Scripture Verse

Where is He that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the east, and are come to worship Him. Matthew 2:2

Introduction

Words: Lydia A. A. C. Ward, 1895. Ap­peared in In Ex­cel­sis, 8th edi­tion (New York: Cen­tu­ry Com­pa­ny, 1900), num­ber 94. Note: This hym­nal gives the au­thor as L. A. Coon­ley. The au­thor’s full name is Ly­dia Arms Av­ery Coon­ley Ward.

Music: Oak Park Will­iam A. Bart­lett (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know where to get a good pho­to of Bart­lett (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

portrait
Lydia Ward (1845–1924)

Lyrics

A shin­ing star came from afar,
Upon a snowy morn;
An an­gel near sang Do not fear,
Behold! a child is born.
An an­gel near sang Do not fear,
Behold! a child is born.

Sweet Christ­mas then was giv’n to men
To bless the win­ter wild,
Since in a stall the Lord of all
Became a lit­tle child.
Since in a stall the Lord of all
Became a lit­tle child.

All hail that morn when Christ was born!
Wreathe hol­ly, pine and bay,
Let child­ren sing, let car­ols ring
To bless our Christ­mas day,
Let child­ren sing, let car­ols ring
To bless our Christ­mas day.