Scripture Verse

There was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from Heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door. Matthew 28:2

Introduction

Words: Will­iam F. Dick­er­son, in the Af­ri­can Me­tho­dist Epis­co­pal Hymn and Tune Book (Phi­la­del­phia, Penn­syl­van­ia: Af­ri­can Me­tho­dist Epis­co­pal Book Con­cern, 1898), num­ber 753, alt.

Music: An­ti­och, ar­ranged by Lo­well Ma­son, 1836 (🔊 pdf nwc) (re­peats last line of each verse).

Alternate Tunes:

  • Boardman Charles Jeff­reys or L. De­ve­reux (🔊 pdf nwc)
  • Campmeeting Am­eri­can camp meet­ing tune (🔊 pdf nwc)
  • Dundee Scot­tish Psal­ter, 1615 (🔊 pdf nwc)

If you know Dick­er­son’s full name, or where to get a good pho­to of him (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

portrait
Lowell Mason (1792–1872)

Lyrics

illustration
The Holy Women at the Tomb
William Bouguereau (1825–1905)

All hail the morn! when from the skies,
At first gray light of day,
An an­gel found the se­pul­cher,
And rolled the stone away.

All hail the morn! when Christ arose
Triumphant from the tomb;
And shed a frag­rance o’er the grave,
And scat­tered all its gloom.

All hail the morn! when to the tomb,
The wo­men came with fear;
And heard the an­gels glad­ly say,
He’s ris­en, He’s not here.

All hail the morn! no long­er fear,
For now can all men sing,
O grave, where is thy vic­to­ry?
And death, where is thy sting?