The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1836-11-02
neglect of social worship. One of their
FIRST cares both at Portsmouth and at Nesc-
port was to build Meeting House, which l


suppose was designed for public worship.
1t is said, that in i644, Mr.. John CLARK,
aud some others, formed Church, on the
scheme and principles of the Baptist'. 1t
is certain that in l64S there were fifteen
members in full communion. And it is
this Church, Of which we are by divine
Providence, the successors, tho with some
little variation in the points, which their adj
versaries had objected to them, in the other
Christ in New England have meIiorated
their opinions, and ways Of speaking of some
points, since that age of dispute, contention
and temptation. However, / have good
reason to think, the first founders of this
Church would have heartily joined in that
explanation, which was accepted from Mr.
Cotton, by the Synod, and which is said
' to make an happy conclusion of the whole
| natter" aud suppose every one of the
present members, would readily subscribe
it, viz. That we are no, married to the
Lord Jesus Christ, without faith, giving an
actual consent of the soul to it. That ef-
fectual calling, and the souls apprehending
by faith, is in the order of nature, before
Gods Act Of Justification on the soul; and
that in the testimony Of the Holy Spirit,
which is the evidence Of Our good estate be-
fore God, the qualifications of inherren,
graces, and the fruits thereof, proving the
sincerity Of our faith, must ever be co-exis-
tent, concurrent, and co-apparent, or else
the conceived testimony of the Spirit is ei-
ther delnsion or doubtful :" (Magnal
B. Z. p. H. In tits Church there were
several persons, able TO speak TO the cdifi-
cation of the rest and have been inform
ed by tradition. than the greatest part of the
inhabitants, used to attend this worship,
tho the members in Church fellowship were
always but few.
In 1862 during Mr.. Clmk's absence in
England) some Of the brethren, embraced
The opinion of Laying on Of Hands, as nee
essary TO all baptised persons, and in the
year 1864 or 1856, the opinion it was nee
cssary TO Church Com munIon and Fellow
ship, together with their opinions of the
doctrines of Grace and Free Will, OCCASION
ed some of them to separate, and form a
! Church by themselves, under the leading Of
Mr.. William Vohan this Church contin-
ues to this day, and is numerous at pres
cnt under the pastoral care of Messrs. ID.
Hfghtman and N. Byres.
! In 1866 or 1867, some of the people call
ed Quakers, came to this Colony and Is
land; and being prosecuted and abused in
the other Colonies, that, together with the
opinions and circumstances Of the people
here, gave them very large harvest; ma
!. ny, and some of the Baptist Church, en-
braccd their doctrines and particular opin.
ions, to which many Of their posterity, aud
others, still adhere.
About 1865, a number of the members o
the Church under Mr.. j. CLARK, removed
: to the new Plantation at Westerly, among
whom Mr.. John Gran iol was q Prcache,
and Elder. They afterwards did generally
embrace the Serenth-Day Sabbath, ant
their successors are now a very large anc
fowishing Church, under the pastoral cnr
of Messrs. 7. and g. Maron, and Mr. WIN
HiscoI.
In 1911, some of the members Of MI
Clark's Church, who had been in the oh
servaton of the !Serenth- Day Sabbath, fc
some years, tho't it proper and necessary t
!, draw off by themselves; and they erected
d Church under the leading Of Mr.. JViHia'
e Hiscol. IT'S under the roof of their sue
Il cessors we are now asssembled.T MIR. .
O Cranddl, Elder of this Church, died III
d 18th of Sept. 1887.
n In 1906, several Ministers Of the Mdss0
d chusets Colony, came and preached her
It to some who had desired it, The mel
= year there was Melting House erected, i
IS which the public worship Of GOD, wa
maintained by the Rev. Mr.. Nathaniel Cio,
d In 1920 there was a Church in the oongrt
'f gstional Scheme gathered, and he was ol
Is dained the Pastor, and is still alive, laboi
d ing in the Word and Doctrine. In liz
: there was another Church, formed OFT
d this; the presen, Pastor the Rev. Mr.. Jam,
d Soaring.
&c About i7O6, the worship Of GOD, neco
i ding TO the Rites ofthe Church Of Enelan,
J. was began to be set up here, by the !Soeiet
While our Church Is erecting new and mo
ot convenient Meeting House, we are kindly favor,
with the use Of this belonrnr 10 the sabbatarla