Article August 4, 1906 Issue

A Reminiscence

WILLIAM W. PORTER.

(Standing beneath the great white dome in the Extension of The Mother Church building at the first dedicatory service on the never-to-be-forgotten Communion morning of 1906, and as the words of the dear Leader's hymn, "Shepherd, show me how to go," rose from the hearts and lips of the assembled thousands, filling the vast dimensions of the magnificent auditorium in the hush and calm of the early Sabbath morning—something of what it all means filled a wondering consciousness. The words, the book, the notes, the people—all, for a moment, were lost to sense; and there and then the infinite love of God and the harmony of the Christ-truth were manifested as never before. Then there came something of what the occasion commemorated, of cross-bearing, of faith assailed, and of consistent, undisturbed tranquillity on the part of Mrs. Eddy, which filled the heart with unspeakable tenderness and gratitude. Like a great canvas, rose, too, the future, with the duty of to-day, and while the tear-dimmed eve refused to trace the lines on open page, the holy calm of heaven within, subduing every sense of self,—a consecration strong and pure,—inspired thought to higher demonstration and to holier deeds.)

What songs are these
That rise and swell in cadence grand,
Then, lingering soft and low,
Float like Shepherd voice across the hills
To strayed and lost,
To storm-beat, toss'd, and crippled sheep?