ONE CENTURY by N. W. Vincent

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 18, 1877

ONE CENTURY.

By N. W. Vincent

One hundred springs have smiled and gone, One hundred summer suns have shone, One hundred harvests blessed the earth, Since this great nation had its birth.

The dense Atlantic forests then Were homes for scarce three million men; Lo! west to the Pacific's tide, Wild hunting grounds the Indian's pride!

One Century gone—how changed the land! How full of men and cities grand! Villages begem each shore, With arts and trade unknown before.

The woods are thinned to pleasant groves, Through which no more the Indian roves; Fair cot and town grace nature's charms, Wild wastes have blossomed into farms.

The railroads run from sea to sea, With social wires for company; And mighty streams from source to mouth, Are highways for the North and South.

In gold, how rich! inventions new, Costumes and pictures fair to view, Books, papers, works of every kind, Are proof of wealth and power of mind!

But does this nation lift to Heaven A loving heart for favors given? Or, like great Babylon's haughty king, Of its own might and glory sing?

Here, forty millions Christ has blessed, How few His name have e'en confessed! How many that His faith profess Deny it by their wickedness!

Though form of godliness there be, How little of its power we see! How discord worldly churches rends, And Christ is wounded 'mongst His friends!

In every city, every town, Profanity provokes God's frown; Lust, drunkenness, and murder, cry For vengeance from the Lord Most High.

Strangers of earth, the warning hear: “Love not the world,” fear not their fear; While crimes and plagues give others dread, Look up, dear saints, lift up the head.

Our King of Glory soon will come With welcome to the better home: Bright, pure, that heavenly land will be, Whose centuries make Eternity!

N. W. VINCENT.