Now here's a question for you. What do the songs "Up On The Housetop" (click, click, click) and "Who Is He In Yonder Stall" have in common? ... Give Up? They both were written by the same person, Benjamin Russell Hanby. He is also the author of "Darling Nellie Gray", written in 1856, about some of the evils of slavery. "Up on the Housetop," was composed in 1864 while he was serving as minister of a church in Dayton, Ohio. The hymn "Who is He in Yonder Stall" was written in 1866. Born July 22, 1833 near Rushville, Ohio, he later moved to Westerville, Ohio to attend Otterbein College. He was a father, a minister, and an abolitionist. His home was a stop for the Underground Railroad and he helped free slaves. The "Hanby House" where he lived in Westerville is now owned by the Ohio Historical Society and is open as a museum. The Ohio Historical Marker next to his grave reads: "Song writer and minister of the United Brethren Church. Hanby was an Otterbein College graduate, class of 1858." The last song he wrote before he died, at the age of 33, was, "Who is He in Yonder Stall". This is one of the clearest expositions of the life and work of Christ. We used to teach this hymn to children when we did children's work because it so clearly outlines the key aspects of the life of Christ. All it is missing is a verse about Christ's promised return. It is usually sung as shown below, but often musical artists sing it as a series of questions with each question followed by the answer given in the refrain.(1) Who is He in yonder stall
At Whose feet the shepherds fall?
Who is He in deep distress,
Fasting in the wilderness?
Refrain
'Tis the Lord! O wondrous story!
'Tis the Lord! the King of glory!
At His feet we humbly fall,
Crown Him! crown Him, Lord of all!
(2) Who is He the people bless
For His words of gentleness?
Who is He to Whom they bring
All the sick and sorrowing?
Refrain
'Tis the Lord! O wondrous story!
'Tis the Lord! the King of glory!
At His feet we humbly fall,
Crown Him! crown Him, Lord of all!
(3) Who is He that stands and weeps
At the grave where Lazarus sleeps?
Who is He the gathering throng
Greet with loud triumphant song?
Refrain
'Tis the Lord! O wondrous story!
'Tis the Lord! the King of glory!
At His feet we humbly fall,
Crown Him! crown Him, Lord of all!
(4) Lo! at midnight, who is He
Prays in dark Gethsemane?
Who is He on yonder tree
Dies in grief and agony?
Refrain
'Tis the Lord! O wondrous story!
'Tis the Lord! the King of glory!
At His feet we humbly fall,
Crown Him! crown Him, Lord of all!
(5) Who is He that from the grave
Comes to heal and help and save?
Who is He that from His throne
Rules through all the world alone?
Refrain
'Tis the Lord! O wondrous story!
'Tis the Lord! the King of glory!
At His feet we humbly fall,
Crown Him! crown Him, Lord of all!
You can listen to it here. LISTEN
1 comment:
Benjamin R. Hanby actually composed his song "Santa Claus" (now known as "Up on the House Top") in December 1864 when he was living in New Paris, Ohio. He had resigned from ministry in the United Brethren Church the previous summer. The house in Westerville was his parents' home. Ben lived there from 1854 to 1858 when he graduated from Otterbein University. He did assist his parents in their Underground Railroad activities. The home is one of three United Methodist Heritage Landmarks in the state of Ohio. Benjamin's father, William Hanby, was the fifteenth Bishop of the United Brethren Church. Vist our website at www.hanbyhouse.org.
submitted by Pamela Allen, Site Manager at Hanby House.
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