoms in the sun of May, Yet long months must work and wait Till it bear its precious freight, Till the golden fruit appear, Noblest harvest of the year, — 34 Souvenir festival limits So to-day we sing our song, Speak our word ; but, waiting long, Rain and sunshine meet our need, Thought shall ripen into deed, Love, with faith and beauty rife, Slowly bring the fruits of life. Ednah D. Cheney. May 27, 1881, and May 28, 1885. 35 jfree IReligious Ssaociation Our October Supper. CREEDS and ceremonies perish, Fallen leaves that must decay Ours the living Truth to cherish ; She can never pass away. Freedom holds her firm dominion In this land of equal rights : Science spreads her mighty pinion Every day for higher flights. 36 Souvenir festival IbEtnns Faith in Man grows stronger, clearer, As we see our neighbors' worth : Duty's ancient laws are dearer ; New ones have their holy birth. Ours to keep this sacred treasure Open for the use of all ; In the hour of social pleasure Hear the Future's bugle-call ! F. M. Holland. October, 1884. 37 afree IReligious Association " Watchman, what of the Night?" Tune,—-" Hamburg." OUT of the dark, the circling sphere Is rounding onward to the light : We see not yet the full day here, But we do see the paling night. And Hope, that lights her fadeless fires ; And Faith, that shines, a heavenly will ; And Love, that courage reinspires, — These stars have been above us still. 38 Souvenir ^Festival Ib^mne O sentinels ! whose tread we heard Through long hours when we could not see, Pause now ; exchange with cheer the word, The unchanging watchword, Liberty ! Look backward, how much has been won ! Look round, how much is yet to win ! The watches of the night are done : The watches of the day begin. ■ Samuel Longfellow, December Supper, F. R. A., December 10, 1884. 39 3Free IReligious association Past y Present, Future. Tune,— " Russian Hymn." O EARTH, thy past is crowned and consecrated With its reformers, speaking yet, though dead ; Who unto strife and toil and tears were fated, Who unto fiery martyrdoms were led. O Earth, thy present, too, is crowned with splendor By its Reformers battling in the strife ; 40 Souvenir festival Thymus Friends of humanity, stern, strong, and tender, Making the world more hopeful with their life. O Earth, thy future shall be great and glorious, With its Reformers toiling in the van, Till Truth and Love shall reign o'er all victorious, And earth be given to freedom and to man. — T. L. Harris. December Supper, F. R. A., December 10, 1884. 4i fftee IReltgious Association A Hymn. Time,— "Antioch." OUR life is full of love and light Because our aims are high. In Freedom's service we unite : Her reign supreme is high. Thy growth, O Science, gives us joy ! Thy victory is ours ! March on, and all thy foes destroy ! We bless thy mighty powers. 42 Souvenir festival Admits No holy sacrament we ken Save that of doing good : Our faith is in our fellow-men, Our creed is brotherhood. We love this world of life and light ; We drink its gladness in : The morning drives away the night, And golden days begin ! — F. M. Holland. May 28, 1885. 43 jfree IRelisious Bssociation Free Religious Welcome. Tune,— " Coronation." |f TO-NIGHT in full accord we meet, With loving hearts and free : In equal fellowship we greet, In loving charity. Bring with you every sacred book, The Gods you love and trust, The kindling hopes that heavenward look, The memories of the just ; 44 Souvenir ^festival Admits The sacred reverence for law, The earnest search for truth, The lessons that from age we draw, The prophecies of youth. Come one, come all, who come in love ! Our church is wide and free, Free as God's glorious heaven above, Wide as Humanity ! — Ednah D. Cheney. May 29, 1896. 45 Sree IRelfsfous Besocfation *& The Law of Liberty. Tune,—" Rock of Ages." THOU, whose name is blazoned forth On our banner's gleaming fold, Freedom ! thou whose sacred worth Never yet has half been told, Often have we sung of thee, Dear to us as dear can be. 46 Souvenir JFesttval Ibgmns But to-night we sing of one Older, graver far than thou, With the seal of time begun Stamped upon her awful brow : Freedom, latest born of time, Knowest thou her form sublime ? She is Duty : in her hand Is a sceptre heaven-brought ; Hers the accent of command, Hers the dreadful, mystic Ought Hers upon us all to lay Heavier burdens every day. 47 jfree Ueligtous association But her bondage is so sweet ! And her burdens make us strong ; Wings they seem to weary feet, Laughter to our lips and song : Freedom, make us free to speed Wheresoever she may lead. — Job?i JV. Chadwick. May 29, 1896. 48 Souvenir festival IbEmns Life of Ages. Telemann's Chant. LIFE of Ages, richly poured, Love of God, unspent and free, Flowing in the prophet's word And the people's liberty ! Never was to chosen race That unstinted tide confined ; 49 jfree IReligfous association Thine is every time and place, Fountain sweet of heart and mind. Breathing in the thinker's creed, Pulsing in the hero's blood, Nerving simplest thought and deed, Freshening time with truth and good,- Consecrating art and song, Holy book and pilgrim track ; Hurling floods of tyrant wrong From the sacred limits back, — So Souvenir festival IbEtnns Life of Ages, richly poured, Love of God, unspent and free, Flow still in the prophet's word And the people's liberty ! ■ Samuel Johnson. Festival, F. R. A., May 28, 1898. 5 1 jfree IReliaious Bseociation Raphael's Saint Cecilia at Bologna. A CHALLENGE of celestial art Doth through the aether fall, And, like a well-tuned harp, my heart Makes answer to its call. The breath of God is in this sky, So limpid and so blue ; His radiance, streaming from on high, Lights up the world anew. 52 Souvenir ffesttval Hernias The music of the circling spheres That hasten not, nor rest, Insensible to mortal ears, Wakes echoes in my breast. And thus it whispers, low and sweet : " The Highest draweth nigh ; Sing, brothers, sing ! with measure meet Salute Heaven's majesty." — Julia Ward Howe. Written for Festival, F. R. A., June 2, 1899. 53 Festival Mottoes * Let knowledge grow from more to more, But more of reverence in us dwell, That mind and soul, according well, May make one music as before, But vaster. — Tennyson, May 30, 1873. To see a World in a grain of sand, And a Heaven in a wild flower, Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand, And Eternity in an hour. — William Blake, May 29, 1874. 55 LofC. Jfree IReligious association Devoutly look, and naught But wonders shall pass by thee ; Devoutly read, and then All books shall edify thee ; Devoutly speak, and men Devoutly listen to thee ; Devoutly act, and then The strength of God acts through thee. — Rueckert* s "Wisdom of the Brahmins." May 29, 1874. If With wider view come loftier goal ! With broader light, more good to see ! With freedom, more of self-control, With knowledge, deeper reverence be ! 56 Souvenir jfestival Mottoes Anew we pledge ourselves to Thee, To follow where thy Truth shall lead : Afloat upon its boundless sea, Who sails with God is safe indeed. — Samuel Longfellow. June 2, 1876. Our God ! our God ! Thou shinest here, Thine own this latter day ; To us Thy radiant steps appear, Here leads thy glorious way ! Thou comest near ; Thou standest by ; Our work begins to shine ; Thou dwellest with us mightily, — On come the years divine ! — T. H. Gill. June 2, 1876. 57 ffree IRelisious Bssoctatton Deep is the wild sea's bottom sweep, But hundred thousand times more deep Is the vast sweep Of thy great pity growing ; It reaches from the stars' high throne Unto the bottomless ocean's moan ; A comb o'erflown With the sweetest honey flowing. June i, 1877. Our little systems have their day, They have their day, and cease to be ; They are but broken lights of Thee, And Thou, O Lord, art more than they. — Tennyson. 58 Souvenir festival Mottoes Unless you understand an author's igno- rance, conclude yourself ignorant of his un- derstanding. — Coleridge, A leaf may hide the largest star From Love's uplifted eye ; A mote of prejudice out-bar A world of Charity. —John B. Tabb. Thus Faith, cast out of barren creeds, Shall rest in emblems of her own ; Beauty, still springing from Decay, The cross-wood budding to the crown. — Julia Ward Howe. 59 jfree IRelisious Besociation He who feels contempt for any living thing Hath faculties within his soul which he hath never used, And thought with him is in its infancy. — Wordsworth. He who begins by loving Christianity better than Truth will continue by loving his own sect or party better than Christianity, and end by loving himself best of all. — Coleridge. 60 Deacidified using the Bookkeeper process. Neutralizing agent: Magnesium Oxide Treatment Date: August 2005 PreservationTechnologies A WORLD LEADER IN PAPER PRESERVATION 1 1 1 Thomson Park Drive Cranberry Township, PA 16066 (724)779-2111 LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 014 628 887 A •