Who is He in yonder stall, at whose feet the shepherds fall?
Who is He in deep distress, fasting in the wilderness?
Tis the Lord! O wondrous story! Tis the Lord! The King of glory!
At His feet we humbly fall, Crown Him! Crown Him, Lord of all!
These are words to a popular Christmas hymn written by Benjamin R. Hanby. Benjamin Hanby was the son of a United Brethren minister. When he graduated from college, he served as the principal of a school in Ohio. Later, he preached in Lewisburg and New Paris. He composed another song quite popular among abolitionists of the time called, “Darling Nellie Gray.” It was a song against slavery. WE would think that a man of this description would be serious minded.
Mr. Hanby also wrote another song. Some of you know it, sing along with me. Up on the housetop, reindeer pause, out jumps good ol Santa Claus. Down through the chimney with lots of toys all for the little ones Christmas joys. Ho, Ho, Ho! Who wouldn’t go? Ho, Ho, Ho! Who wouldn’t go? Up on the housetop, click, click, click. Down through the chimney with good Saint Nick.
He’s not so serious minded as we might think.