116 It COME, 8s, 7s. SOME, thou long-expected Jesus, "Star of the East" is the title of this the first edition of the New Version of the hymn, which was first published in the Psalms, 1696, but in a supplement pubChristian Observer, November, 1811. It is lished later. It is supposed to have been also found in the author's Hymns, 1827. written by Nahum Tate, who was appoint"Few hymns of merit," says Dr. Julian, ed Poet Laureate in 1690. It is a metric"have troubled compilers more than this. al rendering of the story given in Luke Some have held that its use involved the ii., verses 8-14. worshiping of a star, while others have been offended with its meter as being too suggestive of a solemn dance. . has, however, become one of the most widely used of the Bishop's hymns." If to write thus of the "Star of the East" is to worship a star, then to sing Bishop Phillips Brooks's beautiful hymn beginning, "O little town of Bethlehem," would involve the worship of a town! Of course to address thus inanimate things made sacred by their association with Christ is but another way of worshiping him whose presence made everything he touched seem sacred. All seated on the ground, The angel of the Lord came down, 2 "Fear not!" said he; for mighty dread 3 To you, in David's town, this day The Saviour, who is Christ the Lord; 4 "The heavenly babe you there shall find All meanly wrapped in swathing bands, 5 Thus spake the seraph; and forthwith Of angels praising God on high, Who thus addressed their song: 6 "All glory be to God on high, And to the earth be peace: Good will henceforth from heaven to men, Tate and Brady. This Christmas carol did not appear in 2 Israel's strength and consolation, 3 Born thy people to deliver, 4 By thine own eternal Spirit, Raise us to thy glorious throne. From the author's Hymns for the Nativity of our Lord, 1744. It seems to be based on Haggai ii. 7: "The Desire of all nations shall come." It is one of Charles Wesley's finest hymns. And lo! from the heaven above, An angel leaned from the glory, And sang his song of love. He sang, that first sweet Christmas, "Glory to God in the highest, On earth good will and peace." 2 "To you in the city of David O never hath sweeter message Thrilled home to the souls of men, And the heavens themselves heard A gladder choir till then. had never For they sang that Christmas carol On earth good will and peace." 3 And the shepherds came to the manger, A Saviour is born to-day!" O they sang, and I ween that never On earth good will and peace." The reader of this Christmas carol will find a poetic beauty in nearly every line. So many Christmas songs have been written that nothing less than genius could produce something both new and good. It was published in 1890 in New York by Thomas Whittaker in connection with Truths to Live By. We have here the author's text unaltered and entire. date), it is designated as "Crusader's Hymn of the 12th Century. This air and hymn used to be sung by the German pilgrims on their way to Jerusalem." For these statements there does not, in the judgment of Dr. Julian, appear to be any authority, as he has been unable to trace the air referred to farther back than 1842 or the words to an earlier date than 1677. The translation above given was published by R. S. Willis (a brother of the poet N. P. Willis) in his Church Chorals, 1850. This led to the translation's being accredited to Mr. Willis, but he disclaimed the authorship himself and declared that he did not know the author and did not remember where he obtained the trans lation. 119 SHO 11s, 12s. HOUT the glad tidings, exultingly sing, 1 Zion, the marvelous story be telling, The brightest archangel in glory excelling, He stoops to redeem thee, he reigns upon earth! Shout the glad tidings, exultingly sing, 2 Tell how he cometh; from nation to nation, The heart-cheering news let the earth echo round; How free to the faithful he offers salvation, How his people with joy everlasting are crowned. 3 Mortals, your homage be gratefully bringing, And sweet let the gladsome hosanna arise; Ye angels, the full hallelujah be singing: One chorus resound through the earth and the skies. William A. Muhlenburg. Written at the special request of Bishop Hobart for the popular tune "Avison." It first appeared in Hymns of the Protestant Episcopal Church, 1826. It is unaltered and complete. "This is distinctly a Christmas hymn," says Dr. Bodine, "which can never lose The cho either popularity or power. Its language tival. I then wrote a chorus for it which Mr. is that of faith and hope and most buoy- Coombs used nearly as I wrote it. ant cheer." rus was as follows: "Glory to God! in highest heavens The angels' song resounds. In the first edition of the Methodist Hymnal this hymn was erroneously attributed to C. Whitney Coombs, growing out of the fact that he was the first composer who set it to music. 121 0 2 That song is sung by rich and poor, Where'er the Christ is known; "Tis sung in words, and sung in deeds, Which bind all hearts in one. Angels are still the choristers, But we the shepherds are, To bear the message which they bring, To those both near and far. "Glory to God in the highest," The angels' song resounds, "Glory to God in the highest!" Leigh R. Brewer. He The author of this hymn is the Protestant Episcopal Bishop of Montana. writes as follows on November 15, 1907, concerning the origin of the hymn: I wrote that hymn or Christmas carolwhich I called "The Angels' Song"-just before Christmas in 1892. I had just received from a dear friend a gift of five thousand dollars for my missionary work in Montana; and I wrote this as a Christmas greeting and remembrance. The last verse of the original, which does not appear in the hymn as here published, expressed my gratitude and was as follows: "God bless all those who help to give From burdens a release! God send his blessings on their homes And fill their lives with peace!" Meeting Mr. C. Whitney Coombs some time after that, he asked for the carol that he might set it to music. I gave it to him, and he made two settings for it in music, one as a solo and the other as a quartet, and published it. The next year I asked him to set it to music that could be sung by Sunday school children. He did so, and I had it published in leaflet form and had it sung in all our Sunday schools at their Christmas fes LITTLE town of Bethlehem, How still we see thee lie! Above thy deep and dreamless sleep Yet in thy dark streets shineth The everlasting Light; The hopes and fears of all the years 2 For Christ is born of Mary, While mortals sleep, the angels keep And praises sing to God the King, 3 How silently, how silently, 4 O holy Child of Bethlehem! Phillips Brooks. This fine Christmas carol was first used at a Sunday school service in the Church of the Holy Trinity, Philadelphia, in 1868, when Phillips Brooks was its rector. Mr. Lewis H. Redner, the organist of the Church, wrote the music for the occasion. As originally printed one stanza is here omitted, the fourth: Where children, pure and happy, And my heart shall rejoice, Lord Jesus, This hymn was first prívately printed in 1864 for the choir and schools of St. Mark's, Brighton, England, and in 1870 it was published in the Church Missionary Juvenile Instructor, of which the author was editor for six years. It also appears in her Chimes of Consecration and Faith, 1873. She was much interested in home mission work. She was a niece of Charlotte Elliott, author of "Just as I am." Bishop Brooks wrote other hymns more valuable than this, but they are not so well known. For example, we will name "The Voice of the Christ-Child" and "Easter Angels." These are not ordinary poems, but majestic songs, marked with originality both of thought and expression. They are natural and unpreten- 123 tious, but, like the man who wrote them, strong and sweet. For thy holy nativity. O come to my heart, Lord Jesus! There is room in my heart for thee. 2 Heaven's arches rang when the angels sang, But in lowly birth didst thou come to earth, O come to my heart, Lord Jesus! There is room in my heart for thee. 3 The foxes found rest, and the birds their nest In the shade of the forest tree; But thy couch was the sod, O thou Son of In the deserts of Galilee. come to my heart, Lord Jesus! There is room in my heart for thee. Thou camest, O Lord, with the living word, That should set thy people free; SILEN P. M. CNT night! Holy night! Round yon virgin mother and Child! Sleep in heavenly peace. 2 Silent night! Holy night! Shepherds quake at the sight! Glories stream from heaven afar, Christ, the Saviour, is born! Christ, the Saviour, is born! 3 Silent night! Holy night! Son of God, love's pure light Radiant beams from thy holy face, Jesus, Lord, at thy birth. Joseph Mohr. Title: "Christmas." From the German, "Stille Nacht! Heilige Nacht!" This carol was written for a Christmas service in 1818. The question naturally arises, Who translated it into English? And the answer is not at hand. It is found in C. L. Hutchins's Sunday School But with mocking scorn, and with crown of Hymnal, 1871, where it is published anonthorn, They bore thee to Calvary. O come to my heart, Lord Jesus! Thy cross is my only plea. 5 When heaven's arches ring, and her choirs shall sing At thy coming to victory, Let thy voice call me home, saying, "Yet there is room, There is room at my side for thee." ymously. It also appears in The Epworth Hymnal, No. 2, with this author's 2 Hark! hark! to God the chorus breaks, 3 It is my guide, my light, my all; It leads me to the port of peace. 4 Thus, safely moored, my perils o'er, The Star! the Star of Bethlehem! religion, but through the perusal of Scott's Force of Truth and the personal influence of a dear friend he became a devout and earnest believer in Christ. The above hymn was written to describe his religious experience and to commemorate his conversion, with special reference to the spiritual skepticism that had marked his unregenerate state and turned his life into a "raging sea," on which his foundering bark was tossed in the darkened night, when suddenly the "Star of Bethlehem" arose, guiding him to the "port of peace." 11s. 125 of hymns prepared by Dr. W. B. Collyer, 02 titled A Supplement to Dr. Watts's Psalms The third and fourth stanzas of the original, omitted above, are: 3 Once on the raging seas I rode, The storm was loud, the night was dark, The ocean yawned, and rudely blowed The wind that tossed my foundering bark. 4 Deep horror then my vitals froze; It was the Star of Bethlehem. In the third stanza above "was" has been changed to "is," and "bade" to "bids," "the storm" to "life's storm," "led" COME, all ye faithful, triumphantly sing! To Bethlehem hasten with joyful accord; The womb of the Virgin he doth not de- To Bethlehem hasten, with joyful accord; 3 O hark to the angels, all singing in heaven, 4 To thee, then, O Jesus, this day of thy Be glory and honor through heaven and earth; True Godhead Word! O hasten! O hasten! to worship the Lord. From the Latin. Tr. by Edward Caswall. Title: "Adeste Fideles." The author of the Latin hymn is unknown. This translation was made for the Lyra Catholica, 1848. The translator's title was "Hymn for Christmas Day." 126 C. M. 'HAT grace, O Lord, and beauty shone 2 For, ever on thy burdened heart |