Installation Ode.

Blest Ruler, at whose word
The universe was stirred,
    And there was light;
Look now with gracious love
From Thy bright home above,
Direct in every move,
    Each proved, Sir Knight.

In mysteries well skilled,
Their hearts with courage filled,
    Behold they stand;
Strengthen their faith in thee,
Let hope their anchor be,
And heaven-born charity
    Mark their command.

Endure with holy light
Each suppliant, Sir Knight;
    May each one prove
Faithful in watch and word;
Strong the oppressed, to guard
And win the just reward
    Of Faith and Love.

Harriet Annie Wilkins

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Harriet Annie Wilkins

Holy Communion.

Harriet Annie Wilkins, Simple Poetry

Vain Dreams.

Harriet Annie Wilkins, Simple Poetry

The Wife's Watch.

Harriet Annie Wilkins, Simple Poetry

Daybreak.

Harriet Annie Wilkins, Simple Poetry

English

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Initiation Ode.

Air--Belmont.



Hark! unto thee a voice doth speak,
    A voice of heavenly breath,
And this, the solemn charge it gives,
    Be faithful unto death.

Faithful as stars in heaven's blue skies,
    Though dark clouds roll between,
Or rocks that show their signal lights
    In tempest's wildest scene.

Faithful 'till death, which finally
    Shall close thy mortal strife,
When thy reward shall surely be
    The crown of endless life.

Harriet Annie Wilkins

Charge to the Knight of Malta

Air--Stephenos



Lo, a knight in armour standing,
    Ready for the foe;
Thee we greet, belov'd Companion,
    Thee we know.

Keep thine oath, oh new made soldier,
    Pledged in heaven's sight;
Nor forget the vow thou'st taken,
    Malta's knight.

By the banner, o'er us waving,
    By thy lance at rest,
Chiefly by that Cross emblazoned
    On thy breast.

In the heat of danger's trial,
    Dare the fiercest fight;
No desertion, no denial,
    Right or life!

See thou turn not from the conflict,
    On the battle field,
Though men bear a dying soldier
    On thy shield.

Let thy strong arm shield the helpless,
    And the feeble save;
Mercy's voice the true knight knoweth,

Harriet Annie Wilkins

Worthy The Name Of 'Sir Knight'

Sir Knight of the world's oldest order,
    Sir Knight of the Army of God,
You have crossed the strange mystical border,
    The ground-floor of truth you have trod;
You stand on the typical threshold
    Which leads to the temple above;
Where you come as a stone, and a Christ-chosen one,
    In the Kingdom of Friendship and Love.

As you stand in this new realm of beauty,
    Where each man you meet is your friend,
Think not that your promise of duty
    In hall, or asylum, shall end.
Outside, in the great world of pleasure.
    Beyond in the clamour of trade,
In the battle of life and its coarse daily strife,
    Remember the vows you have made.

Your service, majestic and solemn,
    Your symbols, suggestive and sweet,
Your uniform phala...

Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Holy Communion.

We were wearied in the battle,
    Tempted, and pained, and tried
By day the din and the carnage,
    By night the rain's fierce tide;
But we heard a loving message,
    From the Prince's tent it came,
"Each meet in the banqueting house.
    In memory of my name."

We gathered; a motley regiment,
    Some young in the war of life,
Some chiefs in the Royal Army,
    Some old and sick with strife,
Some limped in the sacred pathway,
    Some were foot sore and worn,
Some had their lances all shivered,
    Some had their banners torn.

And we all looked dim and dusty;
    We all were stained with sin;
But we held the Prince's message,
    And the porter said "Come in."
We went to the banqueting house;
    We sat at the Prince's b...

Harriet Annie Wilkins

Ode To Duty

Jam non consilio bonus, sed more eo perductus, ut non tantum
recte facere possim, sed nisi recte facere non possim
(Seneca, Letters 130.10)



Stern Daughter of the Voice of God!
O Duty! if that name thou love
Who art a light to guide, a rod
To check the erring, and reprove;
Thou, who art victory and law
When empty terrors overawe;
From vain temptations dost set free;
And calmst the weary strife of frail humanity!

There are who ask not if thine eye
Be on them; who, in love and truth,
Where no misgiving is, rely
Upon the genial sense of youth:
Glad Hearts! without reproach or blot;
Who do thy work, and know it not:
Oh! if through confidence misplaced
They fail, thy saving arms, dread Power! around them cast.

Serene wil...

William Wordsworth

To The Lady Fleming

On Seeing The Foundation Preparing For The Erection Of Rydal Chapel, Westmoreland.


I

Blest is this Isle, our native Land;
Where battlement and moated gate
Are objects only for the hand
Of hoary Time to decorate;
Where shady hamlet, town that breathes
Its busy smoke in social wreaths,
No rampart's stern defense require,
Nought but the heaven-directed spire,
And steeple tower (with pealing bells
Far-heard) our only citadels.

II

O Lady! from a noble line
Of chieftains sprung, who stoutly bore
The spear, yet gave to works divine
A bounteous help in days of yore,
(As records mouldering in the Dell
Of Nightshade haply yet may tell;)
Thee kindred aspirations moved
To build, within a vale beloved,
For Him upon who...

William Wordsworth