New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1873-04-03
The Late Rev. l.. A. Grimes.


sermon having reference TO the late Rev. Mr.
Grimes. He based his remarks on Phil
lipians, H., 5 'Lct this mind be in YOU,
which was also in Christ Jesus" The spirit
OF the Lord Jesus, as manifested in His life
!. he said, the spirit of unseliishncss; His
character is one Of simplicity and unprcten-
;ious goodness; lie preferred the humble
walks of life, and mingled with the poor
rather than with the honored of the earth. As
the apostle saws, lie made Himself of no
reputation, took upon Him the form of a
servant. and was made in the likeness of
men. vet being equal with God, and one at
whose name every knee in heaven and earth
should bow. The love lie manifested to-
ward men was the spontaneous impulse Of
His nature. lie so loved them that lie came
n save them. and this, so TO speak, because
lie could not help il. In His career there
was nothing of prctcnt.on or Ostcntation. lie
never denied the exalted position which lie
held a. the Saviour Of the world, but, on
rropc. occasions, and always without ego
ism, affirmed il but in His daily walk and
conversation he betrayed no consciousness OF
superiority, but ever associated Himself on
terms Of equality with the humblest OF man
kind. lie resorted TO no arts in the further
ance Of His mission, INDUCED in no religious
cant, and was never sOlicitous about what
what they thought Of His spiritual rank and
power. Indeed, His indifference and uncon-
Germ in these outward matters brought upon
Him the opprobum of being the companion
OF publicans and sinners, glutton and wine-
bibber, and Of breaking the Sabbath. But
neither the honOrs nor the reproaches OF men
ever disturbed Him. lie pursued calmly and
constantly the work His mission. lie went
about doing good, yet making no pretensions
even in goodness. Those who were nearest.
10 Him, and most familiar with His daily life
and conduct hOnOred Him most. His power
a. rcdeemcr came from His mpretcntious-
ness.
This portrayal of the character Of Christ,
OF which the foregoing is but sketch, the
preacher connected by reference to his text
with the subject of his discourse, the life,
the death. and character of his brother pas
tor oil the Twelfth Baptist Church. Herein
he pointed out many analOgies and llkcncsses
to that life and character which he had al
ready portrayed, and which is TO be forever
the pattern and example to the Christian
church and the world. The deceased was
born in Loudon county, Virginia. Though
never himself held as a slave, he suffered
much Of the i3nominy and abuse which the
slave system permitted, and more than once
was subjected to the torturcs of the slave
drivers lash. His experience, while it did
not emJ!ttcr his feelings toward the slave
holders. made him, throughout his entire
lie. the firm and efficient friend Of the slave
lie was an active participant in the operation
q: what was called the under ground rail-
road Among other successful enterprises
Of the kind, he was the principal means of
enabling an entire family Of slaves, who had
been advertised to be sold by auction, and
who were thus likely TO be widely separated,
50.
lie was suspected and convicted Of the Of
tense, and sentenced to Imprisonment at
Richmond. His dcmcanor in prison quite
won the iailors and other officials, and thew
manifested every Kindness toward him. Nor
did the favorable impression which his con-
duet and character made upon all who knew
him stop with these officials, but reached, at
length, TO the Governor Of Virginia, who re-
rcased him from prison before the term to
which he was sentenced had expired. IIav-
ing stated the circumstances under which
Rev. Mr.. Grimes first came TO Boston, in
lSiG, and the considerations which led him
to remain permanently here, the preacher
reclted, with some detail, the incidents of his
ministry, and warmly cXtoicd the faithful
ness and efficiency of his pastoral labors.
The prominent part which the deceased had
taken in the efforts made for the defense of
Anthony Burns, in the courts of Boston, and
for the release of Burns from that slavery to
which he was rcmandcd, and which were
finally successful, were made the subject of
special comment and praise. Appropriate
reference was also made TO his death and to
the triumph of faith which il exhibited.
Rev. j. ID. Fulton, ID. d., also preached at
fremont Temple, yesterday morning, on the
life and character of Rev. Mr.. Grimes. His
text was John, Nix, PC: "Whcn Jesus,
therefore, saw His mother and the disciple
standing by whom He loved, He said unto
His mother, woman behold thy son." The
text suggested that the love of Christ was a
discriminating love. lie loves all: the good,
the indifferent, and the very bad and this
loTe IS great enough to embrace the lowest
as well as the noblest. The service of man
to God bears dividends, just as truly as the
service of man to his fellow men,, and this is
proved by the words Of Jesus to John, the
beloved disciple. Christ did not say, "Moth-
er, behold my companion, my friend" but,
"behold thy son - thus at once calling him
brother, and giving mark of most per-
feet love, in committing to his care His loved
mother.
After some appropriate comments on the
general significance of the text, he referred
TO the late pastor of the Twelfth Baptist
Church as having many traits of character
resembling those of the beloved disciple of
JcSuS. Tic Sidltu tlldt lllc deceased was
born November ., 1914, and was married in
1895. Various incidents of his life in Nir-
ginia and Washington were depicted more
especially those rclatin. to his aid to f,igi-
tiyes from slavery. He continued by tracing
the similarity of the character of the deceased
pastor and that of the disciple, John. His
integrity and tried honesty the love and re-
gard which he ever inspired in the hearts of
those who were associated with him. and his
faithful following of the Lord Jesus, were
mentioned among other points of similarity
His success as a Christian pastor in building
UP a feeble church to become one of the
largest and most prosperous in the CITY. and.
in connection with his ministerial lab0rs. his
constant and indeiatigablc efforts in behalf
Of slaves, who had reached Boston on their
way to a land of freedom, were referred to.
The last official act of his life was causing "A
collection 10 be taken in aid of the Baptist
Home Mission, in which his heart was graft
fled in the bcstOwal of Il sum unusually large
for his parish. The last days of his earthly
pilgrimage and the condition of full prcpara-
ton for the great change so soon TO ovcrtake
him were alluded 10 in cXtolling his Christian
cxcellencies.
Rev. Mr.. Cooke preached at the Bethel
Church, III the afternoon, sermon having
reference TO the deceased pastor of the
Twelfth Baptist Church. His text indicates