The afternoon of February 14, 1876, saw the arrival in Rajasimla of Dr. Phillips and Dr. Keith. They recommended staying until Monday as well, but Dr. Keith started showing signs of a fever on Friday, so they left on Saturday to go home. The first step in the much-needed forward movement of the Garo mission, however, was made on Friday, and it will be very helpful to the Rajasimla Christians. They established a traditional church that very day. Unless you consider the preachers’ or pandits’ annual report to be the equivalent of an organization, there have never been any distinct organizations before.
The approximately 100 Christians in Rajasimla, including the nearby outposts, adopted a covenant after establishing a separate church roll and electing two deacons, a clerk, and a treasurer on this occasion. There is already an ordained pastor (Gongaram or Gungram) in the room. [E.G. Phillips, Missionary Correspondence, 1876, p142]