Evening star., 1937-12-19
By Mathilde Kolb Bartlett
~ HRISTMAS means to botl

HR1sTMAs means to both
I young and old time of JOY
Gus singing and feasting
~ Singing has been q part OF
Christmas ever since the angels sang
the heavenly Salutation, GLORY to God
in the highest and on earth peace
good will toward men," Men anG
women Of every nation have, since
then. expressed their Joy in innumer-
able and varied carols" as the Christ
mas songs are called. They are all
beautiful in their particular way
bringing the Christmas message closer
to the heart Of the individual accord
ing to their appeal and association.
No Christmas is complete without
the gentle, simple carol, Silent Night
Holy Night" IL has a universal ap-
peal and charm for all. It Is heard
on every type of program during tn.
Christmas season, and yet each time
1t vibrateS with the warmth of life
and love, all others transcending.
The beautiful words were written
by a young Catholic priest, Joseph
Mohr. The perfectly matched and
delightful music came from the pen
of an organist and teacher, Franz
Gruber.
Providence sometimes works strange
ly to bring about a desired result, and
it die so in the uniting Of these two
men in a work that was to make them
world famous.
Joseph Mohr was born in Salzburg
Austria, December II, 1892. He re-
ceived his elementary education there
and in Lyzeum with the Benedict
Order. During his school years he
showed unusual talent for music, being
an ardent violin and guitar student
and choir singer. He earned much OF
his education by playing and singing
He decided to become a priest, and
in August, 1915, he received his full
ordination. He served a congregation
two years and then became i'll. He
returned to Salzburg, his old home
to recover and rest. When he had
recovered he accepted the assistant
pastorate of the new parish church
st. Nicolaus of Laufen in Oberndorf
small town few miles from Salz-
burg. 1t was here that he later came
In close contact with Franz Gruber
Mohr was fine, kind-hearted young
man with a jovial disposition, whom
every one loved.
FRANZ GRUBER, the composer
was born on November Is, 1877
IN Hochburg, Austria, in a small lop
house called Steinpunckt in honor OF
the location and view it commanded
OF a STONY point" He belonged tc
line OF weavers. In his earliest
school days he displayed keen love
and aptitude for music. Franz's fathe,
was very much opposed to his sons
musical inclinations, and in spite of
the requests of his school teacher. the
parish priest and his sympathetic
mother, Franz was to become q good
weaver and earn an honest living"
EoWever, his good teacher arranged
t. teach him music and organ at night
after his work at the loom.
One Sunday the teacher, who was
also organist in the church, was i'll
and could not play for mass. This
was the little 12-year -old Franz's
opportunity. Franz went to the organ
and played the entire mass. His father
was greatly surprised, because he knew
nothing Of his sons musical studies.
He was so proud of him that he pur-
chased an old spinet for his son out
of his hard-earned savings. However
Franz was 18 years old before his
father would consent to his studying
and becoming teacher Of music, and