Poems (Allen)/The New Temple
OW shall we make a house of worth Fit for the Builder of the earth,— A temple high and broad, A dwelling for our God?
THE NEW TEMPLE.
OW shall we make a house of worth Fit for the Builder of the earth,— A temple high and broad, A dwelling for our God? Build the wide windows fair and high,—Let in the light of sun and sky; Shut not the Master's face Out of His dwelling-place.
Make room for tender Charity, And Love's unwearying ministry; Let Patience mild and meek Her gentle teachings speak.
Build all the doorway arches wide, Yet make no room for pompous Pride,— So Vanity and Sin Shall never enter in.
Let not the false similitude Of marble shame the honest wood; Let not Hypocrisy Within our temple be.
Let not the breath of worldly gain Its sacred atmosphere profane; Let Mammon come not near The souls which worship here.
Let Bigotry, and Fear, and Doubt Remain forevermore without; Let not their shadows fall Within its holy wall.
Lest, when the Christ—as once of yore He entered at the temple door— Shall come to see how dim Our love has grown for him,—
To see how much of good and grace We're gathered to His dwelling-place, He speak reproofs, as then, Against the sins of men,
And grieving, ask us, "Is it well Within my house to buy and sell? Behold, my eye perceives Only a den of thieves!"
No! When, in answer to our prayer, He comes and walks among us there, O, may we hear anew, "My peace I leave with you!
"For in this earthly house of mine I feel my Father's presence shine; My children here alway Live even as they pray!"
