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Bray, Nicholas L.
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NICHOLAS
L
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-oNicholas L. Bray was born in Cornwall, England, ,
June 28, 1844.
He served seven years apprentice-
ship as a ship builder.
He was converted early in
youth and soon became a local preacher.
Around
1870, he came to Am erica and engaged in ship building in Chicago, but soon, feeling that his life work
was in the Christian ministry, and heeding the call
of Reverend H.
c.
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Peck, Presiding Elder of the Big
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Rapids district, he united with the t.lichigan Confer- ·
ence
in 1870 at its session in Coldwater.
He was
appointed to Mt . Pleasant as his. first pastorate.
In 1872, he was ordained Deacon and appointed
to Evart.
He was appointed to Woodland in 1873,
and in 1874 he was ordained Elder.
Then followed
pastorates at Orleans, 1876; Lowell, 1878; Quincy,
1881; Sturgis, 1884;
He served as Presiding
~l der
of the Coldwater district from 1887 to 1893 and
then became pastor at
lJ
.uskegon Central until 1893.
He was made pastor at Portland in 1895; Jackson,
Haven Church, 1899 · iti
1903~
Was · made pres i ding
elder of the Big Rapids distric
un.til ! .9105, when
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he became vonference Evangelist and retired in 1909.
He was made Field Agent of the Supply Pastor's Fund
in 1910 and in 1911, when A. T. Ferguson died, he
finished the year as Presiding Elder of the Grand
Traverse district and finally retired in 1913.
He
was twice elected a delegate to the General Conference and attended the sessions at Omaha and Baltimore.
June 4, 1871, he was married to Elizabeth Jane
s
~lade, who was born in Cornwall,
England , February
They had one
4, 1844, and died August 28, 1918.
daughter, Nellie Francis, who married Reverend Eli
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! P . Bennett , a 1 ethodist minister, and at the time of
this writing, 1940, she has for a number of years
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been the matron of the Methodist Old Peoples ' Home
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Chelsea.
For the last twenty years of his
Bray made his home with his daughter who gave
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him the utmost of loving care.
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mother of Mrs. W.
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Ben~e~t, o,~ D~~\?i t.'
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Mrs • Bennett is the '
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Zook, and Franc~s Phillips
~nd
Michigan, ,
C!1;ester C.
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Bennett,~
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Death came to Mr. Bray August 31, 1938, and his
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I funeral was held in Chelsea, Sept ember 2, in charge
I of Reverend Addis Leeson, with burial the following
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day in South Bend, Indiana , beside his beloved com-
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For fifteen years Mr. Bray lived in Big Rapids
and his influence there was of the highest order.
As a minister nhe was a workman that needed not to
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be ashamed, handling aright the word of truth, .. and
as Pre$iding Elder he was wise, kindly and tactful
&s a counsellor.
His character was transparent,
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his record clean, his service of highest usefulness.
Upon his leaving Big Rapids the following was
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; published in the paper of that city;
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"In the larger gatherings of Methodists he
fittingly represented us, his work upon the
district has been of high order: in the
quarterly and district conferences his
presidency has been characterized by dignity,
justice and Christian brotherliness; his
administration of the holy sacrament of the
Lord's Supper has been impued with the spirit
of the sacrifice of the Christ that made
possible this means of Orac e; his sermons ·and
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addresses have been true to Methodist doctrines,(
and have led us to a more complete consecration ~
and to a larger life in Jesus . Christ our Lord. ,
In all the cities, villages and communities of
this great district he has left the impress of
a Christian gentleman . He has come into the
homes of both preachers and l~ymen to reJolce
with them in their successes and weep with
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them in their a orrows . "
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His work with the Reed City camp meeting left
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No
doubt the Master would say of him:
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'ii ell done,
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good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy
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of thy Lord .
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Bray, Nicholas L.