Scripture Verse

Brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you. 2 Corinthians 13:11

Words: Lil­li­an Hud­dle­stin, 1897. Ap­peared in Gos­pel Songs and Hymns No. 1, ed­it­ed by George Hol­sing­er (Bridge­wa­ter, Vir­gin­ia: George B. Hol­sing­er, 1898), num­ber 151. Judg­ing from the lyr­ics, the song seems to have been writ­ten for gra­du­ating stu­dents.

Music: Ga­la­tia George B. Hol­sing­er (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know where to get a good pho­to of Hud­dle­stin (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

Introduction

portrait
George B. Holsinger (1857–1908)

Lyrics

We join to sing a part­ing song,
On this our part­ing day;
Not thought­less words and mer­ry eyes,
Shall mark our roun­de­lay.

Refrain

We part to­day—sad thought to all—
To meet, we know not when;
Perhaps un­til the Mas­ter’s call,
We may not meet again.

But not sad heart­ed will we go,
Where du­ties’ ban­ners fly;
We’ll brave­ly meet our ev­ery foe,
And at our post we’ll die.

Refrain

Schoolmates, fare­well, to­day must end
Our min­gled joy­ous life;
Our hap­pi­ness and joy must blend,
With toil and bat­tle strife.

Refrain

Farewell to all, may me­mo­ry blend
Our hearts in fond em­brace;
Till, in our home in Heav’n we find
Our fi­nal rest­ing place.

Refrain