Anniversary Hymn (Bates)

Our fa­thers

in the years grown dim

Reared slow­ly

wall by wall

A ho­ly dwell­ing place for Him

That fill­eth all in all.

They wrought His house of faith and pray­er

The rain­bow round the throne

A pre­cious tem­ple build­ed fair

On Christ the Cor­ner­stone.

The an­gel of the gold­en reed

Hath found the mea­sure strait;

He hears the Great Foun­da­tion plead

For amp­ler wall and gate.

The liv­ing pil­lars of the Truth

Grown on from morn to morn

And still the he­re­sy of youth

Is age’s creed out­worn.

But steadfast is their in­ner shrine

Wrought of the heart’s fine gold

Its hun­ger and its thirst di­vine

With jew­els ma­ni­fold

Red sard of pain

hope’s em­er­ald gleam

White peace

no glo­ry missed

Of right­eous life and saint­ly dream

Jasper to ame­thyst.

Spirit of truth

for­bid that we

Who now God’s tem­ple are

And keep the faith with minds more free

Our Fa­ther’s fab­ric mar.

Better than thoughts the stars that search

Is self still sac­ri­ficed

For on­ly love can build the church

Whose cor­ner­stone is Christ.