ten o'clock
Soon they reached Shiloh meeting house , and were welcomed by John Larkin and Nathaniel Grimes who had finished their meeting at Bridgewater and had come to this all-day gathering . In fact , Larkin was in charge of it . As usual , on such occasions many horses were hitched to trees and saplings , a large number of the people having come long distances . At ten o'clock the great service of the morning began . The church was filled with an expectant crowd , for it was generally known that Jasper Very was to preach . Jasper and several other ministers were seated on a long bench back of the pulpit . The preliminary exercises were over and all were looking for the speaker to begin his sermon , when Jasper Very arose and quietly said : `` Friends , Miss Viola LeMonde has kindly consented to sing a solo at this time . ''