Scripture Verse

Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with? Mark 10:38

Introduction

portrait
Earl B. Marlatt
1892–1976

Words: Earl B. Mar­latt, 1926. Mar­latt was on the fa­cul­ty at the Bos­ton Un­i­ver­si­ty The­o­log­ic­al Sem­ina­ry School of Re­li­gious Ed­u­ca­tion when he was asked to write an orig­in­al hymn for a con­se­cr­ation ser­vice.

Music: Bea­con Hill Har­ry S. Ma­son, 1924 (🔊 pdf nwc). Ma­son was a grad­u­ate stu­dent at the same school.

If you know where to get a good pho­to of Ma­son (head-and-shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

illustration
Compassion
William Bouguereau
1825–1905

Lyrics

Are ye able, said the Master,
To be crucified with Me?
Yea, the sturdy dreamers answered,
To the death we follow Thee.

Refrain

Lord, we are able. Our spirits are Thine.
Remold them, make us, like Thee, divine.
Thy guiding radiance above us shall be
A beacon to God, to love and loyalty.

Are you able to relinquish
Purple dreams of power and fame,
To go down into the Garden,
Or to die a death of shame?

Refrain

Are ye able, when the anguish
Racks your mind and heart with pain,
To forgive the souls who wrong you,
Who would make your striving vain?

Refrain

Are ye able to remember,
When a thief lifts up his eyes,
That his pardoned soul is worthy
Of a place in paradise?

Refrain

Are ye able when the shadows
Close around you with the sod,
To believe that spirit triumphs,
To commend your soul to God?

Refrain

Are ye able? Still the Master
Whispers down eternity,
And heroic spirits answer,
Now as then in Galilee.

Refrain