Then the renewing Spirit came, As the swift light, in rapid showers, Ye who, on many a distant shore, Have bent the knee to stock and stone, Bow down to Christ, and Him alone! A worship pure, a Master kind? And you, O mothers, you, O wives And weary Heaven to work them good,— Leave all your fancies fond or wise, Your omens and idolatries, And to this Holy One confide And thou, poor slave, no longer sigh, New liberty the heavens above Announce this day to nations new, New victories of faith and love, New trials, and new glories too; O Holy Spirit, suppliants we In pathless forests wandering now; A mingled race, yet one in Thee, One heart, one blood, one human kind, Whether we bend the willing knee, Or seek a Face we cannot find, Descend, O Love! in every heart Its wrath and pride do Thou allay, And give us thoughts of holy rest That need not shun the judgment day. Thy blessed gifts do nurse and feed Thy blessed self in us indeed; Thou art the Sun, whose holy shine Makes the slow bud a flower divine. And though that flower, a lowly weed, Of lovelier blossoms by-and-by; Once more we pray: O Wind of God, Come forth to gladden and console, Come as a breeze that drives abroad The languors of the weary soul; But like a mighty tempest blow Through Thee the poor man lifts his face Of Him in Whom Thy gifts were great, Breathe, Holy Spirit, on our race, Temper the courage of our youth M. C. HYMN BEFORE COMMUNION. JESU, lest we quail and falter As we mount the chancel-stair, Fearing lest our hearts should palter, Self-deceivers e'en in prayer, Teach us ere we seek Thine Altar How to hail Thy Presence there. Thine the gracious invitation, Thine the Hand stretched out to bless, Only source of consolation, To Thy Footstool for redress. Thine the word creative spoken As the woman's plague found healing As of old Thy love revealing, God Thou art, we would adore Thee; Man Thou art, we need not fear; God made man, we bow before Thee, Word made flesh, we Thee revere, By Thy promise we adjure Thee, Saviour, may we find Thee here. Oh, we know still unforsaken Is Thy Church; Thy promise sure Still abides, the Rock unshaken Which she rests upon secure, And till all the dead awaken Thus the Church with exultation, Lamb of God, the world's transgression And Thy pardoning grace convey; Thine availing Intercession We but echo when we pray. Now, dear Lord, Thy grace imploring, We would mount Thine Altar-stair, For Thyself our souls prepare; May we find Thy Presence there. A. G. ACCOUNT OF THE CONSECRATION OF THE REV. W. K. MACRORIE AS BISHOP OF THE CHURCH IN NATAL. ST. PAUL'S Day, 1869, will be remembered with thankfulness and joy by the Church in South Africa through all generations, and doubtless also by all the faithful throughout the world. It was the day appointed by the Metropolitan for the consecration of the Bishop of the Church in Natal. With the exception of Bishop Tozer, who could not possibly have attended, all the Suffragan Bishops had arrived from their dioceses. These were the Bishops of Graham's Town, St. Helena, and the Orange River Free State; the last having undertaken a tedious overland journey of seventeen days, to assist at the Consecration. On Sunday, 24th January, an act of special interest to Cape Town took place at the Cathedral Church of St. George, during Morning Service, and that was the installation of the new Dean, Mr. Alder, who was instituted and installed by the Bishop of Cape Town; and who afterwards preached on the text, 'I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto Me.' In the evening, the Bishop of the Free State preached very earnestly on the text, But none of these things move me; neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry which I have received of the Lord JESUS, to testify the Gospel of the grace of God.' Monday morning rose bright and beautiful; there had been a threatening of a south-easter the day before, but this had entirely disappeared by the morning. Our feelings of joy, that the day had at length arrived which the Church has been desiring for years, were only restrained by a slight fear that some protest or confusion might disturb the solemnity of the Service. We had our own ordinary quiet Morning Service at seven o'clock. Then, after breakfast, the principal work was decoration of the infant school-room with banners and flowers, and the preparation of tables for a lunch, to be partaken of immediately after the Service. The Service was to begin at half-past eleven, but the cathedral was crowded long before. At length, the choir, who had robed in the PART 41. VOL. 7. 31 |