Slow, slow and weak, As first the tongue began to speak,
The hand to serve, the heart to feel,
Grew up among our deeds,
Great flower out-topping all the weeds,
Sweet fruit that meets all human needs,
Our love—our common weal.
It spread so wide, so high,
We saw it broad against the sky,
Down shining where we trod;
It stormed our new-born consciousness,
to heal and bless,
Till we conceived—we could no less,
It was the love of God!
Came there a man at length
Whose heart so with the great strength
Of love that would have way,
That in his body he fulfilled
The utmost service love had willed;
And the great stream, so held, so spilled,
Pours on until to-day.
Still we look back to this grand dream,
............