WHAT CONSTITUTES A CHURCH?
WHAT constitutes a Church?
Not Roman basilic, or Gothic pile,
With fretted roof, tall spire and long drawn isle,
These only mock thy search;
Fantastic sepulchres, when all is said—
Seek not the living Church among the dead. What is the Church, indeed?
Not tripled hierarchy, or throned priest,
The stolen trappings of the Romish beast,
Altar or well-sung creed,
Rites magical to save, to sanctify,
Nor aught that lulls the ear, or lures the eye. A band of faithful men,
Met for God's worship in an upper room,
Or canopied by midnight's starry dome,
On hill-side, or lone glen,
To hear the counsels of his holy word,
Pledged to each other and their common Lord. These, few as they may be,
Compose a Church, such as in pristine age
Defied the tyrant's zeal, the bigot's rage—
For where but two or three,
Whatever place, in faith's communion meet,
There, with Christ's presence, is a Church complete.
[Sel.]