I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day, Luke 2:14

The music for the hymn, I heard the Bells on Christmas Day, was composed by John Baptiste Calkin in 1872.

The words came from a poem written on Christmas day by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, over 160 years ago.

However, the oft repeated phrase, “peace on earth goodwill to men” came from the lips of angels, about 2,000 years ago, as recorded by God through the pen of Luke, in Luke 2:14.

I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old, familiar carols play,
and wild and sweet
The words repeat
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Henry Longfellow was born February 27, 1807, in Portland, Massachusetts (before Maine became a state in 1820).

His mother, Zilpah was daughter of General Peleg Wadsworth, Revolutionary War hero, Congressman from Massachusetts and a descendant of passengers on the Mayflower.

Henry’s dad, Stephen Longfellow, was a notable Portland lawyer who served in the Massachusetts State Legislature and United States Congress.  

Henry was the second of eight kids. He was enrolled at age three in a traditional “dame” school (picture a home school taught by moms, for the basic three Rs: readin’ writin’ arithmetic).

He later attended the Portland Academy and then enrolled at Bowdoin College at fourteen years old. By his senior year he’d published sixteen poems in the admired, United States Literary Gazette.

Upon graduation in 1825 (18 years old) with an excellent academic record, the Bowdoin trustees (his dad happened to be one) offered him a professorship in Modern Languages.

The position required travel abroad to prepare for his duties. Longfellow studied in France, Spain, Italy, and Germany and became fluent in eight languages and could read and write four others.  

In 1829, at 22 years of age, he returned to Bowdoin to start his professorship, teaching kids, almost his same age. Nevertheless, he was hugely successful teaching, and publishing his own textbooks, and writing, always writing.

However, his richest blessing, what established him most was to be able to call the carols familiar.

The old familiar carols play.

The best legacy left to Longfellow, what carried him through the hard times, and there were many, was not wealth or education, but being brought up in the Faith, rooted and grounded in the Bible, established in the ways of the Lord. The bells of the Church were like an old familiar Voice ringing, singing. Not religion. Not stained glass and steeple, but living, breathing, people. Jesus with skin on.

Leaving a legacy of loving the Lord, is worth more than all the silver and all the gold in all the world; more valuable than any education the world has to offer.

And thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along
The unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

When the bell towers of Christendom ring true, when Christians lift their voice in one accord, with Truth, for Truth, then, at least for a time, we catch a glimpse of peace on earth, good-will to men.   

A couple years later, in 1831, the 24-year-old Professor Longfellow married Mary Storer Potter, a childhood friend.

Then, rolled along the unbroken song of his blessed life and at the age of 28 he was offered the most prestigious position in his field: the Smith Professorship of Modern Languages at Harvard College in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Once again, he journeyed to Europe for a year’s worth of preparatory study.

Till ringing, singing on its way,
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime,
A chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

They weren't only preparing for Harvard, they were also preparing for something even greater; his dear wife Mary was pregnant.

Things just couldn’t get any better. They must've been ringing, singing on their way too.

No wonder he wrote so eloquently about peace on earth, good will to men.

Right?

Well, no, not exactly.

His writing about peace on earth good will to men, did not come from experiencing it in this world.

Remember, those words flowed from the lips of angels.

This world revolves from night to day. In this world, the only thing that remains the same is that everything changes. This world is under the curse. This world is broke. This world is corrupt.

Jesus puts it like this, “In this world you will have tribulation—”

Only God who abides outside of time remains the same. So, we must cling to His unchanging, ever abiding Love.

Jesus doesn’t leave us hanging with tribulation, He continues by saying “—but be of good cheer for I have overcome the world.” John 16:33. This world is passing away but be of good cheer, I AM making all things new, a new heaven, a new earth. Revelation 21.

Until then, there will be a battle...

Then from each black, accursed mouth
The cannon thundered in the South,
And with the sound
The carols drowned
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

On this preparatory trip, that started so joyously, they could've never prepared for what happened next.

In November 1835, the accursed mouth of death thundered like a canon.

While in Rotterdam, Netherlands, sweet Mary miscarried. The baby born only to be buried, and Mary died shortly thereafter.

Just like that, thousands of miles from home, he went from living a dream, to despising his next breath, for the pain that living brought.

Yet, he pulled strength from a place that education can never attain, and wealth can never afford, he clung tight to the old familiar Giver of peace on earth good will to men.

Later in life he would write in his poem, "A Psalm of Life,"

Let us, then, be up and doing,

   With a heart for any fate;

Still achieving, still pursuing,

   Learn to labor and to wait.

So, he stood with a manly heart against this fate, and was up and doing.

He stayed the course with his studies, even though at times it was impossible to think, for overwhelming grief.

But the world revolved from night to day and he trudged through the long winter and spring.

One thing led to another and before he headed back to Cambridge to begin his life at Harvard in the fall of 1836, he met Frances Elizabeth Appleton. (Fanny).

After meeting her, he knew his heart was not dead.

It'd take another 7 years, but on July 13, 1843, they were married, and his life went back to bliss.

As a wedding present Fanny’s father, Nathan Appleton, bought the couple the historic Craigie House on Brattle Street, a short walk from Harvard Square. It was the very headquarters of George Washington in 1776-1777.

One year later, Charles was born, June 9, 1844. Then, another year and another boy, Ernest, Nov. 23^rd, 1845.

Then...911

The accursed mouth of death struck again, on September 11, 1848, their little girl Fanny, only about a year and a half, died from what they called, congestion on the brain.

But they clung together and clung to the only One who can give peace on earth.

Before long, Alice was born Sept. 22, 1850, then Edith Oct. 22, 1853, and finally, Anne Allegra Nov. 8, 1855.

It was peace on earth goodwill to men in the Longfellow household once again.

However, not so with the world.

Henry had become famous worldwide, the most well-known poet in American history.

He used his pen to try and bring peace on earth good will to men. He wrote against slavery, but try as he may, from each black accursed mouth the cannon thundered in the South; the civil war began April 12, 1861.

It was as if an earthquake rent
The hearth-stones of a continent,
And made forlorn
The households born
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

War is a heart wrenching hell. It thunders not just far off places but the hearth-stones of every home. Even still, it is bearable, if the cause is just.

But when senseless tragedy strikes the heart of a home, who can bear it? 

Three months after the start of the war, July 9, 1861. Fanny placed some of Edith’s beautiful curly locks of hair into an envelope for a keepsake. While melting a bar of wax with a candle to seal the envelope, a few drops fell in her lap. A breeze through the window ignited Fanny’s dress, immediately engulfing her in flames.

Fanny ran to Henry’s study where he tried to extinguish the flames with a throw rug, then with his arms and body.

It was too late, the burns too severe, Fanny Longfellow died the next morning, July 11, 1861, at the age of 43.

Her demeanor in those final hours was described as, “perfectly calm, patient and gentle, all the lovely sweetness and elevation of her character showing itself in her looks and words.”

Even facing death in excruciating pain, just as her Lord, she looked to the joy set before her, and personified, peace on earth, good will to men.

Too severely burned, Henry could not attend Fanny's funeral. His facial scars made it too difficult to shave, and thus he grew the iconic beard.

Boston author John Lothrop wrote regarding Henry Longfellow: “I have never seen any one who bore a great sorrow in a more simple and noble way.”

However, Henry confided to a friend, “I am too utterly wretched and overwhelmed— to the eyes of others, outwardly calm; but inwardly bleeding to death.”

When Henry penned this poem, a war raged without, and within.

And in despair I bowed my head;
“There is no peace on earth,” I said;
“For hate is strong,
And mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!”

There were two civil wars. One without between north and south. Another within the Longfellow house, between faith and...  doubt.

His first wife Mary, and child, are dead.

His daughter, little Francis, dead.

His beloved Fanny, dead.

And now...

Charley's been shot.

His oldest boy snuck off to war, and joined the Union Army, without his dad's consent.

And now he's been shot.

God, are You there?

Do You care?

Or are You, dead too?

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:

“God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;

The Wrong shall fail, The Right prevail,

With peace on earth, good-will to men.”

It's Christmas Day, the Church bells are ringing, the war is raging.

Two wives and two children are laying in graves, far too soon.

His boy is lying in bed from a bullet wound.

Henry wrestles hurt and hate and fear and doubt—

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep;

The bullet through Charlie's left shoulder exited under his right shoulder blade. An inch one way might've hit his heart, an inch the other would’ve hit his spine.

Paralyzed, or dead. Instead, he'll make a full, but slow, recovery. 

In the pealing of the bells, Henry hears that old familiar Voice. He wipes a tear, picks up his pen...

God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;

The Wrong shall fail, The Right prevail,

With peace on earth, good-will to men.

Dear friend,

The Church bells rang on that Christmas day some 160 years ago, when Henry Wadsworth Longfellow through pain and victory penned that powerful poem.

When struck the bell rings.

The harder the strike the more loud and deep, the song echoes on.  

Those Church bells are still ringing.

You, are that bell.

Let’s pray,

Lord Jesus, we pray that our lives will ring True, that God’s not dead, nor doth He sleep. Help us reflect peace on earth, good-will to men, especially when we’re struck. Thank You for the blessed assurance that one day, the wrong shall fail, and Right prevail, with peace on earth, good-will to men.

We’re looking forward to celebrating CHRISTmas with You, every day.

We love You, forever.

Amen.

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