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OUR GREETING

To all aboard the Gospel Train,
And all the friends along the road,
Who gather in convention halls,
Beloved! Greetings in the Lord!
Pen Argyl’s little company,
The Bangor brethren, just a few,
Your brothers at Roseto Town,
All join in Christian love to you.

We’d dearly like to go along;
And at this wondrous feast sit down;
But Father knows our means are small,
So, as we go our daily rounds,
Our loving wishes follow you;
Our spirits rise with yours in prayer,
We pray, “God speed the Gospel Train,”
And leave you in our Father’s care.

For in His holy Word, we read,
His angels minister to men,
Those who shall heirs of glory be:
Oh, what a shining escort, then,
Attends your way, by day, by night;
Defending you from every foe!
Lie down, and sleep in perfect peace,
While guardian angels come and go.

And as you view God’s mighty works,
Think of the perfect earth to come;
When in its robes of living green
It stands, man’s everlasting home.
In that blest Restitution time,
Eden shall reach from pole to pole;
While everything with breath, will praise
Our God, while endless ages roll.

There’s one Convention, brethren dear,
Which we have set our hearts upon.
No lack of time, or means, or ways,
Shall keep us from that Final One;
When in the New Jerusalem,
The First-borns of the Kingdom come,
From north, and south, and east, and west;
And Christ shall bid them “Welcome home.”

If we have on the wedding robe,
That wondrous robe of shining white;
If we’ve embroidered it with care,
In all the colors of the light;
If we’ve been faithful to our vows,
To sacrifice our little all;
Then, we shall be of those who meet
In Heaven’s Grand Convention Hall.

Oh, brethren! let us faithful be!
The time is short; let us press on.
Oh, we would not be left behind,
When all the Sons are gathered home!
We know not how we’ll travel yet,
By water, fire, or by air:
We only know, if we’re approved,
When that time comes we’ll all meet there.

So once again we say, “God speed.”
In love, our hearts go out to you;
We pray, “The Father’s will be done”
In all you say; in all you do.
As onward, then, you wend your way,
O’er mountain, valley, hill and plain,
May God bless you and all you meet,
While traveling on the Gospel Train.

R. F. D.

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— August 15, 1909 —