Jasper County Democrat, Volume 23, Number 77, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 December 1920 — First Xmas Carol Found in the Roman Mass [ARTICLE]

First Xmas Carol Found in the Roman Mass

were originally accompanied with a dance, and this carol dancing I* part of the rhythmic movement of, the Oberammergau play, as well as of the dances of the Shakers of Lebanon In New York state. The first Christmas carol in history 1* the “Gloria in Excel*!*” found in the Roman mass, and tn the Episcopal Book of Common Prayer. It is ascribed to Telegpborus, bishop of Rome, about the year A. D. 189, and I* common tn both the eastern and western chhrchea An old English carol begins with the notable word*: Bohold a simple, tender babe In fr**«lng winter night. In homely mang*r tr*mbl!ag Hee, Alas, a ptteou* eight. The “higher critics” have wondered how the shepherd* could watch their flocks by night, even in winter In Judea, but this presented no difficulty to Robert Southwell, the author of this quaint carol, who as a Jesuit was Imprisoned in the Tower of London, and, after enduring the tortures of the rack, wns executed in 1594. A popular carol among the Germans is one written by Martin Luther for his little son Hans. It begins: From the •highest heaven I come to tell The gladdest new* which e’er befell. A very sad story is told In connection with this carol. In order to give It realistic effect In a certain Lutheran church It 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 to 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 Assisi, in order to Instruct the peeple 1 , the villagers came to the church carrying lighted torches, and there they saw the scene of the manger filled with hay. and the ox and ass standing in their places near the Virgin and Child. Then it wns that St. Francis and bls 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 “I sing the Birth was born tonight." And about that time appeared a 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 in the collection for Grace church, New York city: When Christ wm born of pur* Mari* In Bethlehem, that fair cltle, Angels sang with mirth and gl** In Excels!* Gloria.

In this “Grace collection” there is a carol , ’commenclng “Over the world on Christmas morn,” by Dr. Mackay Smith. The uncouth carol of the sixteenth century has given place to the popular Christmas hymn of later days. Wherever the English language is spoken Charles Wesley’s hymn, “Hark, the Herald Angels Sing" finds a place tn the sanctuary. It is also translated Into the languages of India, China and Japan. Its author was the brother of the founder of Methodism. He was a true poet and a perfect hymn .writer. His masterpiece is the beautiful hymn “Jesus, Lover of My Soul,” which was sung by the Princess Allee at the deathbed of the prince copsort of England, the lamented husband of Queen Victoria. “Come all ye faithful” -is ' the

-Ademe FWries" of the Latin. an 4 cam* originally from th* pen of Aurelius Cl*«**n* Frudautlua, a nattvw of Spain, who fluuriahed about th» latter half of the fourth century. There I* another hymn by the "nmo Latin author which begin* with “Of th* F*th*r'* love begotten." We have two well-born Christmaa carol* by American writer*. "O Litt I* Town of Bethlehem" was written by the popular Boston djvlne. Phillipa Brook*. “Shout th* Glad Tiding*. Exulting Ring" was composed by Dr., Muhlrnhurg, the founder of the Churct* of the Holy Communion. St. Luke’* hospital. and other charttiaa tn New York city. "Angel* from the Realm* qf Glory** la by the great hymn writer Jataea Montgomery, who for thirty yaara edited a Sheffield newspaper tn Kk*r land. Re I* often confounded with Robert Montgomery, who wa* rid* culed and denounced by Macaulay. "Ring a Rong This Blessed Morn* w«* written by Bishop Christophe* Wordsworth, nephew of the great English poet 'and father of the present Hlshop of Salisbury. Dr. Wordsworth was Master of Harrow. Canon of Westminster, and Bishop of Lincoln. "While Shepherds Watched Tb*lr Flocks by Night” Is by Nahum Tate, poet laureate, associated with the Tate and Brady version of the Psalms He when In prison for debt. The popular hymn “Christian* Awake. Salute the Happy Mom.” wawritten by Jolin Byron, a Lancashinman. who was esteemed a good scholar and poet In his day. He was born in Manchester in 1001. The two eminent sweet *ing*r* of the church, John Keble and Reginald Heber, bishop of Calcutta, have writ ten Chrtaomaa hymns, but they lack those element* of popular aong which constitute the Christmas carol. Keble sweetly Bings:

Lfk* circles widening ’round Upon a dear blu * river, * Orb aft*r orb th* wondrou* sound la echoed on forever, Glory to God on high, on **rth bn peace The lines of the gentle Heber have their lesabn In these day* of commercial unrest: If gayly clothed and proudly fed. In clangerou* wealth w* dwell; Here Ind us of thy manger bod Aad lowhr cojiag* cell