3 The hour of triumph comes apace,
The fated, promised hour,
When earth upon a ransomed race
Her bounteous gifts shall shower.
Ring, Liberty, thy glorious bell!
Bid high thy sacred banner swell!
Let trump on trump the triumph tell
Of Heaven's redeeming power.
For the Blessing of Schools.
1 O THOU, at whose dread name we bend, To whom our purest vows we pay,
God over all, in love descend,
And bless the labors of this day.
2 Our fathers here, a pilgrim band,
Fixed the proud empire of the free;
Art moved in gladness o'er the land,
And Faith her altars reared to thee.
3 Here, too, to guard, through every age,
The sacred rights their valor won,
They bade instruction spread her page,
And send down truth from sire to son.
4 Here still, through all succeeding time,
Their stores may truth and learning bring,
And still the anthem-note sublime
To thee from children's children sing.
DEDICATION AND ORDINATION.
Dedication of a House of Worship.
1 O, BOW thine ear, Eternal One ! On thee our heart adoring calls;
To thee the followers of thy Son
Have raised and now devote these walls.
2 Here let thy holy days be kept;
And be this place to worship given,
Like that bright spot where Jacob slept,
The house of God, the gate of heaven.
3 Here may thine honor dwell; and here,
As incense, let thy children's prayer,
From contrite hearts and lips sincere,
Rise on the still and holy air.
4 Here be thy praise devoutly sung ;
Here let thy truth beam forth to save,
As when, of old, thy spirit hung,
On wings of light, o'er Jordan's wave. 5 And when the lips, that with thy name Are vocal now, to dust shall turn,
On others may devotion's flame
Be kindled here, and purely burn!
1 O THOU, whose own vast temple stands,
Built over earth and sea,
Accept the walls that human hands
Have raised to worship thee.
2 Lord, from thine inmost glory send,
Within these courts to bide,
The peace that dwelleth, without end,
Serenely by thy side.
3 May erring minds that worship here
Be taught the better way,
And they who mourn, and they who fear,
Be strengthened as they pray!
4 May faith grow firm, and love grow warm,
And pure devotion rise,
While round these hallowed walls the storm
Of earth-born passion dies!
1 THE perfect world, by Adam trod, Was the first temple, built by God; His fiat laid the corner-stone,
And heaved its pillars, one by one.
2 He hung its starry roof on high, The broad, illimitable sky;
He spread its pavement, green and bright,
And curtained it with morning light.
3 The mountains in their places stood,
The sea, the sky, and "all was good ";
And, when its first pure praises rang,
The "morning stars together sang."
4 Lord! 't is not ours to make the sea,
And earth, and sky a house for thee;
But in thy sight our offering stands,
A humbler temple, " made with hands."
Prayer for God's Presence and Blessing.
1 GREAT King of glory, come,
And with thy favor crown
This temple as thy home,
This people as thine own:
Beneath this roof, O, deign to show
How God can dwell with men below.
2 Here may thine ears attend
Our interceding cries,
And grateful praise ascend,
Like incense to the skies :
Here may thy word melodious sound,
And spread celestial joys around.
3 Here may our unborn sons
And daughters sound thy praise,
And shine, like polished stones,
Through long-succeeding days:
Here, Lord, display thy saving power,
While temples stand and men adore.
4 Here may the listening throng
Imbibe thy truth and love;
Here Christians join the song
Of seraphim above;
Till all, who humbly seek thy face,`
Rejoice in thy abounding grace.
1 HERE, in thy name, Eternal God,
We build this earthly house for thee;
O, choose it for thy fixed abode,
And guard it long from error free. 2 Here, when thy people seek thy face, And dying sinners pray to live,
Hear thou, in heaven, thy dwelling-place,
And when thou hearest, Lord, forgive.
3 Here, when thy messengers proclaim
The blessed gospel of thy Son,
Still by the power of his great name
Be mighty signs and wonders done.
4 When children's voices raise the song,
Hosanna! to their Heavenly King,
Let heaven with earth the strain prolong;
Hosanna! let the angels sing.
5 But will, indeed, Jehovah deign
Here to abide, no transient guest?
Here will our great Redeemer reign,
And here the Holy Spirit rest?
6 Thy glory never hence depart;
Yet choose not, Lord, this house alone;
Thy kingdom come to every heart;
In every bosom fix thy throne.
The House of Prayer and Praise.
1 LORD of hosts, to thee we raise
Here a house of prayer and praise;
Thou thy people's hearts prepare
Here to meet for praise and prayer.
2 Let the living here be fed
With thy word, the heavenly bread;
Here, in hope of glory blest,
May the dead be laid to rest;
3 Here to thee a temple'stand,
While the sea shall gird the land;
Here reveal thy mercy sure,
While the sun and moon endure.
4 Hallelujah!-earth and sky
To the joyful sound reply;
Hallelujah!- hence ascend
Prayer and praise till time shall end.
1 WE bid thee welcome in the name
Of Jesus, our exalted Head;
|