THE ASSEMBLING CONFERENCE.
From highways and hedges, from hill and plain,
Where toil weighs heavily on the few,
Where there's truth to be taught and souls to gain,
We come that we here may our strength renew. We gather to grasp the faithful hand,
Of the toil-worn servants of light and truth,
And hear them speak of the better land,
Where their brows shall gleam with the dew of youth. We come to mingle our words of cheer,
To speak of our coming joy and rest,
To bid the despondent quell each fear,
And whisper faith to the doubting breast. We come to talk of our blessed hope,
A hope that no wealth of earth can buy,
To say to each heart, Be lifted up;
For now your redemption draweth nigh. We come to mark, on our journey past,
The progress gained in the heavenly road,
And note how the signs are fulfilling fast,
Of the coming reign of the Son of God. And we come, O Saviour, to meet thee here,
To drink again from thy fount of love;
To thy waiting people now appear,
And lead us on to thy courts above.