James Montgomery (1771-1854), was only a small five year old boy when his parents decided to go to the West Indies as missionaries. That was a far cry from their beloved Scotland and too dangerous for a small child so they put James in a Moravian community in County Antrim, Ireland. When he was seven, he was sent to a seminary in England and sadly, when he was only twelve, his parents died on the mission field.
James had been shuffled from boarding school to boarding school while his parents were sharing the Gospel. Being left behind affected James and he did not succeed in school. In fact, he failed at several things until he discovered he could write poetry.
When he grew up, he worked for The Sheffield Register, deemed a radical newspaper at the time. James eventually bought the newspaper when the owner had to flee the country to avoid being put in prison. He later renamed the paper The Sheffield Iris and used his paper to speak out against social injustice and slavery.
An Irishman, under English rule, Montgomery himself was imprisoned twice for sensitive political articles and his activity as a leader in the abolitionist movement. Slavery was legal at the time and Montgomery was using his paper to try and turn the tide and set the slaves free. He was thrown in prison on two different occasions because of articles that he had written. Each time he was released he went right back to the paper and fighting the war for two things: freedom for the slaves and also freedom from Great Britain for the Irish.
In a time of political upheaval and great disdain between the Irish and the British, each side would read Montgomery’s newspaper. One would be looking to inspiration that would draw more to their revolution. The government, on the other hand, would also read it looking for something to use against James Montgomery.
But on Christmas Eve, instead of more division, Montgomery surprised them all by reaching out to both sides with his poem, Angels from the Realms of Glory. The tune that soon accompanied it, Regent Square, was composed by the blind composer, Henry Smart (1813-1879). The name of the tune, Regent Square, was borrowed from the Presbyterian Church in London.
Montgomery went on to write more than 400 hymns.
So many good words in this Christmas carol that It seems as if James Montgomery discovered what his parents had given their lives for. He has touched thousands down through the decades with his words about the Christ child coming to Earth for man. I especially love the second stanza, God with man is now residing. Is He residing in YOU? Make sure you know Him, Christ IN you, the Hope of
Glory. To be able to come and worship Jesus is truly a great privilege and He has made a way for each of us to come to Him anytime, all the time.
Be sure and share this message, as James Montgomery did, and touch souls for eternity. Worship Christ, the newborn King!
Angels From the Realms of Glory
Angels from the realms of glory,
Wing your flight o’er all the earth;
Ye who sang creation’s story,
Now proclaim Messiah’s birth:
Come and worship,
Come and worship,
Worship Christ, the newborn King!
Shepherds, in the fields abiding,
Watching o’er your flocks by night,
God with man is now residing,
Yonder shines the infant Light;
Come and worship,
Come and worship,
Worship Christ, the newborn King!
Sages, leave your contemplations,
Brighter visions beam afar;
Seek the great desire of nations,
Ye have seen His natal star;
Come and worship,
Come and worship,
Worship Christ, the newborn King!
Saints before the altar bending,
Watching long in hope and fear,
Suddenly the Lord, descending,
In His temple shall appear:
Come and worship,
Come and worship,
Worship Christ, the newborn King!
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