Thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.
Isaiah 60:1
Words: Mary E. Servoss, in Holy Voices, edited by Isaiah Baltzell & Edmund S. Lorenz (Dayton, Ohio: William J. Shuey, 1883), number 235.
Music: Batangas George C. Stebbins, in Royal Hymnal, edited by Robert Lowry & Ira D. Sankey (New York and Chicago, Illinois: Biglow & Main, 1898), number 47 (🔊 pdf nwc).
If you know where to get a good photo of Servoss (head & shoulders, at least 200×300 pixels),
What means this glorious radiance
Across Judea’s plain?
These white winged angels singing
In such exultant strain?
Refrain
The King of glory cometh,
Earth’s broken hearts to bind,
And God’s salvation morning
Hath dawned for all mankind.
What means this wondrous story
The holy angels tell,
Of One who reigned in Heaven,
And now on earth would dwell?
Refrain
Why bend these eastern sages
To One of lowly birth?
What means this heav’nly message
Of love and peace on earth?
Refrain
Ye wand’rers in earth’s darkness,
On ocean deep and land,
Hail, hail the joyful tidings,
The morning is at hand.
Refrain