Page:Marie Corelli - the writer and the woman (IA mariecorelliwrit00coat).pdf/277

 on the subject. The basis of it all is, at any rate, that the main feature of all worship should be praise of the Almighty and His Divine Son; and, as a true believer and an artist, she would have the churches not only essentially houses of Praise, but buildings worthy of the high purpose for which they are erected. In "The Master Christian" she gives us her stepfather's poem as indicating Aubrey Leigh's ideal on the subject:

If thou'rt a Christian in deed and thought, Loving thy neighbor as Jesus taught,— Living all days in the sight of Heaven, And not one only out of seven,— Sharing thy wealth with the suffering poor, Helping all sorrow that Hope can cure,— Making religion a truth in the heart, And not a cloak to be wore in the mart, Or in high cathedrals and chapels and fanes, Where priests are traders and count the gains,— All God's angels will say, "Well done!" Whenever thy mortal race is run. White and forgiven, Thou'lt enter heaven, And pass, unchallenged, the Golden Gate, Where welcoming spirits watch and wait To hail thy coming with sweet accord To the Holy City of God the Lord!

If Peace is thy prompter, and Love is thy guide, And white-robed Charity walks by thy side,— If thou tellest the truth without oath to bind, Doing thy duty to all mankind,—