This hymn was often sung as a farewell to Methodist young men on the Sunday before they reported for duty. It is 914 in the Methodist Hymn Book (1934) and 651 in Hymns and Psalms (1983) though slightly altered.
John Telford in "The Methodist Hymn Book Illustrated" said "The hymn was a great favourite with the Christian soldiers in the South African War. The number of the hymn in Sankey's collection was 494 and this was used by the men as a password. 'On sentry, men meet and whisper, "four nine four" they write it in their letters, and shout it as they or their comrades go into battle. They murmur it dying on the velt" quoting from Chaplains in Khaki p 32
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