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ASCENSION DAY
Panel * in libel I bewail me!
(Funny how English seems to fail me !)
So, as a surgeon to a man, sir,
Let me excise your Christian cancer
Impersonally, without vanity,
Just in pure love of poor humanity !
Here’s just the chance you'd have! Behold
The warm sun tint with early gold
Yon spire: to-day’s event provide
My text of wrath—Ascension-tide !
Oh ! ’tis a worthy day to wrest
Hate’s diadem from Jesus’ Crest !
Ascends he? ’Tis the very test
By which we men may fairly judge,
From the rough roads we mortals trudge
Or God’s paths paved with heliotrope,
The morals of the crucified.
(Both standpoints join in one, | hope,
In metaphysic’s stereoscope !)
But for the moment be denied ©
A metaphysical inspection—
Bring out the antiseptic soap !-—-.
We'll judge the Christ by simple section,
And strictly on the moral side.
But first ; I must insist on taking
The ordinary substantial creed
Your clergy preach from desk and pulpit
Each Sunday ; all the Bible, shaking
Its boards with laughter, as you read
Each Sunday. Ibsen* toa full pit
May play in the moon. If (lunars they)
They thought themselves to be the play,
It’s little the applause he’d get.
I met a Christian clergyman, t
The nicest man I ever met.
We argued of the Cosmic plan.
I was Lord Roberts, he De Wet.*
* Scots legal term for defendant.
+ A Romany word for woman.
t The Rev. J. Bowley. The conversation described actually occurred
in Mr. Gerald Kelly’s studio in Paris.
Ascension Day.
Moral aspect
of Christianity
to be discussed
to prejudice of
the metaphysi-
cal.
Orthodoxy to
be our doxy.t
Gipsies barred.
Henrik Ibser.
and H,. G.
Wells
Parson and
poet. Fugitive
nature of
dogma in these
latter days.
The Higher
Criticism.