ving whose first impressive sense of the Divine
Omnipresence came with that line.

_PARTING._

"GOD BE WITH YOU TILL WE MEET AGAIN."

A lyric of benediction, born, apparently, at the divine moment for the
need of the great "Society of Christian Endeavor," and now adopted into
the Christian song-service of all lands. The author, Rev. Jeremiah Eames
Rankin, D.D., LL.D., was born in Thornton, N.H., Jan. 2, 1828. He was
graduated at Middlebury College, Vt., in 1848, and labored as a
Congregational pastor more than thirty years. For thirteen years he was
President of Howard University, Washington, D.C. Besides the "Parting
Hymn" he wrote _The Auld Scotch Mither_, _Ingleside Rhymes_, _Hymns pro
Patria_, and various practical works and religious essays. Died 1904.

_THE TUNE._

As in a thousand other partnerships of hymnist and musician, Dr. Rankin
was fortunate in his composer. The tune is a symphony of hearts--subdued
at first, but breaking into a chorus strong with the uplift of hope. It
is a farewell with a spiritual thrill in it.

Its author, William Gould Tomer, was born in Finesville, Warren Co.,
N.J., October 5, 1832; died in Phillipsburg, N.J., Sept. 26, 1896. He
was a soldier in the Civil War and a writer of good ability as well as a
composer. For some time he was editor of the _High Bridge Gazette_, and
music with him was an avocation rather than a profession. He wrote the
melody to Dr. Rankin's hymn in 1880, Prof. J.W. Bischoff supplying the
harmony, and the tune was first published in _Gospel Bells_ the same
year.

_FUNERALS._

The style of singing at funerals, as well as the character of the hymns,
has greatly changed--if, indeed, music continues to be a part of the
service, as frequently, in ordinary cases, it is not. "China" with its
comforting words--and terrifying chords--is forever obsolete, and not
only that, but Dr. Muhlenberg's, "I Would Not Live Alway," with its
sadly sentimental tune of "Frederick," has passed out of common use.
Anna Steele's "So Fades the Lovely, Blooming Flower," on the death of a
child, is occasionally heard, and now and then Dr. S.F. Smith's,
"Sister, Thou Wast Mild and Lovely," (with its gentle air of "Mt.
Vernon,") on the death of a young lady. Standard hymns like Watts',
"Unveil Thy Bosom, Faithful Tomb," to the slow, tender melody of the
"Dead March," (from Handel's oratorio of "Saul") and Montgomery's
"Servant of God, Well Done," to "Olmutz," or Woodbury's "