Inspirational Poem delivered at Metropoli tan Temple, San Francisco, California, July 13th, 1884, by Elizabeth L. Watson, re-touched for Harbinger of Light. With backward glance I scan the page Of old Earth’s blood-stained history, And swift as light my spirit-sight Doth penetrate life’s mystery. I feel the pulse of by-gone years Through all my being throbbing, And hear them sigh, as they creep by, Like frightened children sobbing. Fear plies the lash for evermore, By priestly hands upholden, While thoughts of pain and War's red rain, Shut out Love’s light all golden. And moss-grown errors block the way That leads to truth and glory, While priests rehearse with cant and curse, That strange creation story, Of “ all things out of nothing ” made, When God with chaos grapples ; And “Adam’s fall,” when one and all Were dammed through eating apples ! And then the grand “ Salvation plan,” Of doing good by proxy, Saved by more faith from fiery death, And Hell of Orthodoxy, But hark ! I hear, from far and near, A sweet, wild song-wave swelling 1 O’er crypt and tomb, in bud and bloom, Life springs from Death’s dark dwelling. And Superstition’s spectres grim Dissolve in Truth’s white splendor, While from the heart fear doth depart, And hopes are born most tender. The boundless realm of Nature glows With conscious thought and feeling ; Youth’s sunshine rifts through doubt’s cloud drifts Life’s “ Over Soul ” revealing. And lo 1 we see all worlds are one, In bonds of pure attraction, And sun and stars are notes and bars In songs of benefaction 1 And every link in life's great chains With blessed purpose gleaming, And every breath of life and death, With love’s own future teeming. We see that every change out-wrought, In Matter, Form, and Spirit, Ever unrolls to deathless souls Some joy of purer merit. And germs of goodness stunted hero By sin and superstition, Shall each have time to spring and climb And reach complete fruition. Thus Spirit-forces burst the dam Across Truth’s mighty river— Set free the mind of all mankind, And God’s love triumphs ever. The brightening wings of thought expand, For, flight beyond Death’s portals, And face to face, for glad embrace, Stand mortals with immortals.
