The Project Gutenberg EBook of Elias, by Orson F. Whitney

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Title: Elias An Epic of the Ages

Author: Orson F. Whitney

Release Date: October 11, 2011 [EBook #37718]

Language: English

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ELIAS ***

Produced by the Mormon Texts Project, http://bencrowder.net/books/mtp. Volunteers: Jean-Michel Carter, Ben Crowder, Eric Heaps, Tod Robbins.

ELIAS

An Epic of the Ages

BY ORSON FERGUSON WHITNEY

Progress eterne! thou goest hand in hand With Life eterne, and naught but death e'er dies.

REVISED AND ANNOTATED EDITION

Copyright, 1914
O. F. Whitney
Salt Lake City, Utah

FOREWORD

"Elias" was begun in the spring of 1900, and was first published in the autumn of 1904, when an edition de luxe, limited to one hundred and fifty copies, and two less pretentious editions, were subscribed for by friends of the author. He was hardly a party to the project, the initial step being taken without his knowledge. Prior to that time he had read the poem to select gatherings in private homes and in two of the leading church schools, but had no thought of printing it so early, until solicited by a committee of prominent citizens to allow them to undertake, in his behalf, its publication.

That committee consisted of Governor Heber M. Wells, Senator George Sutherland, President Anthon H. Lund, Major Richard W. Young, and Mr. H. L. A. Culmer. These gentlemen, out of pure public spirit and a friendly feeling for the author, had associated themselves together for this purpose. Though aware of many defects in his work, and anxious to mend them before facing the public and the critics, he nevertheless accepted gratefully the very generous offer. All the members of the committee gave to the enterprise their hearty support, and two of them, Major Young and Mr. Culmer, conducted most of the business necessary to putting the book through the press.

Since the original issuance the author has endeavored to bring the work into a more finished state, and the results are now before the reader. The poem is in twelve parts—a prelude, ten cantos, and an epilogue. Following these are explanatory notes, for the benefit of students; the introduction of the epic as a text book into the schools being one of the purposes for which it was written.

The character and scope of the work are partly indicated by the title, "Elias—An Epic Of The Ages." It is an attempt to present, in verse form, historically, doctrinally, and prophetically, the vast theme comprehended in what the world terms "Mormonism."

THE AUTHOR.

DEDICATION

(SEE NOTE.)

  This song to thee, friend, chieftain, sixth to rise
  From him, the foremost of a seeric line,
  Mock of the worldly, marvel of the wise,—
  His martyred brother's son! May light divine,
  Which 'lumined them, forever on thee shine,
  Flooding with splendors new thy lineal fame;
  And ancient rays with modern beams combine
  To glorify a brow whose stalwart aim,
To merit heaven's high praise, nor fear a world's false blame!

THEME

(SEE NOTE.)

"And if you will receive it, this is Elias, which was to come to gather together the tribes of Israel and restore all things."

ARGUMENT

The aim of this poem is to point out those manifestations of the Divine Mind and those impulsions from human enterprise which have contributed in all ages to the progress of the race toward perfection.

Thus it deals not only with man's origin and destiny, with earth's creation, redemption, and ultimate glorification, but with events and epochs leading up to and having those greater ends as their decreed consummation. The Christ theme, in its heavenly and earthly phases, is supplemented by the sacred and secular history of man upon both hemispheres. God's direct dealings through prophets, apostles, and other inspired agents, and His indirect dealings through poets, painters, philosophers, inventors, discoverers, statesmen, kings, conquerors and the like, are indicated, and the experiences of the Church of Christ in various dispensations portrayed.

The title "Elias," signifying restoration and preparation,—the lesser going before the greater with those objects in view,—is used to denote and personify the Genius of Progress, whose beneficent workings, under the guidance of the Infinite Spirit, through the aeons and the ages, behind the scenes and upon the stage of human action, are the warp and woof of the entire poem. The medial point is the Dispensation of the Fulness of Times, the era of restitution, when the House of God is to be set in order, and all things in Christ are to be gathered into one.

CONTENTS

Prelude—The Author's Purpose

Canto One—As From a Dream

Canto Two—The Soul of Song

Canto Three—Elect of Elohim

Canto Four—Night and the Wilderness

Canto Five—The Messenger of Morn

Canto Six—From Out the Dust

Canto Seven—The Arcana of the Infinite

Canto Eight—The Lifted Ensign

Canto Nine—Upon the Shoulders of the Philistine

Canto Ten—The Parted Veil

Epilogue—The Angel Ascendant

Notes

PRELUDE

(SEE NOTE.)

  The work for Him I asked and aimed to do,
  Ere death should claim my dust, my spirit free,—
  That, looking down from where the wise and true
  Inherit glory, gracious eyes might see
  A spark I kindled beaming endlessly,
  And lighting other wanderers to the goal
  Where blends the life that is with life to be;—
  Now done, or well or ill, the lettered scroll
Of what is writ on heart and mind I here unroll.

CANTO ONE

As From a Dream[1]

Youth's morn was breaking, when I dreamed a dream,
Splendid as springtime's weft of wonders rare;
Idyllic vision, beauteous, bright romance,
Glory of love and glamor of renown.
I dreamed that fame held all of happiness,
Save the sweet charm that lurked in woman's smile.

Wealth wooed I not, nor power—to wear the sign
And wave the symbol of authority;
To speak, and have hosts tremble; or to frown,
And find all pale and prostrate at my feet. 10
But oh! to sway, like swinging forest boughs
In summer breeze, men's yearning hearts and minds,—
Sway them in duty's name, in virtue's cause,
By tongue of thunder or by pen of