“Beyond the company of the great and good 

stands a vast and varied crowd: 

no line must forbid their passage; 

some span of sympathy must embrace them too. 

No proud mysteries or secret rites guard the Christian brotherhood; 

even wandering guilt must be sought and brought home, 

and penitence lingering on the steps must be invited within. 

Christ will not remain head of the “whole family” 

if its forlorn members are cast off in selfish shame, 

and no gentle care is given to smooth their path of return."

Here is the beauty of the original – 

"Beyond the company of the great and good, a vast and various crowd is scattered round: 

no line must be drawn which they are forbid to pass: some span of sympathy must embrace them too. 

No proud mysteries, no secret initiation, 

guards the entrance to the Christian brotherhood; 

even wandering guilt must be sought for and brought home; and penitence that sits upon the steps must be asked to come within the door. 

Christ will not remain at the head of the " whole family," 

if its forlorn and outcast members are simply put away in selfish shame, and no gentle care is spent to smooth the pathway of return." James Martineau.