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Author: William Orcutt Cushing Appears in 11 hymnals First Line: They were watching on the hillsides Refrain First Line: "Glory to God in the highest" Lyrics: 1 They were watching on the hillsides, For the coming day, With the starry folds of night above them spread; When a glory flashed around them, like a ray, Thro’ the pearly portals on them shed. Refrain: "Glory to God in the highest," Came floating down the air; "Glory to God in the highest!" Seemed ringing everywhere; "Glory, glory," oh children, Come sing that song again, "Glory to God in the highest! Good will and peace to men." 2 Louder swell the joyful anthems From the angel throng; Over hill and vale the strains enchanted float; See the wondering shepherds listening to the song, Trembling, yet rejoicing at the sight! [Refrain] 3 Oh, the joyful, joyful tidings! For to you is born, Christ the wondrous Savior and the mighty King; Hail, ye waiting nations, hail the joyous morn! Happy tidings now to earth we bring. [Refrain] Used With Tune: [They were watching on the hillsides] Text Sources: The Dove by George F. Root and Benjamin Hanby (Chicago: Root & Cady, 1866)

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[They were watching on the hillsides for the coming day]

Appears in 4 hymnals Composer and/or Arranger: B. R. Hanby Incipit: 54345 31321 23243 Used With Text: The Shepherds of Bethlehem

Instances

Published text-tune combinations (hymns) from specific hymnals

The Shepherds of Bethlehem

Author: William Orcutt Cushing Hymnal: The Cyber Hymnal #12457 First Line: They were watching on the hillsides Refrain First Line: "Glory to God in the highest" Lyrics: 1 They were watching on the hillsides, For the coming day, With the starry folds of night above them spread; When a glory flashed around them, like a ray, Thro’ the pearly portals on them shed. Refrain: "Glory to God in the highest," Came floating down the air; "Glory to God in the highest!" Seemed ringing everywhere; "Glory, glory," oh children, Come sing that song again, "Glory to God in the highest! Good will and peace to men." 2 Louder swell the joyful anthems From the angel throng; Over hill and vale the strains enchanted float; See the wondering shepherds listening to the song, Trembling, yet rejoicing at the sight! [Refrain] 3 Oh, the joyful, joyful tidings! For to you is born, Christ the wondrous Savior and the mighty King; Hail, ye waiting nations, hail the joyous morn! Happy tidings now to earth we bring. [Refrain] Languages: English Tune Title: [They were watching on the hillsides]

The Shepherds of Bethlehem

Hymnal: The Standard Sunday School Hymnal #2 (1888) First Line: They were watching on the hillsides for the coming day Refrain First Line: "Glory to God in the highest!" Languages: English Tune Title: [They were watching on the hillsides for the coming day]

The Shepherds of Bethlehem

Hymnal: Chapel Gems for Sunday Schools #66 (1866) First Line: They were watching on the hillsides Refrain First Line: Glory to God in the highest Languages: English Tune Title: [They were watching on the hillsides]

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People

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W. O. Cushing

1823 - 1902 Person Name: William Orcutt Cushing Author of "The Shepherds of Bethlehem" in The Cyber Hymnal Rv William Orcutt Cushing USA 1823-1902. Born at Hingham, MA, he read the Bible as a teenager and became a follower of the Orthodox Christian school of thought. At age 18 he decided to become a minister, following in his parents theology. His first pastorate was at the Christian Church, Searsburg, NY. He married Hena Proper in 1854. She was a great help to him throughout his ministry. He ministered at several NY locations over the years, including Searsburg, Auburn, Brookley, Buffalo, and Sparta. Hena died in 1870, and he returned to Searsburg, again serving as pastor there. Working diligently with the Sunday school, he was dearly beloved by young and old. Soon after, he developed a creeping paralysis that caused him to lose his voice. He retired from ministry after 27 years. He once gave all his savings ($1000) to help a blind girl receive an education. He was instrumental in the erection of the Seminary at Starkey, NY. He gave material aid to the school for the blind at Batavia. He was mindful of the suffering of others, but oblivious to his own. After retiring, he asked God to give him something to do. He discovered he had a talent for writing and kept busy doing that. He authored about 300 hymn lyrics. The last 13 years of his life he lived with Rev. and Mrs. E. E Curtis at Lisbon Center, NY, and joined with the Wesleyan Methodist Church there. He died at Searsburg, NY. John Perry ================== Cushing, William Orcutt , born at Hingham, Massachusetts, Dec. 31, 1823, is the author of the following hymns which appear in I. D. Sankey's Sacred Songs and Solos:— 1. Beautiful valley of Eden. Heaven. 2. Down in the valley with my Saviour I would go. Trusting to Jesus. 3. Fair is the morning land. Heaven. 4. I am resting so sweetly in Jesus now. Rest and Peace in Jesus. 5. I have heard of a land far away. Heaven. 6. O safe to the Rock that is higher than I. The Rock of Ages. 1. Ring the bells of heaven, there is joy today. Heavenly Joy over repenting Sinners. 8. We are watching, we are waiting. Second Advent anticipated. Mr. Cushing has also several additional hymns in some American Sunday School collections, and collections of Sacred Songs. -- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology ================= Cushing, W. 0., p. 274, i. Other hymns are:— 1. O I love to think of Jesus . Thinking of Jesus. 2. There is joy in heaven! there is joy to-day. Angels joy over returning Sinners. 3. When He cometh, when He cometh. Advent. --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology, Appendix, Part II (1907)

B. R. Hanby

1833 - 1867 Person Name: B. R. H. Composer of "[They were watching on the hillsides]" in Chapel Gems for Sunday Schools Benjamin Russell Hanby was born July 22, 1833, the oldest of eight children, to Bishop William Hanby in Rushville, OH. The family moved to Westerville,OH where Bishop Hanby was a "conductor" on the Underground Railroad. In his short life Benjamin graduated from Otterbein, taught school, became a United Brethren minister, started a singing school, was editor for John Church publishers in Cincinnati and composed many songs and hymns before he died of tuberculosis March 15, 1867. His home in Westerville was Ohio's first memorial to a composer. It was a stop on the Underground Railroad for slaves escaping to Canada and is a national historic site, a Methodist church Landmark and a Network to Freedom site for the National Park Service. There is a Hanby Residence Hall at Otterbein University. Best known for "Up on the housetop" and "Darling Nellie Gray," Hanby published many hymns including "Little Eyes" and "Who is He? Mary Louise VanDyke