VIENNA, Va., December 13, 2011 — Among the favorites of Christmas carols and songs, surely “We Three Kings” ranks near the top. Everyone knows the basic words, and it dates to the Civil War:
“We three kings of orient are,
Bearing gifts we traverse afar;
Field and fountain, moor and mountain, Following yonder star.”
And then the refrain:
“O star of wonder, star of night,
Star with royal beauty bright,
Westward leading, still proceeding,
Guide us to Thy perfect light.”
The words were penned by John Henry Hopkins (1820-1891), an Episcopal Bishop, who was both a graduate of the University of Vermont and the General Theological Seminary, in 1850. Hopkins would go on to be a deacon, author, illustrator, and designer as well as a music teacher in his seminary. He also enjoyed working in stained glass.
He composed “We Three Kings” in 1857, but it was not published until 1863, during the midst of the Civil War. Actually he composed the words to this his most famous hymn as a piece to be performed in a Christmas church pageant for his nephews and nieces at the Seminary.
The second, third and fourth verses of the song place the spotlight of history on the three kings, who may have been wise men and in some writings were magicians. Whatever their actual calling was, they are now endemic to the Christmas story of the Bible. The final or fifth verse is a paean to the Christ Child with the sounds of Alleluia ringing across the plains.
Adoration of Magi Image: Fra Angelico
And here is where legend, apocryphal stories, and a variety of traditions through various religions step in to add their identification of the three men about which we sing. Suddenly they have names, Caspar (or Gaspar), Melchior and Balthasar (or Balthazar) who sing the tales of myrrh, frankincense and gold.
It seems that identifying them by name comes from a Greek manuscript which may have been composed around Alexandria (Egypt, not Virginia) around 500 A.D. and which was then translated into Latin. Another Greek document has surfaced dating to the 8th century, presumably of Irish derivation, which was also translated into Latin. It continues the story of these three men and gives other details into their lives.
You can read various translations of the Bible and find them referred to in different ways including as astrologers, but never are they referred to as kings! And never are they named.
They all came from the East and some think the three men were descendants of Noah’s three sons who survived the flood.
Sandro Botticelli, who painted the magnificent painting of the Visit of the Magi in 1475, used his own sons in the painting as the magi; thus it is obvious that the story was firmly entrenched by that time.
A 14th century cleric, John of Hildesheim, who added to the legend, said that the kings came from “India, Chaldea and Persia” and only met on the outskirts of Jerusalem and then continued on to Bethlehem to present their gifts. Some authorities attribute Caspar's gift of frankincense as representing divinity, while Melchior brought gold representing kingship, and Balthazar brought his gift of myrrh for humanity.
The custom of offering these three items as Epiphany gifts was common for centuries. In 1756, The Gentleman's Magazine reported that: “His Majesty, attended by the principal officers at Court...went to the Chapel Royal at St James' and offered gold, myrrh and frankincense.”
And even today some families retain a gift or two for giving on Epiphany or Twelfth Night, representing the date on which the three visitors arrived with their gifts to the Babe in the manger. Ironically, many families leave the Christmas tree, crèche or other decorations of the season up until that date as well.
The 3 Kings riding to Bethlehem
And so, whether these men who made a long and perilous journey that night so long ago were wise men, kings, or even astrologers, their part in the Christmas story remains inviolate.
During those dark nights of December in 1863, both in the North or South, it is doubtful that the men on the battlefields were even aware of this then-new song was in existence. They were busy merely trying to stay alive amid gunfire and the roar of cannon.
Above all, we can be sure that they wished for peace on earth and good will to men, as we do today.
Follow the column on Face Book or LinkedIn at Martha Boltz, and by email it’s MBoltz2846@aol.com Read more of Martha’s columns on The Civil War at the Communities at the Washington Times.
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