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Introduction Mary Campbell: 1906-97 Faith's Outlook Mr. and Mrs. C. C. Steen |
Cut Off and Linked Up The Hidden Pearl John King Steen: 1910-75 A Thank You Poem |
| INTRODUCTION |
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This memorial owes its origin to a call from Dominic Carpani – an old and valued friend of John and Mary – asking for the Scriptures and the particulars referred to at the recent burial meeting of Mary Steen.
Besides their family, this memorial is primarily intended for ourselves and for some of our very close friends – who knew and loved Uncle John and Aunt Mary.
Gordon A. Rainbow, 1997
| MARY CAMPBELL: 1906-97 |
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Mary Campbell was born – in or near Blairgowrie, Scotland – on April 22, 1906, to Alexander and Elizabeth Campbell – who had been married on December 17, 1897.
The Campbell's later moved to London. They were among the little company there who began to meet together to remember the Lord Jesus in the breaking of bread.
Later, Mary's mother and Mr. Constable of Tillsonburg were married. Their home was at 67 (now Old) Vienna Road.
They had two sons – Alistair and Glen, and several grandchildren. Mary's family was dearly loved and always in her prayers.
Throughout their lives, John and Mary "devoted themselves to the saints for service", 1 Corinthians 16: 15.
After John was taken by the Lord – on March 2, 1975 – various circumstances led Mary to move to Woodstock, where she lived for some years.
On her 91st birthday, Mary had a severe stroke. The next day – Wednesday, April 23, 1997 – the Lord mercifully took her to Himself.
The following Scriptures and poem were read at the burial meeting:
M ary, does thy God now lead thee –
A nd with purpose in His leading,
R icher grace thy path endowing
Y ear by year, in His blest way?F uller, deeper, sweeter, calmer,
R uns the river of His grace,
A ll its joyous waters flowing,
N ever shall its glad outgoing
C ease, throughout thy pilgrim way.
I n the fullness of such power
S hine thy footsteps to His praise.C asting all thy care upon Him,
A ll the burden of thy heart,
M aking Him thy shield and tower
P roven in temptation's hour
B uckler, turning fiery dart.
E ternal God, a refuge and a fortress,
L ove Divine, a treasure and a stay,
L eads in brightening path its object
- on to everlasting day.
March 1932, John K. Steen
Mary entrusted all John's poems to me for preservation and for any use to edification. GAR |
This poem – as others by John Steen presented here
– bears a clear witness to the Scriptural principles and
practices that governed and characterized John and Mary's life.
F aith looks out and beyond it,
C ould ever a sight be like it?
No Date, John K. SteenFaith's Outlook – a poem – J.K.S.
Faith's Outlook
Page TopM isleading is vanity's glitter,
A round are its false delights,
R iches, honour and pleasure,
Y outh is enslaved by the sight.
R are are the things it sees,
A Risen Man in the heavens –
N one other than Christ could it be;
C hangeless in holy splendour,
I n His hands His sufferings trace,
S hining God's glory, radiant,
A Man in heaven, you say?
M ay the light of this glorious triumph
P reserve you in your way.
B e ever your joy and power
E ach day of every year,
L ooking off unto Jesus, knowing
L ove's task is to set you there.
| Mr. and Mrs. C. C. STEEN |
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| Mr. and Mrs. Clement Charlton Steen were the parents of the late John King Steen, and the maternal grandparents of Betty (Mrs. Gordon) Rainbow. |
In 1895 Mr. John Moody and Mr. E. E. Nichols visited St. Kitts, West Indies, for the preaching of the gospel which they held in a tent pitched in various places on the island.
Cut off from all worldly wisdom
Cut off from all worldly glory,
Cut off from all class distinction,
Cut off from the world that man made
By the death of Jesus cut off,
Linked up in the Spirit's power,
Linked with those who His name honour,
Linked in sacred ties together,
Linked together while we're waiting.
Linked with Him, with Him how blessèd,
Linked with Him, God's richest blessing,
What more could the creature ask for,
May 7, 1930, John K. SteenCut Off and Linked Up – a poem – J.K.S.
Page TopCut off from a world of violence,
Of corruption death and sin;
Cut off from its vain, false pleasures,
That destruction only bring.
And philosophy of man,
Who with feeble human reason
Tries the things of God to scan.
From its vanity and pride;
That behind which man endeavours
Moral nakedness to hide.
That which makes so much of man;
But which, in God's holy presence,
Cannot ever hope to stand.
Just to gratify his lust,
Thinking not that his sad finish
Is just death, his body dust.
Now my life's no longer here.
With this world I've no connection,
Now I live outside its sphere.
Linked with what's of God on earth,
Bearing God's own blessèd imprint,
His own sovereign act, new birth.
Those who own His glory too,
Standing thus apart from this world,
With the world to come in view.
Ties which God Himself hath wrought,
On this earth, in love together,
Safe we'll be to glory brought.
Linked with Christ the Lord, our King.
Linked in heavenly bonds together,
All His grace and power to sing.
Linked with Him, the Conqueror,
Sin and death and hell He vanquished,
Now He lives for evermore.
O what joy doth fill my heart,
With the Father's Well Belovèd
Is our blest eternal part.
What could e'er compare with this?
With God's Son to be before Him,
There in brightest heav'nly bliss!
It is never found in circles
Politicians do not know it;
The martial world, with glitt'ring fame,
The natural mind and sight, O Lord,
The Church is Thine, for Thee alone.
We learn its preciousness to Thee,
And as we realize through grace,
We're with the obscure place content,
May 7, 1930, John K. SteenThe Hidden Pearl – a poem – J.K.S.
Page TopIt is not known where church bells ring,
Where organs peal, where choirs sing,
And clergy take their stand,
Not where glimmering stained windows
With leaded pictures cast shadows;
'Tis foreign to that land.
Where commercial interest rules;
Never in the world of science,
Never learned about in schools.
No, their eyes have never seen –
Matchless worth and beauty soft –
Its most fair and lustrous sheen.
(All its feats of valour shown),
This sweet beauty, decked with grace,
It has never, never, known.
Although keen as eagle's eye,
The glory of this hidden gem,
Never, ever, can descry.
By Thee sustained and nourished;
By Thee its every grace is known,
Its fresh, sweet beauty cherished.
Its value to Thy heart,
For Thou to gain this costly gem,
With all didst freely part.
Dark though the day may be,
Yet here there's hidden from the world,
A treasure Lord for Thee.
By man unrecognized,
For we are of the Hidden Gem,
By Thee so highly prized.
| JOHN K. STEEN 1910-75 |
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John King Steen was only 20 years old when he wrote the two preceding poems.
I worked for him, in his bookkeeping service, for a year. The first few months, before Betty and I were married, I lived in his home. We also broke bread together. After moving from Tillsonburg, we often visited John and Mary.
As to his service to the Lord, he was "a faithful man and feared God above many", Nehemiah 7: 2.
His poems not only display a freshness of devotion and purpose of heart but, for his young age, a remarkable intelligence as to the assembly and our position in the world where Christ was rejected; his lifetime of dedicated service was true to his youthful commitment.