Scripture Verse

The star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. Matthew 2:9

Introduction

portrait
C. Louise Bell

Words: C. Lou­ise Bell, 1897. Ap­peared in Song-Land Mes­sen­ger No. 2, ed­it­ed by An­tho­ny J. Sho­wal­ter (Dal­las, Tex­as & Dal­ton, Geor­gia: Sho­wal­ter-Lin­coln & A. J. Sho­wal­ter, 1898), num­ber 76, alt.

Music: J. How­ard En­twisle (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know where to get a good pho­to of Ent­wisle (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els), or a bet­ter one of Bell,

Lyrics

Over the town of Beth­le­hem
Glittered a won­drous star,
Shining in night’s fair dia­dem,
Beckoning souls afar;
Magi be­held the mar­v’lous sight,
Followed the star’s clear beam,
Seeking the Babe who came that night
That He might a world re­deem.

Refrain

Hail! Hail! Hail! Hail!
Hail, lit­tle town of Beth­le­hem,
Crowned with a glo­ry naught can dim,
Birthplace of Christ our king;
Hail! Hail! Hail! Hail!
Hail, lit­tle town of Beth­le­hem,
Giving to earth its fair­est gem,
Around thee sweet me­mo­ries cling.

Over the town of Beth­le­hem
Hovered the an­gels fair;
Shepherds in won­der gazed on them,
Dazzled by splen­dor rare;
Heralds of Christ, the in­fant King,
Chanting, The Lord is born,
Tidings tri­um­phant did they bring,
A mes­sage to hearts for­lorn.

Refrain

Over the town of Beth­le­hem
Echoed the hea­ven­ly song,
Sparkled a star like a blaz­ing gem,
Hovered an an­gel throng;
Ages have passed, and yet we hear
Message of joy and love;
Glitters the star with a ra­di­ance clear,
It guid­eth our souls above.

Refrain

illustration
Star of Bethlehem
Elihu Vedder, 1879–80
Wikimedia Commons