The History of St Paul's Church, Stalybridge: Factsheet
Thomas Freeman - Lines on the death of Rev. W Worth Hoare
To the members of the Stalybridge Clerical Association, with whom he has often met in social and friendly intercourse, this little volume is, with their kind permission, dedicated by their affectionate brother. THE AUTHOR.
Most of the poems were written between 1858 and 1872.
“He feels satisfied that in them nothing will be found of an injurious tendency, nothing to weaken the cause of religion or public morals, nothing that can offend the purest and most delicate mind.”
MUSE! Drop a falling tear – due tribute pay
Unto the mem’ry of departed worth;
The lyre’s light-sounding notes awhile now stay,
To slow and plaintive tones let it give birth.
A friend is gone whom we were wont to meet,
With whom we held close intercourse so sweet;
Snapt are the silver cords of friendship dear;
May God restore them in a better sphere!
Life’s fragile thread – how quickly
was it broke!
And loving friends have felt the sudden stroke:
Clos’d are the lips that poured forth wisdom’s streams,
Dim is the eye once bright with mild, soft beams.
Yet what looks dark to us to him is bright,
His soul now filled with clear celestial light:
Spar’d ling’ring sickness he was highly blest,
Called speedily form toil to sweetest rest.
Like to a rose pluck’d by some gentle hand,
Which in the garden may no longer stand;
For in the owner’s house it finds a place,
And spreads its fragrance and imparts a grace.
So was our brother ta’en quick from earth
to heav’n,
For grace divine to him was richly giv’n:
Thus made too good to breathe this earth’s chill air,
He goes to flourish in a world more fair.
But we are sad, for we can hear no more
His gentle voice sound on life’s rocky shore;
And we are sorry now we have to part
With one whose modest kindness won each heart.
Would he come back? Ah, no! with Christ to reign
Is happiness none can on earth attain.
O may we tread the holy path he trod,
And all at last meet near the throne of God!
from:
Freeman, Thomas M.
Spare minutes of a country parson:a
volume of miscellaneous poetry on a great variety of subjects.
Heywood, Manchester. [1872].
(The author was the Incumbent of Mellor, in Derbyshire.