--Nathaniel Lord, Jr.

O Thou, whose uncreated mind

Fills all the boundless realms of space,

By time or distance not confined,

Eternity thy dwelling place!

With thee a thousand of our years

Are but as yesterday when past;

To thee nought old or new appears,

Thou great; I AM, the First, the Last!

Thou, Lord earth's corner stone didst lay,

When morning stars together sung;

This earth, these heavens will pass away,

Thy power endures forever young.

But what is man, frail child of dust?

Age follows age, like wave on wave;

One moment gives them life at first,

Another brings him to the grave.

The works of art men fondly build

Endure but a few fleeting years;

Our lives still shorter, sooner filled,

Our earth a gloomy vale of tears.

Our lives, our works, remain awhile,

Awhile we live, anon we die;

Our works of plain or costly style,

Flourish, and soon in ruin lie.

Even the most honorable place

By man erected, must decay;

Each fills of time its little space,

And soon it vanishes away.

This temple by our fathers reared,

And consecrated to the praise

Of him they humbly loved and feared,

Has filled the measure of its days.

Time-honored friend, with thee we part,

To memory thou wilt still be dear;

Accept the tribute of the heart,

"The parting sigh, the falling tear."

And now, farewell, thou holy spot,

Where Dana stood, "dear man of God!"

Blest people they who have their lot

On ground where threescore years he trod.

O may his Christlike mantle fall

On every one who takes his place;

And ministers and people all

Share double portions of his grace.

Farewell, farewell, these hallowed walls

Where Memory will delight to dwell!

On us the mournful duty falls

To bid the last Farewell! Farewell!