John F. Young

John Freeman Young (October 30, 1820 – November 15, 1885), composer of the lyrics to the English-language version of the Christmas hymn Silent Night, became the second bishop of Florida in 1867.[1]

The Right Reverend John Freeman Young S.T.D.
Bishop of Florida
Church	Episcopal Church
Diocese	Florida
Elected	1867
In office	1867-1885
Predecessor	Francis Huger Rutledge
Successor	Edwin Gardner Weed
Orders
Ordination	January 11, 1846 by Stephen Elliott
Consecration	July 25, 1867 by John Henry Hopkins
Personal details
Born	October 30, 1820 Pittston, Maine, United States
Died	November 15, 1885 (aged 65) New York City, New York, United States
Buried	Old City Cemetery, Jacksonville, Florida, United States
Nationality	American
Denomination	Anglican
Parents	John Young & Emma Freeman
Spouse	Mary Stuart Stockton
Alma mater	Virginia Theological Seminary

Early Life and Education

Young was born on October 30, 1820 in Pittston, Maine, the son of John Young and Emma Freeman. He was educated at the Maine Wesleyan Seminary and later studied at Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut, but dropped out after his freshman year. After joining the Episcopal Church, he studied at the Virginia Theological Seminary, from where he graduated in 1845. In 1865 he was awarded a Doctor of Sacred Theology from Columbia University.[2]

Ordained Ministry

Young was ordained deacon on April 20, 1845, and was appointed to St John's Church in Jacksonville, Florida. On January 11, 1846, he was ordained a priest at St John's Church in Tallahassee, Florida, and then became the rector of St John's Church in Jacksonville, Florida.[3] In December 1847, he moved to Brazoria County, Texas, where he served as a missionary, while in November 1850 he moved to Livingston, Mississippi. Between 1852 and 1860, he served as rector of Assumption Parish, Louisiana in Napoleonville, Louisiana. In 1860 he became assistant rector of Trinity Church in New York City. He was the secretary for the Russo-Greek Committee of the General Convention and was an ecumenical envoy to the Russian Orthodox Church.[4]

Bishop

In 1867, Young was elected as the second Bishop of Florida and was consecrated on July 25, 1867 in Trinity Church, by the Presiding Bishop John Henry Hopkins.[5] He retained the post till his death in 1885. In later years, while still serving as an active Bishop, he also lectured in Liturgics and Ecclesiastical Music at The University of the South.

Silent Night

Young is well known for being the one who translated the famous German Christmas carol Silent Night into English in 1859. He wrote and published the English translation that is most frequently sung today, translated from three of Joseph Mohr original six verses, in a 16-page pamphlet titled Carols For Christmas Tide.[6] The pamphlet also included other carols, like Earth Today Rejoices, Good Christian Men Rejoice, Here Is Joy For Every Age, Earthly Friends Will Change And Falter, Royal Day That Chasest Gloom, and Good King Wenceslas.

References

1. Underwood, Byron Edward; "Bishop John Freeman Young, Translator of 'Stille Nacht,'" The Hymn, v. 8, no. 4, Oct. 1957, pp. 123-132.
2. Batterson, H. G. "John Freeman Young, S.T.D.". A Sketch-book of the American Episcopate: 233.
3. "Young, John Freeman", The Episcopal Church. Retrieved on 25 March 2020.
4. "John Freeman Young", Hymns and Carols of Christmas. Retrieved on 25 March 2020.
5. "The Rt Rev. John Freeman Young, S.T.D.". The Living Church Annual: 74. 1886.
6. Parker, D. M. (19 December 1999). "Silent Night a Christmas Story". The Living Church. 219: 10.

• Crushman, Joseph. "A Goodly Heritage", Florida: University of Florida Press.

External links

• Works by or about John F. Young at Internet Archive