This month, our Advent worship series has been, Follow the Star. We have explored the story of the Magi as told by the author of Matthew. Our reflection on this text has included prayer, a children’s pageant, proclamation, and also music. The most familiar hymn that recalls this story is We Three Kings, which can be found in the UM Hymnal. The following is some background on that famous hymn.
Pastor Brenda
Hymn Story: We Three Kings…article by Canon Keith Evans (edited)
Written by John Henry Hopkins [1820-1891] John was a gifted academic, artist and musician. He worked as a journalist before training for the priesthood at the General Theological Seminary in New York. As well as being an author, illustrator and designer he taught music at the Seminary. During this time he also edited the Episcopal Church Journal. Later he served as Rector of Christchurch, Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
Hopkins was a prominent clergyman and delivered the eulogy at the funeral of President Ulysses S. Grant in 1855.
It’s sometimes suggested that We Three Kings was written for a Christmas Pageant performed by the ordinands of the General Seminary in 1857. It’s more likely, however, that he wrote the Carol as a Christmas present for his nephews and nieces. It was a great hit with the family and the Carol very quickly gained popularity. It was first printed in his Carols, Hymns and Songs in 1863.
As well as writing the words Hopkins composed the rousing tune, Kings of Orient. The Carol celebrates the Epiphany, the arrival of the wise men with their gifts of symbolic meaning [Matthew 2.1-12]. However, the Gospel only tells us about the three gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh, it doesn’t record how many wise men there actually were. That is left to Christian tradition and folklore. In the Orthodox Church the number of Magi is usually thought to be twelve. In the western Church we think of three. We have even made them kings and given them names, Melchior, Caspar and Balthazar.
John Hopkins took the well known traditions surrounding the coming of the wise men. He even presents us with a theological interpretation of the meaning of the gifts. Gold is given to the newborn king. Frankincense is offered to God’s own Son. Myrrh speaks of the passion and death of the Saviour.