FROM ZION'S WALLS BELOW (MAGGIE SMITH)

 From Zion's Walls Below

This is a poem written on the occasion of the death of Elder Joseph L. Staton, pastor of Welsh Tract Church - ed

To realms of endless day,

From sin and sorrow, Pain and woe,

Our shepherd Passed away

His work below is done,

His course is finished now;

The battle fought, the victory won

And laurels clothe his brow'

Within the vacant stand

We miss thy cheering voice;

We miss thee in our social band

And in our sacred joys.

No more do we hear thy voice

Proclaim the God of grace;

No more behold the briny tear

That oft bedewed thY face'

But though thou art not here,

Thy face we cannot see,

In Memory's shrine we hold thee dear;

Our hearts still cling to thee'

We mise thee, brother dear -

Our loss we deeply mourn;

Thy worth was never valued here

Till thou wast from us torn'

And yet we hope to meet

On a far brighter shore;

'Tis there we shall each other greet,

And parting be no more.

The friends who loved him here on earth

Do deeply for him mourn;

And oft - times start when footsteps fall,

And fancy his return.

But Memory quickly says he's gone

To sleep in death's dark gloom;

His body, moldering, lies within

The limits of the tomb.

He's gone. Ah, who can meaning find

For these deep, solemn words?

He's gone. The mourning heart can feel

The anguish theY have stirred.

He's gone, but where? We trust to heaven

To mingle with the blest;

To rest his weary head uPon

His loving Savior's breast.

Then weep no more for him, dear friends,

Nor shed a bitter tear;

He's free from sorrow, pain and death

In yon celestial sphere.

O my God's spirit lingers near

To guide us through the gloom

Of this dark world, and bring us safe

To our eternal home.

Newark Delaware, Maggie Barton, 1891

(Elder Joseph L. Staton was the pastor of Welsh Tract Church until his death in 1891' This lovely poem, written by Maggie Barton' was submitted to the Signs bY Elder Staton's daughter, Mrs. Louise Johnson' of Newark, Delaware, which still remains a faithful attendee at Welsh Tract and a loyal supporter of the Truth in Christ' Ed')