We love the venerable house
Our fathers built to God;
In heaven are kept their grateful vows,
Their dust endears the sod.
Here holy thoughts a light have shed
From many a radiant face,
And prayers of tender hope have spread
A perfume through the place.
And anxious hearts have pondered here
The mystery of life,
And prayed the Eternal Spirit clear
Their doubts and aid their strife.
From humble tenements around
Came up the pensive train,
And in the church a blessing found,
Which filled their homes again.
For faith, and peace, and mighty love,
That from the Godhead flow,
Showed them the life of heaven above
Springs from the life below.
They live with God, their homes are dust;
But here their children pray,
And, in this fleeting lifetime, trust
To find the narrow way.
On him who by the altar stands,
On him Thy blessing fall!
Speak through his lips Thy pure commands,
Thou Heart, that lovest all!
Source: A Book of Hymns for Public and Private Devotion (15th ed.) #423
Emerson, Ralph Waldo, son of an Unitarian Minister, was born at Boston, U.S., May 25, 1803. He was educated for the Unitarian Ministry, and acted, 1829-32, as one of their ministers. Ultimately he left the ministry, and devoted himself to lecturing and literature. As a philosopher, essayist, and poet he rose to a distinguished position. He died at Concord, Massachusetts, April 27, 1882. His published works include Poems, 1846; Orations, Lectures, and Addresses, 1844; Representative Men, 1850; English Traits, 1856, &c. His hymns are not numerous.
They include:—
1. Out from the heart of nature rolled. The Everlasting Word. This is part of his poem The Problem, published in the Dial, July, 1840; and then in the 1st ed. of his Po… Go to person page >
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