The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1920-12-23

is ascIlpeu 10 DlSnOp or
Rome, about the year A. d. 139, and
Is common In both the eastern and
western churches.
An old English carol begins with the
notable words:
Behold a simple. tender 6abe
In freezing winter night.
In homely manger trembling lies,
Alas, a piteoUs sight
The higher critics have wondered
how the shepherds could watch their
focks by night, even in winter in
Judea, hut this presented no difficulty
to Robert Southwell, the author Of this
quaint carol, who as a Jesuit was i'm
priSoned In the Tower OF London, and,
after enduring the fortunes OF the rack,
was executed In 1894.
A popular carol mons the Germans
Is one written by Martin Luther for
his little son Hans. 1t begins:
From the highest heaven l come to tell
The g~laddest news which e'er befell.
A very sad story is told In connec
ton with this carol. In order to give
II realistic effect IN a certain Luther
an church 1t used TO be sung by a boy
let down from the roof Of the church
dressed as an angel. But one day the
rope broke. and the boy was killed.
This put an end 10 a very beautiful but
dangerous Christmas custom.
At a time when the liturgical and
biblical plays were popular the
Christmas carol was an important
feature. In Italy in the time OF st.
Francis Of Assist, in order to instruct
the people, the villagers came to the
church carrying lighted torches, and
there they saw the scene of the man.
ger filed with hay. and the OK and ass
standing in their places nea the
Virgin and Child. Then 1t was that
st. Francis and his friars stood by the
manger all night long, giving God
thanks that by this means the hearts
of the people had been touched.
Rare old Ben Jonson," In the days
Of the Good Queen Bess." wrote a
carol which begins ~ sing the Birth
was born tonight" And about that time
appeared q very popular carol which
is sung in "Merrie England" even to
the present day. the first line of which
Is God rest you. merrie gentlemen"
Some old Christmas carols have come
down to US in half Latin and half
English. Among them is a carol which
appears I'm the collection for Grace
church, New York city:
When Christ was born Of pure Marie
In Bethlehem, that fair cite.
Angels sang with mirth and glee
In Excelsis Gloria.
In this "Grace collection" there 10 a
Christmas morn by Or. Mackay
Smith.
The uncouth carrot Of the sixteenth
century has given place to the popu-
lar Christmas hymn Of later days.
Wherever the English language IS
spoken Charles WeSley's hymn, "Hark
the Herald Angels Sing" finds a place
in the sanctuary. 1t Is also translated
into the languages OF India, China and
japan. It's author was The brother OF
the founder Of M~ethOdism. He was q
Ut IOtt hhb al iVl lynn .
His masterpiece Is the beautiful hymn
Jesus, Lover OF My Soul" which was
sung by the Princess Alice at the
deathbed Of the prince cOnSOrt OF
England, the lamented husband OF
Queen Victoria.
"COmr all We faithful" Is the
"AdeSte Fidples'' OF the Latin, and
came originally from the pen OF
Aurelius Clemens Prudentius, a native
Of Spain, who tlNlrished about the
latter half of the fourth century
There is another hymn by the same
Latin author which begins with cot
the Fathers love hegotten."
We have two well-born Christmas
carols by American writer's. 80 Little
Town of Bethlehem" was written by
the popular Boston divine, Phillips
Brooks. SHOUT the Glad Tidings, tx
ulting Sing" was composed by DR.
Muhlenburg, the founder Of the Church
of the Holy Communion, st. Iuke's
hospital. and other charities In New
York city.
angels from the Realms Of Glory
Is by the great hymn writer James
Montgomery, who for thirty years
edited a Sheffield newspaper in Eng
land. He Is often COMPOUNDED witt
Robert Montgomery, who was ridi
culed and denounced by Macaulay.
"Sing a Song This Blessed Morn
was written by Bishop christopher
Wordsworth. nephew Of the grea'
English poet and father of the preserf
Bishop Of Salisbury. Or. Wordsworth
was Master Of Harrow. Canon o.
Westminster. and Bishop Of Lincoln.
"While Shepherds Watched Theil
Flocks by Night" Is by Nahum Tate
poet laureate. associated with thu
Tate and Brady version OF the Psalms
He died when In prison for debt.
The popular hymn "Christian'
Awake, Salute the Happy Morn" wa
written by John Byron, a Lancashire
man. who was esteemed a good schola'
and poet In his day. He was born II
Manchester In 1901.
The two eminent sweet singers o.