Illuminators : a poem read at the installation of the Eta Chapter of the Phi Beta Kappa Society in Massachusetts, at Wellesley College, January seventeenth MDCCCCV

Caroline Hazard, who held no formal college degree, was president of Wellesley College in Massachusetts between 1899 and 1910. She is credited with hiring noted landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr. to redesign the grounds of Wellesley. This poem was written for the installation of the eta Chapter of the Phi Beta Kappa Society and printed by Essex House Press at special request. Edition of 150 copies. This is number 136.Deedee tcasmmnatia nit LFS oo = b> FY *, Prat! ds e fe: amen te OE am i Qn i i 6 ieA“ tin I J I J och BY CAROLINE HAZARD, P1.A. LITT.D. LL.D. A POEPM READ AT THE INSTALLATION OF THE ETA CHAPTER OF THE PHI BETA KAPPA SOCI~ ETY IN MASSACHUSETTS, AT WELLESLEY COLLEGE, JANUARY SEVENTEENTH PIDCCCCV. un 5 ‘ q = 4=) oI (2) 1 Es 4 > Uls? K an if) > it 4 CTOWNCC .< 4 HE Abbess was alone within ber cell, A tiny room where fell a square of light Through mullioned window on the floor of stone. The crucifix upon the wall was carved 4 Of massive silver. From an ebon cross % The suffering Saviour looked; contorted brow Kj And anguished limbs, the Man of Grief was he. The Abbess looked with anguish on his face, Not from such suffering could she draw repose And she was sore distressed. Irresolute She stood, and then with furtive gliding step Yet with a grace as one who can command She slipped from out her cell, out to the light. What blaze of colour burning all around! \| The golden oranges upon the trees } Gave back the sun’s own gold; and crimson blooms Hung on the oleanders, and ran wild O’er stone carved seats, and massive arches too. The cloister garden in the sunshine lay, And basked in peace YE Np op eS glory faced the Abbess as she walked Sombre and grave, a soul that cared for souls, And carried souls she cared for in ber heart. Yet though she would not look The loveliness of blossom and She could not help the healing And felt her burden lightened about, nor see of bird touch of sun, in that air. But steadfastly she paced the distance short Across the cloister, and the great oak door Swung on its iron hinges let her in. The Chapel this. As one who knows her way Though blinded by the sudden change to dark Swiftly Slowly Slowly Slowly To eyes she sped, and swiftly knelt ber down. from out the gloom there grow a face, there dawned upon the fice a smile, the picture took on form and shape all dazzled by the noon day sun. Slowly the child grew ffom a spot of light, Slowly the form and color sweetly came The deep red robe of love, the mantle blue, The snowy veil that decked and half concealed The Virgin's lovely brow, neath which ber eyes With steadfast gaxe, most intimate, most mild, Sought out her worshipper. 6 TUE reverence paid The forms of prayer, the aves burried through, | | The Abbess came to bare her /} secret heart, A To breathe her inmost prayer. Ob thou who art A maid, and yet the Queen of Heaven, give ear. These maids have I, sweet maids, the daughters too Of kingly houses, brides of thy dear Son, How shall I keep them true, how use their time When even I, deep in my heart revolt From just the daily round of prayer and praise. They would do something, join themselves in more Than mystic union with the work of Christ. And yet beyond these stony convent walls They may not go, nor see without the veil The face of any from beyond these gates. Sweet Mother pity me, and thy sweet dove Who gainst these iron barriers beats her wings, The child of grace and fire, fit to command When she obedience learns, and learning it At such a cost of bitter, bitter tears. She tends the flowers, but they fade at last; She keeps the holy hours, and they are done; [sens She sings thy praises; with her breath they die. That lapsed ffom conscious prayer to gropings dim And ardent yearnings for the unknown good; That rapt her ffom the world and things of sense , Until an open vision slowly dawned A glimmer of a way in which to walk. Slowly the solemn strokes of noon rang out The three times three, the noon day call to prayer, What wilt thou give, in which her ardent soul And her keen mind, that’s cast in wisdom’s mould May find employ? She may not fare abroad, Her lily bands she may not soil; too high Her noble lineage; a fitting mate For princes, or for kings, she is bound fast By iron vows. I too am bound, but long Long passed is all the bitterness for self. But holy Mother, pity ber, and show knelt the Abbess there, in thought profound, And here was sunshine and the earth again, But earth with all its flowers and birds and boos And smiling hillside sloping to the plain. Some open pathway where her willing fet May tread. She may not touch the time to come In the glad natural, buman way, no child Of hers can carry on her love. How shall It find a way to join the noble stream, The streaming glory of this mighty world, To join which is the deepest inborn right Of all created souls, deep as the need To join in universal praise, a Praise unique And yet in concord of fill harmony As mingling praises, souls with souls unite, 8 OR many months the Abbess’ vision grew, Stone benches filled the cloister arches now, Betweeen the massive pillars toward the light. And little stools the maidens brought, &% worked At drawing all the lovely garden formse The climbing vine, with its five parted leaf, The rose with all its thorns to weave in crowns, The tiny bird with fill inflated throat Casting his very life in joyous song. And The And And other maidens ground the colors rare glowing red which is the bue of love deepest blue pure as the summer sky, green the tint of springtime and of hope. Long training followed, and then came the work The tiny sheets of vellum all inscribed With holy prayers and joyous hymns of praise, With maxima, and breve, and semibreve The square black notes upon the four lined staff. And everywhere there bloomed some flower of love. The letter of the Holy Name appeared In red and gold; was burnished bright By hours of labour with an agate tool. And on the margin of the page a vine Ran up and down with leaves of gold and green, And sitting on his haunches some small beast A rabbit, or a squirrel, praised the Lord. Which should come after, which that book should see, When hands that fishioned it, and heart s that ? planned Should long have found their tranquil last repose. Ce tell us so was learning kept alive, We have the books to prove it, some perchance Whose glowing page these maiden hands have wrought With gold and colors rare, the added touch Of loving care, superfluous indeed For the bare meaning of the text, whose words Are clearly traced, and plainly to be read But making it a permanent delight Baptising it with beauty’s wondrous power, A gleam of glory added to the day. \- grew the work, each book a work of years For many hands, each page a work of love, Of love that pierced beyond the pres ent day, The actual day of doing, to the years 410 Car was the time, in which those maidens wrought, When to a woman’s faith we owe our land. 1 ’Twas that fair Queen through whom the blessing came Because she too believed. And in the north That noble foundress of a noble line Of scholars who have moved the world, had heard Of that far new discovered land in which The first of all the colleges should be Deseendant of her own, which she called Christ’s. And through that woman's thought we stand to~day A company of women, far removed In time and aims ffom ancient convent days And schools for girls that Lady Margaret know. They trained for heaven; we for heaven through earth, Till this life shall begin eternal day. And as they glorified their written page So is it ours to glorify our time With flowers of love, and buds of hope and faith, And songs of joy to wake a weary world And set it singing on its onward way. "Tis maiden bands must beckon up and on ’*Tis maiden hands must crown achievement’s height, 12 ’Tis mother love that shines in women’s eyes, Or maid or matron, must illume the world. The seers they, God gave them eyes for that To pierce below the mask, to seize the truth To show it forth in colors pure and clear. And now with minds made flexible and strong To choose the best, a mighty bost comes forth In whose pure hands there rests the fate of men. Illuminators they, not mere embellishers, To beautify and grace the common task& Though that itself should be no mean employ& But higher still their clear light shall illume The seeret places of the earth, find fith Deep hid in stony hearts, show where love hides Beeause no soul has recognised his face, Make paths of light for men to travel in, Build rainbow bridges, that shall span the stars. PRIVATELY PRINTED AT THE ESSEX HOUSE PRESS, CAMPDEN, GLOUCESTERSHIRE, AUGUST 1905. 450 copies, of which this is No. Rein i A