Norwich bulletin., 1913-07-16
GAVE THE HISTORY OF
 GRACE MEMORIAL CHURCH.
Record of Thirteen Years Written by
 Clerk Mrs. M. B. Cole.

At the 18th anniversary services of
 Grace Memorial Baptist church the
 history of the church was written and
 read by the clerk, Mrs M. B. Cole. It
 was as follows:
 In attempting to write a sketch of the history of the Grace Memorial Baptist church 1 am somewhat embar- rassed owing to the fact that some of the minutes of the first two years of the existence of this church have been lost
 From the first minutes taken and others of remote date, also other docu- mentary information, l deduce the fol- lowing brief: In the spring of the year 1900 some thirty persons who ex- pressed themselves convinced that they could accomplish more for the cause of Christ by founding a new church met together at the residence of one of their number, Brother Harrison Payne 42 High street, for prayer and consult ation. Several such meetings were held at the same place and on the evening of July 5, 190G the company selected chairman in the person of Rev. Walter Roland Davis, who had been supplying the pulpit of the Cal vary Baptist church. Several names for new church were discussed and 1t was voted that the persons then present enter into a permanent organ- izatiDn 10 be known as the Grace Me. morial Baptist church of Norwich, Conn, the Bible adopted as their only rule of faith and practice.
 Lucius Dabney. Harrison Payne, Bar tho1omew Migkins, Fred Lane and Thomas Voorhees, were chosen dea- cons. Fred Lane, Harrison Payne and Lucius Dabney were elected trustees; JxzAf 1LoA k.,oa T1 ~ clerk. John Migkins and George Mig kins were elected ushers. At this meet ing Rev. W. R. Davis was unanimous ly elected pastor. After prayer for Di- vine guidance was offered by the pas- ter steps were taken to secure d place for worship, Other meetings were held at the same place for prayer, praise and business. la the meantime a chapel located on Nit, Pleasant street and owned by the Trinity Episcopal church was bought at a eest of $1500. Soon after this an additional lot of land adjeiniHg that of the first pur- chase was secured for the suI4e of $2G6. making the total cost of the church premises $1,706,
 The first payments en this preptFty were raised by subscriptions and col lectieRs fEexa the few persons consti- tuting the organization, and they were thus permitted to begin worship in a church house the same month in which they were organized, In March, 1901, a council was called to consider the ad~isabiifty of recognizing the church with desire te join the Colonial Baptist association. This council was cefnpos- ed chiefly of ministers residing outside Of the city, namely, Rev William Il. Seott of Boston, Rev. R. A. Motley of Jersey City, Rev. 5. W. Earns of Bos- ton, Rev: J. ": II. Johnson of Boston, Deacon J. T. Dielserson of Boston Aft CT extended deliberations this council recognized the church and conducted the nsuaI recognition service la May following the church. was received into the Colonial association at Boston. In June of the same year application was made for membership in the New Eng land Missi onary Baptist convention. This convention, through it's commit tee on new bodies, advised that the members of the Grace Memorial Bap- tist church apply for their letters from Mt. Calvary Baptist church, and that on so doing they would be admitted in full fellowship The convention so or dered, and at one time letters were ap- piled for and received from the Mt Calvary church. Other members were ~