Within the churches people heard The sound, and much concern was theirs-- God might not hear the Sacred Word-- God might not hear their prayers!
_Should such things be allowed these slaves-- To vex the Sabbath peace with Song, To come with chants, like marching waves, That proudly swept along._
_Suppose God turned to these--and heard! Suppose He listened unawares-- God might forget the Sacred Word, God might forget their prayers!_
And so (the tragic irony) The blue-clad Guardians of the Peace Were sent to sweep them back--to see The ribald Song should cease;
To scatter those who came and vexed God with their troubled cries and cares. Quiet--so God might hear the text; The sleek and unctuous prayers!
Up the rapt and singing streets of little Lawrence Came the stolid soldiers; and, behind the bluecoats, Grinning and invisible, bearing unseen torches, Rode red hordes of anger, sweeping all before them. Lust and Evil joined them--Terror rode among them; Fury fired its pistols; Madness stabbed and yelled. Through the wild and bleeding streets of shuddering Lawrence, Raged the heedless panic, hour-long and bitter. Passion tore and trampled; men once mild and peaceful, Fought with savage hatred in the name of Law and Order. And, below the outcry, like the sea beneath the breakers, Mingling with the anguish, rolled the solemn organ....
Eleven in the morning--people were at church-- Prayers were in the making--God was near at hand-- It was Sunday!
Hear the word of the Lord, ye rulers of Sodom; give ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah. To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the Lord.... Bring no more vain oblations.... When ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you; yea when ye make many prayers I will not hear; your hands are full of blood.
Preach about yesterday, Preacher! The time so far away: When the hand of Deity smote and slew, And the heathen plagued the stiff-necked Jew; Or when the Man of Sorrow came, And blessed the people who cursed his name-- Preach about yesterday, Preacher, Not about today!
Preach about tomorrow, Preacher! Beyond this world's decay: Of the sheepfold Paradise we priced When we pinned our faith to Jesus Christ; Of those hot depths that shall receive The goats who would not so believe-- Preach about tomorrow, Preacher, Not about today!