--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Anderson, Bertha E. collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 6 number: 3 published: 1903-01 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'Bertha E. Anderson, "Peace Fetters," *Improvement Era* 6, no. 3 (January 1903): 216.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera0603unse transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers. identifier: improvementera0603unse start_page: 216 end_page: 216 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1903-01) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera0603unse publication_year: 1903 note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1903, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Peace Fetters 216 IMPROVEMENT ERA. splendor, blazing in the light of God, triumphant in the power of Love, an inspiration to all the universe. PEACE FETTERS. FOR THE ERA, BY BERTHA E. ANDERSON. Further searching out man's mightiness than test of kingly stand, Deeper rooted in his godliness than powers to command, Or than triumph over empire that may languish in a day, Is a furrow, narrow planted, deepened oft with rain of tears, Reaching straightway onward, upward to the summit of the years,. Where the watchword, overhanging 'mid the rock-domes, is Obey! There are criers after liberty—defiers of restraint, Who smother out the watch-note with the turmoil of their plaint, And deep along the furrow, their swords have thrust their scars; But a liberty defiant to the peace decreed to earth Is the answer crushing back upon the souls that yield it birth— And, sublime above the tumult, gleam the fetters of the stars. Children of the Law's vast order—yielding—they alone are free, As the pines that crown the summits, and the sands that stay the sea; Whilst the earth-worm grovels blindly in the freedom of decay;— Free as are the planet-monarchs—symbols of celestial heirs— For the pathway of obedience hath its orbit linked with theirs, And the peace of Him who measures, hides the bonds in priestly sway; Peace—there is no peace disrupted from the bondage of His will; E'en the waves and winds ebb silent 'neath the solemn, "Peace, be still !" And the worlds that rule the ages plow but one eternal field. Freedom hath their chaff and stubble, borne to chaos on its wings;. Fetters have their sons of promise, raised to leadership of kings, And the triumph of the Master crowned in mightiness to yield.