82
Bestrewn with rubble, brickbats, sawdust, all
Rough things incongruous with dignity;
And to our untaught minds so much seemed wrong,
In the whole scheme we could not understand.
Again, again we questioned with ourselves,
"Can this be adaptation right and wise?"
Rough things incongruous with dignity;
And to our untaught minds so much seemed wrong,
In the whole scheme we could not understand.
Again, again we questioned with ourselves,
"Can this be adaptation right and wise?"
And yet we cherished faith of purpose true
Controlling the disorder, and the din,
And there was music in the dissonance
Of workmen's voices and activity
Betokening hope, and promise, and success.
So varied were the men, varied their tools,
Varied their methods and their lesser aims,
Yet all pressed on toward one common end,
The fair ideal of the architect,
Who, with authority of untold wealth,
Watched, counselled, ordered, and directed all
According to a plan he knew full well,
And he had well conceived. We never saw
That master-builder, seldom did the men,
And little could they guess his full intent;
Yet slowly, surely it was evident
That strength and beauty grew, and we believed
That a fair building should ere long stand forth
In grand completeness.
Then there came a day
When bit from bit the scaffolding was torn
And thrown upon the ground, then cleared away.
Then could we tell of perfecting within
And rare embellishment and furnishing,
Till we beheld the hall and all around
In perfect order, the last vestige gone
Of tumult and confusion; and 1t stood
Fit habitation for its noble lord,
The rendezvous of many a worthy guest,
The admiration of the country round.>*
And surely, surely rises for our Lord
A living habitation; He shall bring
Controlling the disorder, and the din,
And there was music in the dissonance
Of workmen's voices and activity
Betokening hope, and promise, and success.
So varied were the men, varied their tools,
Varied their methods and their lesser aims,
Yet all pressed on toward one common end,
The fair ideal of the architect,
Who, with authority of untold wealth,
Watched, counselled, ordered, and directed all
According to a plan he knew full well,
And he had well conceived. We never saw
That master-builder, seldom did the men,
And little could they guess his full intent;
Yet slowly, surely it was evident
That strength and beauty grew, and we believed
That a fair building should ere long stand forth
In grand completeness.
Then there came a day
When bit from bit the scaffolding was torn
And thrown upon the ground, then cleared away.
Then could we tell of perfecting within
And rare embellishment and furnishing,
Till we beheld the hall and all around
In perfect order, the last vestige gone
Of tumult and confusion; and 1t stood
Fit habitation for its noble lord,
The rendezvous of many a worthy guest,
The admiration of the country round.>*
And surely, surely rises for our Lord
A living habitation; He shall bring
