ADVANCE.

God bade the Sun with golden step sublime

Advance!

He whispered in the listening ear of Time,

Advance!

He bade the guiding spirit of the stars,
With lightening speed, in silver shining ears,
Along the bright floor of his azure hall,

Advance!

Sun, Stars, and Time obey the voice, and all

Advance!

The river at its babbling fountain cries,

Advance!

The clouds proclaim, like heralds through the skies,

Advance!

Throughout the world the mighty Master’s laws
Allow not one brief moment’s idle pause.
The earth is full of life, the swelling seeds

Advance!

And summer hours, like flowery harness’s steeds,

Advance!

To man’s most wondrous hand, the same voice cried,

Advance!

Go clear the woods, and o’er the bounding tide

Advance!

Go draw the marble from its secret bed,
And make the cedar bend its giant head;
Let domes and columns through the wandering air

Advance!

The world, O man, is thine! But woldst thou share,

Advance!

Onto the soul of man, the same voice spoke,

Advance!

From out the chaos thunder-like it broke,

Advance!

Go track the comet in its wheeling race,
And drag the lightening from its hiding-place,
From out the night of ignorance and fear

Advance!

For Love and Hope, borne by the coming year,

Advance!

All heard, and some obeyed the great command,

Advance!

It passed along from listening land to land,

Advance!

The strong grew stronger, and the weak grew strong
As passed the war-cry of the world along –

Advance!

Awake! Ye nations, know your powers and rights,

Advance!

Through Hope and Work to Freedom’s new delights,

Advance!

Knowledge came down, and waved her steady torch,

Advance!