John Thomas McFarland – death, Dec. 22, 1913

Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,
The little Lord Jesus laid down His sweet head.
The stars in the sky looked down where He lay,
The little Lord Jesus, asleep on the hay.

The cattle are lowing, the Baby awakes,
But little Lord Jesus, no crying He makes;
I love Thee, Lord Jesus, look down from the sky
And stay by my cradle till morning is nigh.

Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask Thee to stay
Close by me forever, and love me, I pray;
Bless all the dear children in Thy tender care,
And fit us for Heaven to live with Thee there.

John Thomas McFarland died this date 12/22/1913, at his home in Ma­ple­wood, NJ.  He was born 1/2/1851, at Mount Ver­non, IN.

McFarland attended Simp­son Coll­ege and Io­wa Wes­ley­an Un­i­ver­si­ty.  He also attended Bos­ton Un­i­ver­si­ty’s School of The­ol­o­gy.  His pas­torates where in the following states: Io­wa, Il­li­nois, Rhode Is­land, New York, and Kan­sas.

It seems there is some disagreement about who wrote “Away in a Manger.”  Many believe Martin Luther wrote the first two verses.  Some think those two were/are anon­y­mous.  Though verses one and two may be in question McFarland is the acknowledged author of the third verse.