He was a pastor, editor and secretary born in Mount Vernon, Indiana, who studied initially at Simpson College before moving to further education at Iowa Wesleyan University. After graduation he entered the Boston University School of Theology and became a pastor.
His career saw him pasturing in Kansas, Illinois, Iowa, New York and Rhode Island and while in New York he would also work for the Methodist Episcopal Church where he would be the editor of their Sunday School materials. He would also hold the position of Secretary of the Board of Sunday Schools and the Sunday School Union and was the joint author/editor of The Encyclopaedia of Sunday Schools and Religious Education with Benjamin S. Winchester, which was published after his death in 1915.
Around 1904 he is credited with writing the third verse to the popular Christmas carol “Away in a Manger”, which would be published with the music in Dainty Songs for Little Lads and Lasses where it was initially entitled “Luther’s Cradle Hymn” by the composer, James Ramsey Murray.
He died at his home in Maplewood, New Jersey, when he was 62 years old.
Away in a Manger recordings
Leroy Anderson and His Orchestra
Decca B0003552-02 (CD: A Leroy Anderson Christmas)
Kings College Choir, Cambridge recordings
London 444 848 (CD: Noel – Christmas at Kings)
Conductor – Sir David Willcocks
Sources: