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Jeremiah Eames Rankin

1828 - 1904 Person Name: J. E. Rankin, D. D. Author of "O Prodigal! don't stay away" in Light and Life Pseudonym: R. E. Jeremy. Rankin, Jeremiah Eames, D.D., was born at Thornton, New Haven, Jan. 2, 1828, and educated at Middleburg College, Vermont, and at Andover. For two years he resided at Potsdam, U.S. Subsequently he held pastoral charges as a Congregational Minister at New York, St. Albans, Charlestown, Washington ( District of Columbia), &c. In 1878 he edited the Gospel Temperance Hymnal, and later the Gospel Bells. His hymns appeared in these collections, and in D. E. Jones's Songs of the New Life, 1869. His best known hymn is "Labouring and heavy laden" (Seeking Christ). This was "written [in 1855] for a sister who was an inquirer," was first printed in the Boston Recorder, and then included in Nason's Congregational Hymn Book, 1857. Another of his hymns is "Rest, rest, rest, brother rest." He died in 1904. [Rev. F. M. Bird, M.A.] --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907) ======================== Rankin, J. 33., p. 951, ii. Dr. Rankin, b. in N. H. (not New Haven), and received his D.D. 1869, LL.D. 1889 from his Alma Mater. He was President for several years of Howard University, Washington, D.C. His publications included several volumes of Sermons, German-English Lyrics, Sacred and Secular, 1897; 2nd ed. 1898, &c. In addition to his hymns noted on p. 951, ii., he has written and published mainly in sheet form many others, the most important and best-known being:— 1. God be with you till we meet again. [Benediction.] Dr. Rankin's account of this hymn, supplied to us, in common with Mr. Brownlie, for his Hymns and H. Writers of The Church Hymnary, 1899, is: "It 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 to best suit the words was written by T. G. Tomer, teacher of public schools in New Jersey, at one time on the staff of General 0. 0. Howard. After receiving the music (which was revised by Dr. J. W. Bischoff, the organist of my church), I wrote the other stanzas." The hymn became at once popular, and has been translated into several languages. In America it is in numerous collections; and in Great Britain, in The Church Hymnary, 1898, Horder's Worship Song, 1905, The Methodist Hymn Book, 1904, and others. It was left undated by Dr. Rankin, but I.D. Sankey gives it as 1882. 2. Beautiful the little hands. [Little ones for Jesus.] Given without date in Gloria Deo, New York, 1900. Dr. Rankin's translations include versions of German, French, Latin, and Welsh hymns. His contributions to the periodical press have been numerous. --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology, New Supplement (1907)

J. W. Bischoff

1850 - 1909 Composer of "[O prodigal, don't stay away!]" in The Great Awakening John W. Bischoff was born in 1849, became blind at the age of two years, came to the Congregational Church as organist and choir-director at the age of twenty-five, and remained thirty-five years up to the date of his death on Memorial Day, May 30, 1909. He was a prolific composer, most of his work being of the lyric style. In his first book, Crystal Songs, compiled in 1877 with the assistance of Otis F. Presbrey, there are thirty-two tunes of his compoistion. During many years of his service he provided music loves with a series of monthly concerts, at which a high grade of music was rendered. American writers and compilers of sacred music by Frank J. Metcalf (New York; Cincinnati: Abingdon Press, 1925)

W. H. Ruebush

1873 - 1956 Composer of "[O prodigal, don’t stay away]" in Crowning Day No. 2 William Howe Ruebush (Will H. Ruebush) 1873-1956 Born: June 4, 1873, Singers Glen, Virginia. Died: October 6, 1956, Elkton, Virginia. A vocal music teacher early in his career, Ruebush directed an army band in France in World War I. After the war, he led many civilian orchestras and bands, and taught at several schools, including the Shenandoah Conservatory of Music in Dayton, Virginia. He composed many marches, including The Stonewall Brigade March, Shenandoah, and the Alma Mater Song for Tulane University. Ruebush spent most of his life in Dayton, Virginia, where he became president of the Ruebush-Kieffer Publishing Company. Lyrics-- Cross Goes on Before, The He Rolls the Stone Away I Am Happy Scatter Sunshine Music-- --www.hymntime.com/tch