By Ben House
From a crude log shelter the sound of voices rose above the howling winds. Though not in perfect harmony or tune, the voices joined together singing, “God rest you merry, Gentlemen, Let nothing you dismay, Remember Christ our Saviour was born on Christmas day . . .” Snow covered the frozen ground outside this shelter at Valley Forge; food was scare; hopes were few, yet these men could sing the words of Christmas songs with enthusiasm. These songs were the ones they had sung since childhood days.
Christmas songs are clearly an example of what the Bicentennial is all about. When the British colonists came over to the colonies, they brought the Christmas songs of their English and Welsh home countries. They brought us such favorites as “Deck the Halls,” “God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen,” “Joy to the World,” and “What Child is This.” Other Christmas carols we sing includes songs from Germany (“O Christmas Tree”), France (“Angels We Have Heard on High”), and other nations. Other Christmas songs, such as “O Little Town of Bethlehem” and the Negro Christmas spirituals, are distinctly American. This illustrates the essence of the American nation which is old world traditions with new world additions.
Back to Valley Forge! The very reason the American colonists rebelled against Great Britain is contained in the Christmas song. The first lines of the song are “Joy to the World the Lord is come; Let earth receive her King . . . .” America’s War for Independence was the result of England’s King George usurping too many powers and his assuming his absolute divine right to be King. Such powers were not recognized by the colonists in any earthly king, for the first colonists had come to wilderness America to worship the King of Kings. In the colonists’ view, kings of the nations of the world had to be subservient to the King of Kings.
When Christmas night fell on the soldiers at Valley Forge, Gen. Washington led them across the Delaware River to the enemies camp. The British redcoats and the Hessian mercenaries were having a roaring celebration. Washington’s army ended the wild celebration with a surprise attack that soundly defeated the British and Hessian soldiers.
Wonder what the singing of the Continental Army was like after the battle of Trenton? Perhaps they sang, “O come all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant, O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem.” This would have been fitting, for truly they were joyful and triumphant and yet they still bowed down to the King of Kings who chose to come in this world in a crude stable in Bethlehem.
Merry Christmas to all of you, and remember, “Let nothing you dismay, remember Christ our Saviour was born on Christmas day.”