--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Clegg collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 11 number: 3 published: 1908-01 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'Clegg, "A Christmas Psalm: A Poem," *Improvement Era* 11, no. 3 (January 1908): 207.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1103unse 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: improvementera1103unse start_page: 207 end_page: 207 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1908-01) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1103unse publication_year: 1908 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 1908, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # A Christmas Psalm: A Poem A CHRISTMAS PSALM. (For the Improvement Era.) Up through the shadowed centuries of time, The swelling echo of a song sublime, Breaks o'er the troubled earth this Christmas tide, And scatters peace, good will, on every side. High in the realms of bliss the music rings, Deep in the heart of man its message clings; And time shall never cease to roll along, The never-ending glory of that song. Dumb lips of bells awake with righteous glee, And hurl the welcome strain o'er land and sea; And hearts vibrate with ecstasy and love, And harmony divine, like that above. Its magic spirit charms the loving eye, And lifts it to that star of faith on high. Which lights the path wise men have ever gone, Through life's dim night, unto eternal dawn. When rings the anthem of Judea's hills, Rare visions flood the soul, the bosom thrills, And eyes, the holy scenes would fain prolong. Which cluster 'round the memory of that song. Sweet, soul-enchanting message from above, Ring till the hearts of men are tuned with love ; Thrill, 'till tongues cf all his name confess. Who died a fallen world to save and bless. Wake, mortal lips, and chant the psalm of yore. While angels throng upon the golden shore: And tune their silvery harp — their voices raise. In songs of triumph to the Master's praise. "Glory forever, be to God on high," Oh, swell the melody from earth to sky, While heaven echoes back the joy again, "O'er all the earth be peace, good will to men!" Ci.Ei;(;