The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-08-22
THE MUSIC OF GOD BE WITH
YOU"

Rev. y. II. Rankin, author of the
words of this famous hymn, writes to
the Golden Rule:" "For the first time
in my life l am able to give some facts
about Williamc Gould Toner, whose
happy lot it is to have written melody
that has belted the earth. So President
Clark says, from his own knowledge.
Mr.. Toner is shy, like the nightingale,
another sweet singer. He comes from
German ancestors, who settled in Sus-
sex, now Warren county, N. j., on the
Musconetcong river, before the War of
the Revolution. There he was born
October 5, 1881, so that he is nearly
sixty-tive years old. The names of his
parentsl Iwere Christian and Ruth
Daniels) Toner. cat the age of five
William began to pick wool in his faith.
er's factory. attending school till he was
seventeen only three months in the year:
AT that date he began himself to teach.
"The profession of country school
master he followed with good success
till 1862, when he heard the call to arms,
and on September % enlisted as a pri-
vats soldier in the 153d Regiment Penn
sylvania infantry. Being an expert and
elegant penman, he was soon detailed as
a private clerk to Gen. o. o. Howard.
Eleventh corps, Army of the Potomac.
On his return home from the war he re-
sumed school teaching, until in 1865 he
received an appointment as clerk in the
Treasury department, where he re-
manned about fifteen years, when i'll
health compelled him to resign. Though
living in this city together for more
than ten years, the author of the words
and the author of the music Of God be
with you never have met personally.
"Mr. Toner comes from a singing
family, but he received his musical
training in the old-fashioned singing
school, being promoted by degrees to be
the leader of the choir in his native
village. 1t was while he was teaching in
Carpentersville, Warren county. N. j.,
in 1882, that the writer of this sketch
sent the first stanza of God be with
you to Mr.. Toner, some of whose musi.
cal sketches he had seen, requesting
him to we'd the words to music. The
result was the music now so famous. 1t
is due to truth to say that DR.. J. w.
Bischoff was the musical editor of the
Gospel Bells, in which the composition
first appeared, and first criticised it.
suggested some change, and gave it his
approval. Mr.. Toner never had the ad-
vantage of m usical education, but the
hills of Warren and Hunterdon coun.
ties, New Jersey, can testify to his
knowledge of music and the value of his
instructions; and not few of his COM
positions have found their way into print.
More recently. Mr. Toner has been
engaged in journalism, and is still con-
nected with "The Hunterdon Gazette,
High Bridge, N. j. But. owing to an
attack of scrivener's palsy. as it is called,
his hand has lately lost its cunning; and
in his feebleness he no longer compasses
that beautiful chirography for which he
has been SO distinguished. Indeed tits
feared that the days of his active labor
may be already numbered, and that the
composer of one of the most popular
pieces of music of this generation is to
be reduced to need of relief from others
after he has freely given cheer to so
many for years.
HE must have been a jolly school
master. His face is full of music and
kindness. You can imagine him sitting
at the melodeon, and with his two sons
and two daughters, all of whom are mu-
sicians-his wife, still living, was Miss
Elizabeth Starretz-trying the new
piece. in their humble home at Carpen-
tersville, N. j., on the left bank OF the
Delaware. The first time it was sung ia
public was in the First Congregational
church in Washington. where the author
of the hymn was for fifteen years pastor
Then Mr.. Toner was vigorous and elias.
tic in his movements. Now he begins to
feel the infirmities of old age, and needs
our help and sympathy. Although he
is good Methodist. the gentleman that
has been especially active in securing
these facts is Rev. Clarke Give, pastor
OF the Presbyterian church in Phillips
burg, and DR.. j. ii. Griffith. Mr.. Toners
physician, has been the historian"