February 26, 2005

God Be With You

Jeremiah Eames Rankin, 1828-1904

    The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen. Romans 16:20.

It is my joy in life to find at every turning of the road,
The strong arms of a comrade kind to help me onward with my load.
And since I have no gold to give, and love alone can make amends --
My daily prayer is, while I live, "God, make me worthy of my friends." ~Unknown

    Rankin attended Middlebury College, Vermont, and the Andover Theological Seminary. After ordination in 1855, he pastored at churches in New York; St. Albans, Vermont; Charlestown, Massachusetts; at the First Congregational Church in Washington, DC, for 15 years; and at the Valley Congregational Church, Orange, New Jersey. In 1889, he became president of Howard University.
    Written as a Christian good-bye, it was called forth by no person or occasion, but was deliberately composed as a Christian hymn on the basis of the etymology of “good-bye,” which is “God be with you.” The first stanza was written and sent to two composers — one of unusual note, the other wholly unknown and not thoroughly educated in music. I selected the composition of the latter, submit­ted it to J. W. Bischoff — the musical director of a little book we were preparing — who approved of it, but made some criticisms, which were adopted. It was sung for the first time one evening in the First Congregational Church in Washington, of which I was then the pastor and Mr. Bischoff the organist. I attributed its popularity in no little part to the music to which it was set. It was a wedding of words and music, at which it was my function to preside; but Mr. Tomer should have his full share of the family honor.

    Other hymns by Jeremiah Rankin include:

God be with you till we meet again;
By His counsels guide, uphold you,
With His sheep securely fold you;
God be with you till we meet again.

God be with you till we meet again;
Neath His wings protecting hide you;
Daily manna still provide you;
God be with you till we meet again.

God be with you till we meet again;
With the oil of joy anoint you;
Sacred ministries appoint you;
God be with you till we meet again.

God be with you till we meet again;
When life’s perils thick confound you;
Put His arms unfailing round you;
God be with you till we meet again.

God be with you till we meet again;
Of His promises remind you;
For life’s upper garner bind you;
God be with you till we meet again.

God be with you till we meet again;
Sicknesses and sorrows taking,
Never leaving or forsaking;
God be with you till we meet again.

God be with you till we meet again;
Keep love’s banner floating o’er you,
Strike death’s threatening wave before you;
God be with you till we meet again.

God be with you till we meet again;
Ended when for you earth’s story,
Israel’s chariot sweep to glory;
God be with you till we meet again.

Chorus:
Till we meet, till we meet,
Till we meet at Jesus’ feet;
Till we meet, till we meet,
God be with you till we meet again.