Page:The Methodist Hymn-Book Illustrated.djvu/418

 406 THE METHODIST HYMN-BOOK ILLUSTRATED

were mostly written to be sung after his sermons. How precious is the Book divine, Blest be the tie that binds, are two of his best hymns.

Lord, dismiss us with Thy blessing appears in many collec tions from 1773 to 1780 without author s naJme; but in 1786 it is stated in a York Selection of Psalms to be by Dr. Fawcett. Dr. Julian concludes that Dr. Fawcett is the most probable author, though it is not in his Hymns, 1782, nor in his pub lished Works. Several of his hymns are found in the Gospel Magazine, but are not in his works.

��Hymn 800. God be with you till we meet again. JEREMIAH EAMES RANKIN, D.D.

Dr. Rankin was born at Thornton, New Haven, 1828, of Scotch and English descent. He has done service as a Con gregational minister in the United States, and President of Howard University, Washington (Columbia). He edited the Gospel Temperance Hymnal, 1878, and Gospel Bells.

This hymn was written as a Christian good-bye, and first sung in the first Congregational Church of which I was minister for fifteen years. We had gospel meetings on Sunday nights, and our music was intentionally of the popular kind. I wrote the first stanza, and sent it to two gentlemen for music. The music which seemed to me best suited to the words was written by Mr. Tomer, teacher of public schools in New Jersey, at one time on the staff of General O. O. Howard. After receiving the music (which was revised by Dr. J. W. Bischoff, the organist of my church) I wrote the other stanzas.

The Methodists took up the hymn, and at Ocean Grove five different organizations were heard to close their worship with it. Dr. F. E. Clark, founder of the Christian Endeavour movement, says it followed him as a benediction hymn all round the world. It was sung at the grave of the wife of President Hayes.

The hymn was a great favourite with the Christian soldiers in the South African War. The number of the hymn in Sankey s collection was 494, and this was used by the men as a password. On sentry, men meet and whisper, &quot; Four-nine- four.&quot; They write it in letters, and shout it as they or their comrades go to battle. They murmur it dying on the veldt. Chaplains in Khaki, p. 32.

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