MISSIONARIES' HYMN

MISSIONARIES’  HYMN

During the theological seminars of N. E. Alyoshin at the “Gamaliel School” (watch: “Peacemaker”, isaurian.blogspot.com, 25 September 2012) and the poetical sessions of Yu. A. Voroshilov at the “Archepoetics” club (watch: “Volker Kauder and Voroshilovs” and further comments, isaurian.blogspot.com, 26 June 2014) the adaptation of the famous poem of Kipling and its’ translation has been elaborated. Putting further this adaptation, we suggest to all the missions, missionaries, mission-connected mass media to use it, as the “Missionaries’ Hymn”, which also can be put on music and sung publicly.

“MISSIONS  BURDEN”

1. Take up the Missions Burden –

2. Send forth the best ye breed –

3. Go bind your sons to exile

4. To serve Christ’s captives’ need;

5. To wait in heavy harness

6. On fluttered folk and wild –

7. To bring light Christ’s yoke

8. Even to the devil’s child.

9. Take up the Missions Burden –

10. In patience to abide,

11. To veil the threat of terror

12. And check the show of pride;

13. By open speech and simple

14. An hundred times made plain,

15. To seek another’s profit

16. And work another’s gain.

17. Take up the Missions Burden -

18. The savage war or peace –

19. Fill full the mouth of Famine

20. And bid the sickness cease;

21. And when your goal is nearest

22. The end for others sought,

23. Watch Sloth and heathen Folly

24. Bring all your hope to nought.

25. Take up the Missions Burden –

26. No tawdry rule of kings,

27. But toil of serf and sweeper –

28. The tale of common things.

29. The ports ye shall not enter,

30. The roads ye shall not tread,

31. Go make them with your living,

32. And mark them with your dead!

33. Take up the Missions Burden –

34. And reap its’ old reward:

35. The blame of those ye better,

36. The hate of those ye guard - 

37. The cry of hosts ye humour

38. (Ah, slowly!) toward the light: -

39. “Why brought ye us from bondage,

40. “Our loved Egyptian night?”

41. Take up the Missions Burden –

42. Ye dare not stoop to less –

43. Nor call too loud on Freedom

44. To cloak your weariness;

45. By all ye cry or whisper,

46. By all ye leave or do,

47. The silent, sullen peoples

48. Shall weigh your God and you.

49. Take up the Missions Burden –

50. Have done with childish days –

51. The lightly proffered laurel,

52. The easy, ungrudged praise.

53. Comes now, to search your manhood

54. Through all the thankless years,

55. Cold – edged with dear-bought wisdom.

56. The judgment of your peers!