Shall We Meet?

Words, by Horace L. Hastings Music by Elihu S. Rice

"Shall we meet beyond the river,
Where the surges cease to roll?”

While secretary and chorister of the Baptist Sunday-school at Logansport, Mr. Rice composed the music of this song and sent it to the Rev. Robert Lowry, then editor of the musical department of the ”Young Reaper,” a Sunday-school paper published in Philadelphia. It was accepted and first published in that periodical. Years passed before the composer realized its popularity.

"The first notice I received, ”he says,” of the favorable reception of ' Shall we meet' by the musical public was from Mr. Sankey, in a very kind letter written in August, 1879, thirteen years after its first publication. While music has been written for those words by a number of eminent musical composers, I have the satisfaction of knowing that my music has received the choice and approval of Mr. Hastings, the author of the words."