Reformátusok Lapja, 1970 (70. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)

1970-03-01 / 3. szám

10

REFORMÁTUSOK LAPJA

XII

Behold what scenes are in our courts transpiring! Behold on trial placed the good and brave,

For disobedience to the law requiring

That he whom God made free should be a Slave!

Arraigned as traitors with a zeal untiring,

And, if convicted, hurried to the grave!

XIII

Thou hast proclaimed, in tones like ringing clarion, That freedom is the gift of God to all;

That as a man, not as a mere Hungarian,

In its defense thou’lt bravely stand or fall;

For Jew and Greek, for Scythian and Barbarian, Alike are summoned by its trumpet-call.

XIV

I take thee at thy word, out-spoken hero!

Forget not those who are in bondage here;

For our humanity now stands at zero,

And threatens utterly to disappear;

Bebuke each merciless plantation Nero;

Reprove our land in accents loud and clear!

XV

While praising us wherein we are deserving,

Tell us our faults, — expose our crime of crimes;

Be as the needle to the pole unswerving,

And true to Freedom’s standard in all climes;

Thus many a timid heart with courage nerving To meet the mighty conflict of the times.

XVI

Say Slavery is a stain upon our glory,

Accursed of Heaven, and by the earth abhorred;

Show that our soil with negro blood is gory,

And certain are the judgments of the Lord;

So shall thy name immortal be in story,

And thy fidelity the world applaud.

XVII

Yet first, for this, thou shalt be execrated

By those who now in crowds around thee press;

Thy visit shall be sternly reprobated;

Thy friends and flatterers grow less and less;

Thy hopes for Hungary be disipated;

America shall curse thee, and not bless.

XVIII

But if, alas! thy country’s sad condition,

And need of succor, a pretence be made,

Why from thy lips should fall no admonition,

Lest she should lose our sympathy and aid;

No blessing can attend thy selfish mission —

The caue of freedom thou wilt have betrayed.

XIX

O, shall the millions here in bondage sighing,

Branded as beasts, and scouraged with bloody whips.

The “property” of tyrants God-defying,

Hear not one word of pity from thy lips?

O be not dumb, to the reproach undying —

And thy great fame save from a dire eclipse!

XX

Courage, Kossuth! Be true — fear not the trial!

Pluck out thy right eye, and thy right hand lose! Though on thy head be poured out every vial,

To wear a padlock on thy lips refuse!

And thou shalt gain, through lofty self-denial,

A brighter crown than all the world can choose.

Boston, Dec. 10, 1851. Wm. Lloyd Garrison

From: The Liberty Bell

By Friends of Freedom Boston, 1852.

RESURRECTION—NOW

“He who believes in me, though he die yet shall he live.”

John 11:25

Job, seeing much death and being afflicted by deadly disease, was obviously curious about life after death. He wondered out loud: “If a man die, shall he live again?” (Job 14:14), It was a vital question but all that ensued was a deafening silence, waiting to be filled with some positive answer. Human voice could not break that silence. Christ did by this reminder: “He who believes in me, though he dies, shall live again.” To underline His words with deed, at Easter morning He left His tomb empty and Mankind with the incredible miracle of showing death defeated. Some believe that miracle, others deny it, many ignore it. However, everyone responds to it, saying: I wish I could see some sort of resurrection now! Not after death — but now!

“Now” covers a wide range of realities. That little word has immeasurable dimensions, a great variety of consequences and is able to touch the heart with either joy or sadness, with hope or despair. Now — is the time to respond to the opportunities at our disposal. There is perhaps a dream or plan ripe for realization or a child lost to be guided back to the right path, a great number of youth confused to be supplied with the right set of life’s values or somewhere a sagging churchlife to be brought into closer relationship with Christ or a fading faith to be anchored deeper in God’s reality. It is now to do it!

“Now” — is the time for readjustment. We live in a much troubled world and are part of a society bombarded by loud demands for changes. A watch may be a real jewel of fine craftsmanship yet becomes a worthless timepiece when it is either fast or slow. Then it is in need of adjustment. Nowadays, many a life is ill-adjusted. Some seek hope in scientific achievements, others put their complete trust and faith in further discoveries and inventions that will serve man’s physical needs. The rank of youth is divided, some nursing the fire under the boiling pot of rebellion, others losing themselves in the den of drugs, unfortunately just a very few look toward Christ and the Church for the true