convictions of duty were to be subordinated to,
and palliated by, the penurious and cruel teaching of the slave
institution. So, after having been robbed of his property, he left, in
company with his family, for the fair shores of New England. He had
sought no distinction, but had settled down to a quiet life in New
Bedford. But a man of his worth could not stay in the quiet walks of
life; he was born to lead, and heard God call him to the work his soul
loved.

His quiet, unpretentious ministry of "three months" shadowed forth the
loving, gentle, yet vigorous and successful ministry of a quarter of a
century; a ministry so like the Master's, not confined to sect or
nationality, limited only by the wants of humanity and the great
heart-love that went gushing out to friend and foe. Those who were so
happy as to sit under his ministry for the "three months" were quite
unwilling to be separated from one whose ministry had so greatly
comforted and built them up. In the young preacher they had found a
leader of excellent judgment, a pastor of tender sympathies, and a
father who loved them with all the strength of true manly affection.
How could they retain him? They were poor. How could they release him?
They loved him. After much prayer and pleading, Brother Grimes was
secured as their leader, with a salary at the rate of $100 per annum.
He returned to New Bedford and moved his family to Boston. His salary
barely paid his rent; but by working with his hands, as Paul did, and
through the industry of his wife, he was enabled to get along.

During all this time this little company of believers was without
"church organization." At length a council was called and their prayer
for organization presented. After the procedure common to such
councils, it was voted that this company of Christian men and women be
organized as the "Twelfth Baptist Church." The church consisted of
twenty-three members.

On the evening of the 24th of November, 1848, occurred the services of
the recognition of the church, and the ordination of Rev. L. A. Grimes
as its pastor. The order of exercises was as follows:

Reading of Scriptures and prayer, by the Rev. Edmund Kelley; sermon,
by the Rev. J. Banvard, subject: "The way of salvation," from Acts
xvi, 17: "The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men
are the servants of the most high God, which show unto us the way of
salvation"; hand of fellowship to the church, by the Rev. T. F.
Ca