Grace, Robert C.
5/13/1907
Feb. 26, 1857 - May 13, 1907 |
|
| Rev. Robert C. Grace was born near Thomasville. Ga., February 26th, 1857, and died in Ringgold, La., May 13th, 1907 When about 12 years of age he made a profession of religion at a prayer meeting in his father’s house; but in a short time his parents died and he lapsed into sin, and became exceedingly wicked, but was reclaimed in Lake Providence, La., in the early part of 18886. He was married to Miss Camelia Hana in 1895 or 1896 (exact date not known by writer), and after her triumphant death was again married to Mrs. Sallie Enochs, of Opelousas, La., in 1901. While few men have been more solely afflicted in life than he, very few if any have been more fortunate in the selection of a wife than he. He was wedded each time to an intelligent, Christian woman. His widow is desolate now because of his death. Brother Grace was licensed to preach by the Lake Providence Quarterly Conference September 3, 1888, and for more than eighteen years went forth by authority of the Louisiana Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, proclaiming the gospel to fourteen pastoral charges, with an earnestness and zeal surpassed by none and equaled by but few. Brother Grace’s conversion in 1886 was regarded as one of the most remarkable of that period. He never for a moment doubted its genuineness. He was translated ‘into the marvelous liberty of the children of God,” and dwelt in that state every day to the close of his life. His faith in God never wavered. He literally took God at his work and always received the blessings. He was a man of prayer. He undertook no enterprise without submitting the matter to God and asking divine guidance. He was also a man of work. His pastoral charges were frequently in rural districts, in which there was great scarcity of suitable church buildings and parsonages; but by his industry and energy and his influence over the people, the needed buildings sprung up as by magic. Brother Grace was a fearless man. Where duty called he went and as long as duty demanded he remained. His remaining in Tallulah and nursing the yellow fever sufferers in 1905 indicated that beyond doubt. He was a successful man. The minutes of the Conference show that success always attended his efforts in his charges. He served a number of churches that were not regarded as among the best, and yet he always made a good report, and the people desired his return. Brother Grace’s life was beyond reproach, and he died a peaceful death. He expressed himself frequently during his last illness as being “ready to go.” He said he was “not afraid.” Thus lives and died one of the best and purest men that I have ever known. I have known men of better education, men more logical and better orators, but I never knew a better, more devoted and a more thoroughly consecrated Christian than was Robert C. Grace. He has gone to live with Jesus and the redeemed, but his works follow him. May Brother Grace’s God comport his bereaved widow, and sustain his afflicted Conference. |
|
| Source: Journal of the Louisiana Annual Conference, Methodist Episcopal Church, South, 1907, Page 64, by Thos J. Upton. | |
