ldicott; prayer of recognition and ordination, by the Rev. John
Blain; charge to the candidate, by the Rev. Nathaniel Colver; address
to the church, by the Rev. Rollin H. Neale; concluding prayer, by the
Rev. Sereno Howe; benediction, by the pastor, Rev. Leonard A. Grimes.

The exercises were of a very pleasant nature, and of great interest to
the humble little church that assembled to enjoy them. It was an
occasion of no small moment that published to the world the "Twelfth
Baptist Church," and sent upon a mission of love and mercy, Leonard
Andrew Grimes! It was an occasion that has brought great strength to
the Colored people of Boston, yea, of the country! It was the opening
of a door; it was the loosening of chains, the beginning of a ministry
that was to stretch over a period of twenty-five years, carrying peace
and blessing to men in every station. And may we not, with propriety,
halt upon the threshold of our gratitude, and thank that wise Being
who gave him, a blessing to the church a friend to humanity?

Happy, thrice happy, was the little church that had wedded itself for
life to one who had laid himself upon the altar of their common cause.
These relations and manifold responsibilities were not hastily or
rashly assumed. The little church felt keenly its poverty and
weakness, while its new pastor knew that the road to prosperity lay
through fields of toil and up heights of difficulty. Before him was no
dark future, for the light of an extraordinary faith scattered the
darkness as he advanced to duty. What man of intelligence, without
capital or social influence, would have undertaken so discouraging a
project as that to which Leonard A. Grimes unconditionally brought the
sanctified zeal of a loving heart? To him it was purely a matter of
duty, and it was this thought that urged him on with his almost
superhuman burdens.

But to return to the "upper chamber," and take one more look at the
happy little church. It was not the pastor's object to begin at once
to perfect plans to secure a place more desirable to worship in than
their present little room. His heart longed for that enlargement of
soul secured by a nearness to the divine Master. His heart yearned
after those who were enemies to the "_cross of Christ_." His first
prayer was: "O Lord, revive thy work!" and it was not offered in vain.
A season of prayer was instituted for the outpouring of the Spirit.
The pastor led the way to the throne of grace in a