Mary Baker Eddy’s poem, “Christmas Morn,” was initially printed in The Christian Science Journal for December 1898. It was first used as a hymn text in the 1903 Christian Science Hymnal. Subsequent revisions of the Hymnal have included various new musical settings for the poem. This is a new, contemporary setting for today.
Author: Mary Baker Eddy (1821-1910)
Mary Baker Eddy, the Founder of the Christian Science Church, was a prolific writer. From a young age, she enjoyed writing poetry. These were published in magazines early in her life and eventually in a collection which she published later in her life. You can read more about this from the Mary Baker Eddy Library.
Five of her poems were set to music and included in the Christian Science Hymnal during her lifetime: Christmas Morn, Mother’s Evening Prayer, Christ my Refuge, Communion Hymn, and ‘Feed My Sheep.’ When the Hymnal was revised in 1932, two more of her poems were added: Love and Satisfied. Read more information about these particular poems, their original publication and inclusion in the Hymnal.
She loved many of the old hymns and songs, some of her favorites being; “I Love to Tell the Story,” “Wonderful Words of Life,” “I'm A Pilgrim, and I'm A Stranger,” “Galilee, Sweet Galilee,” “The Old Oaken Bucket,” and “Comin’ Through the Rye.”
Irving C. Tomlinson recorded the following description of Eddy’s love for music in his book Twelve Years with Mary Baker Eddy:
In addition to her appreciation of good literature, Mrs. Eddy had always been a lover of music. When she was living on State Street in Concord she sang soprano in a little home quartet. At Chestnut Hill, after the early morning duties were cared for, members of her household would be invited into the “pink room” for a service of song. Mrs. Eddy loved the familiar gospel hymns, and I well remember the sweet quality of her voice. She enjoyed listening to a member of the household who sang a high soprano. Also at Chestnut Hill there was a piano player and a Victrola, and although Mrs. Eddy seldom listened to the piano player she took keen pleasure in a few of the recordings by leading musicians for the Victrola. (216-217, Amplified Edition)
Tomlinson also stated:
At times Mrs. Eddy called the workers at Chestnut Hill to her upper living room, the pink room, about 8:30 in the morning for a service of song. Someone would play the piano and the rest would join in singing Mrs. Eddy’s favorite hymns from the Christian Science Hymnal or from Moody and Sankey’s hymns. Frequently Mrs. Eddy’s clear voice could be heard joining in some hymn she particularly loved. (274, Amplified Edition)
(This information was provided by the Research services of the Mary Baker Eddy Library.)
Composer: Désirée Goyette
Désirée Goyette is a composer, vocalist, public speaker and actor especially dedicated to writing, performing and publishing inspirational music. Désirée serves as a consultant for various cross-denominational music projects, facilitates songwriting and vocal workshops, and is a regular Guest Soloist for The Mother Church, The First Church of Christ, Scientist. Inspirational recordings produced by Désirée include: Heavenly Rest, a collection of original settings of poems by Mary Baker Eddy, and Let’s Sing, a vocal presentation of all the hymns featured in the New Christian Science Hymnal Supplement, both of which have been offered in Christian Science Reading Rooms throughout the world.
Désirée resides with her husband and two children in northern California.