Edmund Sears

Edmund Hamilton Sears (April 6, 1810 – January 14, 1876) was a Unitarian parish minister and author who wrote a number of theological works influencing 19th century liberal Protestants. Sears is known today primarily as the man who penned the words to "It Came Upon A Midnight Clear" in 1849.

Quotes

 * Death is a stage in human progress, to be passed as we would pass from childhood to youth, or from youth to manhood, and with the same consciousness of an everlasting nature.
 * Reported in Josiah Hotchkiss Gilbert, Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers (1895), p. 177.


 * Calm on the listening ear of night Come Heaven’s melodious strains, Where wild Judea stretches far Her silver-mantled plains.
 * Christmas Song, reported in Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. (1919).


 * It came upon the midnight clear, That glorious song of old, From Angels bending near the earth To touch their harps of gold; "Peace on the earth, good will to man From Heaven’s all gracious King." The world in solemn stillness lay To hear the angels sing.
 * The Angels' Song ("It Came Upon A Midnight Clear", 1849).


 * For lo! the days are hastening on, By prophet-bards foretold, When with the ever-circling years, Comes round the age of gold; When Peace shall over all the earth Its ancient splendors fling And the whole world send back the song Which now the angels sing.
 * The Angels' Song ("It Came Upon A Midnight Clear", 1849).