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Grew forth a cluster of leaves； and the preacher's pulpit of
oak…wood
Budded once more anew； as aforetime the rod before Aaron。
Wreathed thereon was the Bible with leaves； and the dove；
washed with silver
Under its canopy fastened； had on it a necklace of wind…
flowers。
But in front of the choir； round the altar…piece painted by
Horberg；
Crept a garland gigantic； and bright…curling tresses of
angels
Peeped； like the sun from a cloud； from out of the shadowy
leaf…work。
Likewise the lustre of brass； new…polished； blinked from the
ceiling；
And for lights there were lilies of Pentecost set in the
sockets。
Loud rang the bells already； the thronging crowd was
assembled
Far from valleys and hills； to list to the holy preaching。
Hark！ then roll forth at once the mighty tones of the organ；
Hover like voices from God； aloft like invisible spirits。
Like as Elias in heaven； when he cast from off him his
mantle；
So cast off the soul its garments of earth； and with one
voice
Chimed in the congregation； and sang an anthem immortal
Of the sublime Wallin； of David's harp in the North…land
Tuned to the choral of Luther； the song on its mighty pinions
Took every living soul； and lifted it gently to heaven；
And each face did shine like the Holy One's face upon Tabor。
Lo！ there entered then into the church the Reverend Teacher。
Father he hight and he was in the parish； a Christianly
plainness
Clothed from his head to his feet the old man of seventy
winters。
Friendly was he to behold； and glad as the heralding angel
Walked he among the crowds； but still a contemplative
grandeur
Lay on his forehead as clear as on moss…covered gravestone a
sunbeam。
As in his inspiration （an evening twilight that faintly
Gleams in the human soul； even now； from the day of creation）
Th' Artist； the friend of heaven； imagines Saint John when
in Patmos；
Gray； with his eyes uplifted to heaven； so seemed then the
old man：
Such was the glance of his eye； and such were his tresses of
silver。
All the congregation arose in the pews that were numbered。
But with a cordial look； to the right and the left hand； the
old man
Nodding all hail and peace； disappeared in the innermost
chancel。
Simply and solemnly now proceeded the Christian service；
Singing and prayer； and at last an ardent discourse from the
old man。
Many a moving word and warning； that out of the heart came；
Fell like the dew of the morning； like manna on those in the
desert。
Then； when all was finished； the Teacher re…entered the
chancel
Followed therein by the young。 The boys on the right had
their places；
Delicate figures； with close…curling hair and cheeks rosy…
blooming。
But on the left of these there stood the tremulous lilies；
Tinged with the blushing light of the dawn； the diffident
maidens；
Folding their hands in prayer； and their eyes cast down on
the pavement
Now came； with question and answer； the catechism。 In the
beginning
Answered the children with troubled and faltering voice； but the
old man's
Glances of kindness encouraged them soon； and the doctrines
eternal
Flowed； like the waters of fountains； so clear from lips
unpolluted。
Each time the answer was closed； and as oft as they named the
Redeemer；
Lowly louted the boys； and lowly the maidens all courtesied。
Friendly the Teacher stood； like an angel of light there among
them。
And to the children explained the holy； the highest； in few
words；
Thorough； yet simple and clear； for sublimity always is simple；
Both in sermon and song； a child can seize on its meaning。
E'en as the green…growing bud unfolds when Springtide
approaches。
Leaf by leaf puts forth； and wanued； by the radiant sunshine；
Blushes with purple and gold； till at last the perfected blossom
Opens its odorous chalice； and rocks with its crown in the
breezes；
So was unfolded here the Christian lore of salvation；
Line by line from the soul of childhood。 The fathers and mothers
Stood behind them in tears； and were glad at the well…worded
answer。
Now went the old man up to the altar；and straightway
transfigured
（So did it seem unto me） was then the affectionate Teacher。
Like the Lord's Prophet sublime； and awful as Death and as
Judgment
Stood he； the God…commissioned； the soul…searcher； earthward
descending
Glances； sharp as a sword； into hearts that to him were
transparent
Shot he； his voice was deep； was low like the thunder afar off。
So on a sudden transfigured he stood there； lie spake and he
questioned。
〃This is the faith of the Fathers； the faith the Apostles
delivered；
This is moreover the faith whereunto I baptized you； while still
ye
Lay on your mothers' breasts； and nearer the portals of heaven；
Slumbering received you then the Holy Church in its bosom；
Wakened from sleep are ye now； and the light in its radiant
splendor
Downward rains from the heaven；to…day on the threshold of
childhood
Kindly she frees you again； to examine and make your election；
For she knows naught of compulsion； and only conviction
desireth。
This is the hour of your trial； the turning…point of existence；
Seed for the coming days； without revocation departeth
Now from your lips the confession； Bethink ye； before ye make
answer！
Think not； O think not with guile to deceive the questioning
Teacher。
Sharp is his eye to…day； and a curse ever rests upon falsehood。
Enter not with a lie on Life's journey； the multitude hears you；
Brothers and sisters and parents； what dear upon earth is and
holy
Standeth before your sight as a witness； the Judge everlasting
Looks from the sun down upon you； and angels in waiting beside
him
Grave your confession in letters of fire upon tablets eternal。
Thus； then；believe ye in God； in the Father who this world
created ？
Him who redeemed it； the Son； and the Spirit where both are
united？
Will ye promise me here； （a holy promise！） to cherish
God more than all things earthly； and every man as a brother？
Will ye promise me here； to confirm your faith by your living；
Th' heavenly faith of affection！ to hope； to forgive； and to
suffer；
Be what it may your condition； and walk before God in
uprightness？
Will ye promise me this before God and man？〃With a clear
voice
Answered the young men Yes！ and Yes！ with lips softly…breathing
Answered the maidens eke。 Then dissolved from the brow of the
Teacher
Clouds with the lightnings therein； and lie spake in accents
more gentle；
Soft as the evening's breath； as harps by Babylon's rivers。
〃Hail； then； hail to you all！ To the heirdom of heaven be ye
welcome！
Children no more from this day； but by covenant brothers and
sisters！
Yet；for what reason not children？ Of such is the kingdom of
heaven。
Here upon earth an assemblage of children； in heaven one Father；
Ruling them all as his household；forgiving in turn and
chastising；
That is of human