In 1914, Ed Nelson was joined by Frank Grove, who was baptized in December 1913. Frank soon afterward gave up his bookshop business in Christchurch. He wanted to enjoy at least a few months of pioneer service before the expected end of the system came in the autumn of 1914. Later, Frank was fond of quoting Jeremiah 20:7: “You have fooled me, O Jehovah, so that I was fooled.” His pioneer service that he expected would be brief stretched out through more than 50 rewarding years until his death in 1967.

In completing a questionnaire for the Society on one occasion, Frank Grove noted regarding his health: “Very poor eyesight.” Those who knew him remember the extreme magnification of the lenses in his spectacles and his penetrating virile voice that never lost its strength. When witnessing groups paused for a noon-hour sandwich, they would often gather around Frank, who would recite from memory long passages of Scripture, even including whole chapters of Leviticus and other Bible books. He had oversight of the congregation in Christchurch for many years and later, from 1940 to 1945, also served in this capacity in Invercargill.

Frank Grove was present for New Zealand’s second convention in December 1913, attended by 50 persons from all over the country.

[Picture on page 214]

Frank Grove pioneered right up to his death in 1967​—more than 50 years