r, from which was
suspended a very unique chandelier, with twelve beautiful globes, that
were calculated to dispense their mellow light upon the worshippers
below. But to crown all this expensive work and exceeding beauty thus
bestowed upon the house, was the beautiful organ that adorned the
southwest corner of the church, just to the pastor's right when in the
pulpit. It was secured for the sum of two thousand five hundred
dollars. All was accomplished. The old house of worship was now
entirely refitted. No heart was happier than the pastor's the day the
church was reopened.[132] The new and elegant organ sent forth its
loud peals of music in obedience to the masterly touch of the
"_faithful one_," who for more than twelve years was never absent from
her post of duty, and whom none knew but to love and honor.

What supreme satisfaction there is in the accomplishment of a work
that comprehends, not the interests of an individual, but the
interests of the greatest number of human beings! The labors of Rev.
Mr. Grimes were bestowed upon those whom he loved. He had toiled for
his church as a father does to support his family. And no pastor,
perhaps, was ever more paternal to his flock than Leonard A. Grimes.
He was a man wondrously full of loving-kindness,--a lover of mankind.

It has been the rule rather than the exception, for a long time, for
churches to carry heavy debts; and when a church is free from debt, it
certainly furnishes a cause for great rejoicing. It was so with the
Twelfth Baptist Church. For a long time--more than twenty years--the
church had been before the public as an object of charity. For more
than twenty years the people had struggled heroically amid all of the
storms that gathered around them. Sometimes they expected to see "_the
red flag_" upon their house of worship, but the flag Was never raised.

The debts of the church had all been removed. The house was absolutely
free from every encumbrance; the people owned their church.

But the little church of twenty-three had become the large church of
six hundred. The once commodious house was now too small for the
communicants of the church. The pastor began to look around for a
place to build, and considered the matter of enlarging the present
house of worship. He had expended the strength of his manhood in the
service of his church; he had built one house, and had never denied
the public his service. It would seem natural that a man whose life
h