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Poem
October 21, 1836
The Hillsborough Recorder
Hillsboro, Orange County, North Carolina
What is this article about?
A hymn by Alonzo Lewis praising God's creation of the earth, man's obedient cultivation of it, and the transformation of wilderness into fertile fields, concluding with a call to trust in the divine for farmers. Written for the 1836 Essex Agricultural Society anniversary.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
THE HARVEST HYMN.
Written by Alonzo Lewis, Esq., of Lynn, for the Anniversary Meeting of the Essex (Massachusetts) Agricultural Society, Sept. 28, 1836.
When Nature slept in dark repose,
And nought was seen, or felt or known,
In might the great Creator rose,
And light and love through chaos shone.
The earth was formed in beauty fair
And verdure clothed each fertile mound,
But all was wild and useless there
And not a man to till the ground.
'Twas then the first of human race
From his primeval silence sprang;
He stood in majesty and grace,
While morning stars together sang.
Go—said the Word—my purpose aid;
Thine all the realms beneath the sun;
For thee each plant, each fruit was made;
Complete the plan by me begun.
Man heard—obeyed—and lo, the earth,
Beneath his hand, new beauty wears;
Each plant assumes a second birth,
Each tree a greener foliage bears.
As if to him Creative power
From God's productive hand were given,
New fruits are formed with varied flower,
And richer beauty blooms to heaven
Where once a desert forest lay.
Fair fields and graceful gardens shine;
The conquered wastes their tribute pay,
And thus fulfil the will divine.
Then let our hearts, like fertile soil,
To heaven their trust in season send,
To Him who bids the Farmer toil
To Him who is the Farmer's friend.
Written by Alonzo Lewis, Esq., of Lynn, for the Anniversary Meeting of the Essex (Massachusetts) Agricultural Society, Sept. 28, 1836.
When Nature slept in dark repose,
And nought was seen, or felt or known,
In might the great Creator rose,
And light and love through chaos shone.
The earth was formed in beauty fair
And verdure clothed each fertile mound,
But all was wild and useless there
And not a man to till the ground.
'Twas then the first of human race
From his primeval silence sprang;
He stood in majesty and grace,
While morning stars together sang.
Go—said the Word—my purpose aid;
Thine all the realms beneath the sun;
For thee each plant, each fruit was made;
Complete the plan by me begun.
Man heard—obeyed—and lo, the earth,
Beneath his hand, new beauty wears;
Each plant assumes a second birth,
Each tree a greener foliage bears.
As if to him Creative power
From God's productive hand were given,
New fruits are formed with varied flower,
And richer beauty blooms to heaven
Where once a desert forest lay.
Fair fields and graceful gardens shine;
The conquered wastes their tribute pay,
And thus fulfil the will divine.
Then let our hearts, like fertile soil,
To heaven their trust in season send,
To Him who bids the Farmer toil
To Him who is the Farmer's friend.
What sub-type of article is it?
Hymn
What themes does it cover?
Religious Faith
Nature Seasons
What keywords are associated?
Harvest Hymn
Creation
Farmer Toil
Divine Will
Agricultural Society
Essex Massachusetts
What entities or persons were involved?
Alonzo Lewis, Esq., Of Lynn
Poem Details
Title
The Harvest Hymn.
Author
Alonzo Lewis, Esq., Of Lynn
Subject
For The Anniversary Meeting Of The Essex (Massachusetts) Agricultural Society, Sept. 28, 1836
Key Lines
When Nature Slept In Dark Repose,
And Nought Was Seen, Or Felt Or Known,
In Might The Great Creator Rose,
And Light And Love Through Chaos Shone.
Go—Said The Word—My Purpose Aid;
Thine All The Realms Beneath The Sun;
For Thee Each Plant, Each Fruit Was Made;
Complete The Plan By Me Begun.
Then Let Our Hearts, Like Fertile Soil,
To Heaven Their Trust In Season Send,
To Him Who Bids The Farmer Toil
To Him Who Is The Farmer's Friend.