Blest be the tie that binds

416 Dennis. S. M.

1. Blest be the tie that binds
   Our hearts in Christian love;
   The fellowship of kindred minds
   Is like to that above.

2. Before our Father’s throne
   We pour our ardent prayers;
   Our fears, our hopes, our aims are one
   Our comforts and our cares.

3. We share each other’s woes,
   Our mutual burdens bear;
   And often for each other flows
   The sympathizing tear.

4. When we asunder part,
   It gives us inward pain;
   But we shall still be joined in heart,
   And hope to meet again.
                         John Fawcett
                         The Methodist Hymnal 1939 edition

<idle musing>
Today's hymn is extremely popular, occurring in over 2500 hymnals. A good number of hymnals add a final two verses, which I don't recall ever seeing before:

5. This glorious hope revives
   Our courage by the way;
   While each in expectation lives,
   And longs to see the day.

6. From sorrow, toil and pain,
   And sin, we shall be free,
   And perfect love and friendship reign
   Through all eternity.

You might want to read the bio linked above. Interesting back story on this hymn. I fear that not too many people today would turn down the lucrative city post to stay in the backwater…
</idle musing>