THE MISSION BELLS OF MONTEREY

O bells that rang, O bells that sang

Above the martyrs’ wilderness,

Till from that reddened coast-line sprang

The Gospel seed to cheer and bless,

What are your garnered sheaves to-day?

O Mission bells! Eleison bells!

O Mission bells of Monterey!

O bells that crash, O bells that clash

Above the chimney-crowded plain,

On wall and tower your voices dash,

But never with the old refrain;

In mart and temple gone astray!

Ye dangle bells! Ye jangle bells!

Ye wrangle bells of Monterey!

O bells that die, so far, so nigh,

Come back once more across the sea;

Not with the zealot's furious cry,

Not with the creed's austerity;

Come with His love alone to stay,

O Mission bells! Eleison bells!

O Mission bells of Monterey!