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Doubting Thomas and loving John,

Behind the others walking on:—

“Tell me now, John, dare you be

One of the minority?

To be lonely in your thought,

Never visited nor sought,

Shunned with secret shrug, to go

Thro’ the world, esteemed its foe;

To be singled out and hissed,

Pointed at as one unblessed,

Warned against in whispers faint,

Lest the children catch a taint;

To bear off your titles well—

Heretic and infidel?

If you dare, come now with me,

Fearless, confident, and free.”

“Thomas, do you dare to be

Of the great majority?

To be only, as the rest,

With Heaven’s creature comforts blessed;

To accept, in humble part,

Truth that shines on every heart;

Never to be set on high,

Where the envious curses fly;

Never name or fame to find,

Still outstripped in soul and mind;

To be hid, unless to God,

As one grass-blade in the sod,

Underfoot with millions trod?

If you dare, come with us, be

Lost in love’s great unity.”