Callander Patterson.
Reading edition
Callander Patterson was born near Perryville, Cecil county, May 6, 1820. His education was obtained at the common schools of the neighborhood. Many years ago he went to Philadelphia, where he studied dentistry, which he has since practiced in that city. Mr. Patterson commenced writing poetry when quite young, but published nothing until upwards of forty years of age. His poetry—of which he has written much—seems to have been of a religious character.
Owing to causes beyond our control, the following poem is the only one, adapted to this book, that we have been able to obtain.
God Is Great.
Our God is great! and to his arm I’ll trust my destiny; For what in life or death can harm The soul that leans on thee?
Thine arm supports the universe, For by thy might alone The blazing comets speed their course, Revolving round thy throne.
They go and come at thy command To do thy sovereign will; Each one supported by thy hand, Its mission to fulfill.
Through boundless space, ’mid shining spheres, Those wingless heralds fly; Proclaiming through the lapse of years That God still reigns on high.
And all those burning suns of night That light the distant space, Declare thy power infinite, Thy wisdom and thy grace.
We try to scan those regions far Till vision fades away, And yet beyond the utmost star Are plains of endless day.
And when we earthward turn our gaze, With wonder and delight, We marvel at the lightning’s blaze And tremble at its might.
And yet, thy hand is in it all, For there thy love is seen: By it the rain is made to fall, And earth is robed in green.
The cyclone on its path of death That rises in an hour, The fierce tornadoes’ wildest breath, But faintly show thy power.
And though the laws are yet unknown That guide them in their path, They are the agents of thy throne For mercy, or for wrath.
Thus I behold thy wondrous arm And own thy works divine: Then what in life or death can harm So long as thou art mine?