Wise men, seeking Jesus
Wise men, seeking Jesus. James Thomas East* (1860-1937).
This appeared in the Wesleyan Methodist School Hymnal (1911), and in many subsequent Methodist publications, including MHB and HP. It had seven stanzas. Its charm lies in its simplicity, with a vocabulary well suited to children, and to the metre of 6.5.6.5:
Wise men, seeking Jesus, Travelled from afar,Guided on their journey By a beauteous star.
But if we desire Him, He is close at hand;For our native country Is our Holy Land.
Prayerful souls may find Him By our quiet lakes,Meet Him on our hillsides When the morning breaks.
In our fertile cornfields While the sheaves are bound,In our busy markets, Jesus may be...
If you have a valid subscription to Dictionary of Hymnology, please log inlog in to view this content. If you require a subscription, please click here.
MLA style (see MLA Style Manual and Guide to Scholarly Publishing, 3rd Ed.)
. "Wise men, seeking Jesus."
The Canterbury Dictionary of Hymnology. Canterbury Press. Web. 12 Apr. 2026.<
http://www.hymnology.co.uk/w/wise-men,-seeking-jesus>.
Chicago style (see The Chicago Manual of Style, 16th Ed.)
. "Wise men, seeking Jesus."
The Canterbury Dictionary of Hymnology. Canterbury Press, accessed April 12, 2026,
http://www.hymnology.co.uk/w/wise-men,-seeking-jesus.