The preliminary proceedings were almost identically like those of the previous occasion, except that the hymn sung—though equally new to Hammond—was different to either of those sung at the first meeting. But, if anything, he was more struck by the words than he had been with those of the other hymns.
And how rapturously the people sang:
“‘Till He come!’ Oh, let the words
Linger on the trembling chords;
Let the ‘little while’ between
In their golden light be seen;
Let us think how heaven and home
Lie beyond that ‘Till He come!’”
This time a lady, a returned Chinese missionary, led prayer, and then the major resumed his subject.
“We saw, dear friends, at our last meeting,” the grand old soldier-preacher began, “what were some of the prophesied signs of our Lord’s second coming and how literally these signs were being fulfilled in our midst to-day. This afternoon, God willing, and time permitting, I want us to see how He will come; what will happen to the believer; and also what effect the expectancy of His coming should have upon us, as believers.