Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin. And yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to-day is, and to-morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you? Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you. Response. (Music as before.) [Matt. vi.] Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness; Fear before him, all the earth. [Ps. xcvi.] Learn, O child, the true wisdom! See yon bush aflame with roses, like the burning bush of Moses. Listen, and thou shalt hear, if thy soul be not deaf, how from out it, soft and clear, speaks to thee the Lord Almighty. Response. (Music as before.) Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness; Then the school will be seated. 3. Then will be read these responses. For the wealth of pathless forests For the winds that haunt the branches, For the red leaves dropped like rubies For the waving of the forests, We thank thee. O our God! For the lifting up of mountains In brightness and in dread; [Persian.] [Ps. xcvi.] For the dark of silent gorges Whence mighty cedars nod; For the majesty of mountains, We thank thee, O our God! With one dear name adoréd; For thine own great gift of Being, We thank thee, O our God! Who is the great Name, that our lips may praise him? The great Name is God. It is he that maketh all things: [Anon.] But he himself is more excellent than all which he hath made Let us search and try our ways, and turn unto the Lord. [Lam. iii.] Then the school will stand. Heavenly Father, we live in thee. It is thy providence which rules over the summer and the winter, the spring and the autumn, beautifying the various and fourfold year. The darkness and the light are both alike to thee. We work by thy strength, we sleep in thy care; and when we are awake we are still with thee. We praise thee, we bless thee, we worship thee, we glorify thee, we give thanks to thee for thy great glory. Then all will read in unison. Blessed be thou, Father of all Mercy, who continuest to pour thy benefits upon us. Thou hast given us the blessings of this life, and of immortal being. O Lord, thy blessings hang in clusters, they come trooping upon us! They break forth like mighty waters on every side. O make thy goodness health and strength unto us, that we may be thankful, dutiful and holy. Amen. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive them that trespass a-gainst us. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, for } ever, A men. Then the school will be seated. 5. Hymn-selected. 6. Here will be opportunity for any customary or special exercise; Or for a five minute sermon or address. 7. Hymn-selected. 8. The Class Lessons. 9. Close of school: Psalmody-Wilmot. 1. Blessed be thy name for 54 Guard and Giver: Thou who slumberest not, nor sleep - est, Blest are they thou kind ly keepest. Supt.: The Lord will give strength unto his people. The Lord will bless his people with peace. School: He is our strong habitation, whereunto we may continually resort. He is our rock and our fortress. [Ps. xxix.] [Ps. lxxi.] Supt.: The Lord preserve thy going out and thy coming in, from this time forth, and even forevermore. [Ps. cxxi.] 2. Then the school will stand and sing in response to the reading of the minister or superintendent: The work of righteousnees shall be peace, And the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever: And in sure dwellings and in quiet resting-places. [Is. xxxii.] 3 Response. Wor-ship the Lord in the beauty of ho-li-ness, To this holy day, thrice welcome; The heart communing with the sky; A sober mind and simple garb. Together, hand in hand, We stand within the aisle, To the solemn sound listening. There attends Charity, Changing an enemy to a friend: And Faith that dares to die. I ask these joys of this day of jubilee, Delight of heaven and earth: Best day of all the seven. [Caswall] |