The Meeting Place

Where the faded flower shall freshen,
Freshen never more to fade;
Where the shaded sky shall brighten,
Brighten never more to shade;
Where the sun-blaze never scorches;
Where the star-beams cease to chill;
Where no tempest stirs the echoes
Of the wood, or wave, or hill;
Where the moon shall wake in gladness,
And the moon the joy prolong;
Where the daylight dies in fragrance
‘Mid the burst of holy song —
Brother, we shall meet and rest
‘Mid the holy and the blest.

Where no shadow shall bewilder;
Where life’s vain parade is o’er;
“Where the sleep of sin is broken.
And the dreamer dreams no more;
Where the bond is never severed —
Partings, claspings, sobs, and moan.
Midnight waking, twilight weeping.
Heavy noontide — all are done;
Where the child has found its mother,
Where the mother finds the child;
Where dear families are gathered
That were scattered on the wild —
Brother, we shall meet and rest
‘Mid the holy and the blest.

Where the hidden wound is healed;
Where the blighted light re-blooms;
Where the smitten heart the freshness
Of its buoyant youth resumes;
Where the love that here we lavish
On the withering leaves of time,
Shall have fadeless flowers to fix on,
In an ever spring-bright clime;
Where we find the joy of loving,
As we never loved before;
Loving on unchilled, unhindered.
Loving once and evermore —
Brother, we shall meet and rest
‘Mid the holy and the blest.

Where a blasted world shall brighten
Underneath a bluer sphere,
And a softer, gentler sunshine
Shed its healing splendour here;
Where earth’s barren vales shall blossom,
Putting on their robe of green.
And a purer, fairer Eden,
Be where only wastes have been;
Where a King, in kingly glory
Such as earth has never known,
Shall assume the righteous sceptre,
Claim and wear the heavenly crown-
Brother, we shall meet and rest
‘Mid the holy and the blest.