Out From the ruin wrought By a thoughtless and passionate hand! Sumner, the Christian statesman Arose grander than ever! Daring to speak the truth Having the moral courage to wear it proudly Upon his lips! Flooding its glorious light Upon the actions of his life! Oh ! How we revere The man who speaks the truth! Whose words and actions Call no unhealthy effort to the mind! In winnowing out the one bright grain Of truth From the chaff of shiftless falsehood! The tired brain, weary with analyzing Sought rest in his statements, nor placed them Within its crucible! O, truth! Thou art born of God! On thy fair brow The jeweled crown of purity gleams! Thy garments Are luminous with shimmering star-light O truth! Thou semblance of the living God! What have we not borne, what suffered For thee! Misconception Darkens thy fair features! Misconstruction covers thee with her shadowy mantle! Throwing wide The flood-gates of sorrow That rush from the bitter fountain Of the grieved soul! In thy right hand is a crown Of glory! In thy left A crown of _thorns_! Truth Is a spirit of glory! A body of transcendent grandeur! Sinewy and tenacious For the human mind to grasp! The nations of the Earth Stand forth to honor A man of truth, And lay their tribute at his feet! Alas! too often _After_ his human ear, Strained to the utmost tension to catch The far off sound, _After_ his throbbing heart! Hungering for human sympathy, thirsting For the cup of love Starving for the kindly hand-grasp, Tired, and worn, and weary, Lays down to die!