The Life And Ministry Of Samuel Gray

Earthen Vessel 1894:

Mr. Samuel Gray

We are enabled this month to present our readers with a portrait of Mr. Samuel Gray, of Brighton. Our brother has been brought so much to the front during the past eighteen months in connection with the Strict Baptist Mission, and we have become so familiar with him as a man, a brother, and a minister of the Gospel, that it is needless to add but little about him.

Samuel Gray was born in the garrison town of Chatham, in the county of Kent, May 27th, 1850. Was called by grace when just turned 17 years of age, and we believe we are right in saying this was brought about by no ministerial agency, showing very plainly that God can, if He chooses, call His children from nature’s darkness into the marvelous light and liberty of the Gospel without employing any human instrumentality. Our brother, by experience, discovered the depravity of the heart and his inability to do anything to merit God’s favour and salvation; but, in course of time, the Holy Spirit assured him of the fact that salvation is all of grace, and upwards of twenty-seven years ago he could sing with Doddridge—

“Grace ’tis a charming sound,

Harmonious to the ear.”

Through the instrumentality of the late Mr. Thomas Jones (whom Samuel Cozens described as one of the “old school”), our brother S. Gray was brought to London, and by whom he (Mr. G.) was baptized in Artillery-street Chapel.

Mr. Gray first spoke in the Lord’s name in 1873, at Cottenham, Cambs. Here, as Solomon says, and as Mr. Gray himself would say, he found “a good thing,” for here he found his wife, and was married in the year 1875.

Mr. Israel Atkinson invited Mr. G. to supply “Ebenezer,” Richmond-street, Brighton, August 23, 1880, this led to an invitation with a view to the pastorate, and in November, 1881, was settled. On November 6th, 1894, the thirteenth anniversary of his pastorate is celebrated. During his pastorate about 150 have been added to the church, nearly all by baptism. Peace reigns, and the Lord’s manifest and realised kindness unites pastor, deacons, and people in singing, “Praise God from whom all blessings flow.” 

Mr. Gray’s father died in 1869; his mother is still alive and is in her 81st year; she was called by grace under the ministry of Mr. G. W. Lewis, of Zion Chapel, Chatham; she was baptized when 17 years of age, so that she has been plodding heavenwards sixty-three years, and is an uncompromising Strict Baptist.

We believe this brief sketch of Mr. Samuel Gray’s origin, &c., together with his labours in connection with the Strict Baptist Mission hitherto published (see below), will be read with interest and profit.

John Waters Banks

Earthen Vessel 1893:

Farewell To Mr. S. Gray

By Mr. Edward Mitchell

An interesting event, marking an epoch in the history of the Strict Baptist Mission, occurred on Monday, November 6^th, in the departure for India of our brother Mr. S. Gray, of Brighton. Our brother has gone as commissioner to fully inspect our mission stations, and to report thereon. A goodly number of pastors and friends gathered on the departure platform of the Victoria Station of the London, Chatham, and Dover Railway, to bid him God-speed. Friendly greetings, hearty hand-clasps, warm expressions of esteem, and wishes for journeying mercies were frequent and continuous form about 10:20 until a few minutes to 11am., the time for the departure of the train, as one after another, and in groups of twos and threes, the friends arrived. 

Two minutes before the train started all the friends gathered around the door of the compartment in which our brother was to travel, and, led by brother J. H. Lynn, sand one verse of hymn 205 in the Sunday-school Hymnal (brother Winters’ selection)—

“God be with you till we meet again,

‘Neath His wings securely hide you,

Daily manna still provide you;

God be with you till we meet again.”

Our brother was visibly stirred to the depths of his soul, as he entered the carriage and the train slowly steamed out of the station, the friends waving him a last farewell. 

May we venture to ask the Churches to remember our commissioner at the mercy-throne, praying that he may be favoured with a safe journey, health and strength, by prospered in his work, and return safely to his family and Church. We also commend to their prayerful sympathies his brave little wife who has so grudgingly given up her husband for months that he may do his Maters’ bidding, and her family of nine children; also the church at Ebenezer, Brighton, who at the cll of the mission have parted with their loved pastor for so long a period. May we further solicit an enlarged interest in our Mission, its labours, and its results. The Lord is opening before us a large field; may we be diligent and not slothful in going in to possess the land. Increased contributions are urgently needed. “How much owest Thou my Lord?”

Among those on the platform we noticed Messrs. W. Abbott, J. W. Banks, Beckett and Mrs. Beckett, S. K. Bland, Box, Burrows and Mrs. Burrows, Cathpole, Davies, Clark, Freeman, Frith, Harris, Holden, Ince, Kerley, License, Lynn, Millwood, Mitchell, Morling and Mrs. Morling, Mutineer, Parnell, Robertson Brothers, R. E. Sears, and J. W. Sears, Simpson, Wakelin, Wright, and other ladies and gentlemen numbering nearly 50.