Jingle Bells
Hildred Cyr
It's always good to check resources and I appreciate the opportunity
to do so. "Jingle Bells" was composed by James Lord Pierpont who
lived from 1822-1893. He was an organist at the Unitarian Church in
Savannah, Georgia. His brother, John Jr., was a pastor and his
father, John Sr., was a poet, a prominent Abolitionist, and a founder
of the American Unitarian Association. Pierpont was uncle of the
financier John Pierpont Morgan.
Hildred Cyr
Seattle
Dave64052
In article <349C79...@earthlink.net>, Hildred Cyr <hild...@earthlink.net>
writes:
Neat-O. This is the type of stuff that livens up Xmas history discussions. I
bet someday such trivia will be on every "Genius Trivia" set. <s> J. P.
Morgan, the old Robber Barron of banking, had a nephew who wrote Jingle Bells!
(only pray tell me that J.P. Morgan was not a UU too?)
Regards,
Dave
Glendower
POB 520291
Independence, Mo. 64052
ED
Hildred Cyr wrote:
>
> It's always good to check resources and I appreciate the opportunity
> to do so. "Jingle Bells" was composed by James Lord Pierpont who
> lived from 1822-1893. He was an organist at the Unitarian Church in
> Savannah, Georgia. His brother, John Jr., was a pastor and his
> father, John Sr., was a poet, a prominent Abolitionist, and a founder
> of the American Unitarian Association. Pierpont was uncle of the
> financier John Pierpont Morgan.
>
> Seattle
You are correct that James Pierpont was a member of the Unitarian church
in Savannah Georgia. You are also correct that he wrote "Jingle
Bells." However, these two facts are connected. James Pierpont was
also a member of the Unitarian church in Medford Massachusetts (a suburb
of Boston). It was while there that he wrote the song. This is a large
part of the Christmas tradition at the Medford church and is supported
by history. Since the Savannah church ceased to exist in 1860 and there
was no Unitarian presence in Savannah again until 1958 (almost 100
years) a good part of the history of that church may have been lost.
Since the Medford church has been in continuous existence during that
time, its claim to this piece of UU history appears to be the more
accurate. May I refer you to
http://www3.pair.com/montrsmu/carolshist/jingleb.html
--
Love & Peace Ed B.
"We covenant to affirm and promote respect for the interdependent web of
all existence of which we are a part.
Unitarian Universalist 7th Principle
ED
ED wrote:
<snip>
> However, these two facts are connected.
Sorry, this sentence should read:
However, these two facts are NOT connected.
Seastr
In article <349D9AD8...@mindspring.com>, ED <huma...@mindspring.com>
writes:
>James Pierpont was
also a member of the Unitarian church in Medford
>Massachusetts (a suburb
of Boston).
Ah, that would explain the "dashing through the snow.." -- which I would
believe is not that common for Savannah!!
Carder
Hildred Cyr
There is very little doubt that "dashing through the snow" is not a
common activity in Savannah. Of that I believe there is no question.
But it does seem to me it makes a better story to think of an organist
at a church in the South who was homesick for his northern roots, to
have sat down at the organ and written "Jingle Bells." But it seems
that was not the case. I do appreciate this new (at least to me)
information. Wish I'd known this when I lived in Boston (1984-1994).
I would have gone to Bedford to be a part of the holiday there.
Now, on to the next question. Does anyone know about Charles Dickens
and his Unitarian activities? As I have understood it, he was a
Unitarian when he wrote "A Christmas Carol", but later returned to his
former church. Why I do not know. So--he was not born a Unitarian,
nor did he die a Unitarian, but he was with us for a while.
I'll be willing to bet there is someone reading this list who knows.
Thanks,
Hildred Cyr
Seattle
ED
Hildred Cyr wrote:
<snip>
> Wish I'd known this when I lived in Boston (1984-1994).
> I would have gone to Bedford to be a part of the holiday there.
>
about a mile from Tuft's University which originally was a Universalist
school. Tuft's once held the stuffed skin of Jumbo, which was the
largest known elephant. Jumbo was part of the P. T. Barnum circus.
Being a Universalist, Barnum donated the skin to Tuft's when Jumbo
died. The skin was lost in a fire a few years ago.
--
Love & Peace Ed B.
"The sun can play tricks with your eyes on the highway;
The moon can lay sideways till the ocean stands still;
But a person can't tell his best friend he loves him
Till time has stopped breathing, you're alone on the hill."
John Prine
BoxHill
>Sorry Hildred, not Bedford, but Medford!
And not "Tuft's" but Tufts! <G>
Janet
//Dear Artemesia! Poetry's a snare:
//Bedlam has many Mansions: have a care:
//Your Muse diverts you, makes the Reader sad:
//You think your self inspir'd; He thinks you mad.
Dave64052
In article <349F33...@earthlink.net>, Hildred Cyr <hild...@earthlink.net>
writes:
>Now, on to the next question. Does anyone know about Charles Dickens
and
>his Unitarian activities? As I have understood it, he was a
>Unitarian when
>he wrote "A Christmas Carol", but later returned to his former church. Why
>I do not know. So--he was not born a Unitarian, nor did he die a Unitarian,
>but he was with us for a while.
>I'll be willing to bet there is someone reading this list who knows.
Dickens was in a terrible train wreck, about 5-6 years before he died. He was
actually a hero of sorts, pulling out many of the survivors, and even the
dead/twisted bodies. He thereafter was a tormented man, terrified of traveling
in trains, and usually drank heavily if it were necessary to get on a train.
Maybe it was this train wreck which was the thing that made him return to a
more "spiritual" church? He had his own "ghosts" to worry about too.
ED
BoxHill wrote:
>
> >Sorry Hildred, not Bedford, but Medford!
>
> And not "Tuft's" but Tufts! <G>
Correct! Sorry, I should know that. I lived a good part of my life
within a mile of Tufts.
--
Love & Peace Ed B.
" Be careful how you live your life for it is the only Gospel others
will read."
Helder Camara
David R. Burwasser
On 23 Dec 1997, ED wrote:
> Tuft's once held the stuffed skin of Jumbo, which was the
> largest known elephant. Jumbo was part of the P. T. Barnum circus.
> Being a Universalist, Barnum donated the skin to Tuft's when Jumbo
> died.
P. T. = Pachyderm Taxidermy?