Again, as ev­en­ing’s sha­dow falls,
We ga­ther in these hal­lowed walls;
And ves­per hymn and ves­per pray­er
Rise ming­ling on the ho­ly air.

May strug­gling hearts that seek re­lease
Here find the rest of God’s own peace;
And, strength­ened here by hymn and pray­er,
Lay down the bur­den and the care.

O God, our light! to Thee we bow;
Within all sha­dows stand­est Thou;
Give deep­er calm than night can bring;
Give sweet­er songs than lips can sing.

Life’s tu­mult we must meet again,
We can­not at the shrine re­main;
But in the spi­rit’s sec­ret cell
May hymn and pray­er for­ev­er dwell.