Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1845-06-05
HERAL OF THE TIME S.

10 1923, an cx parte council OF Cburhes
was convoked, which met on The lhirl oi
April, which, after solemn supplicatins
to God for his gracious presence I'D
direction, and after calm and stric, ,in-
qniry, and the best information lIey
could obtain from the aggreved bret!,enl
Of the Church and congregation, cths
to the following result : although We
would thankfully CONNIE m0rate The k ID
providence of our glorious Lord, in briIt-
lng the Rev. AR. Clap TO this plac\,
making him the happy instrument "
founding Church here according to de
Gospel, and maniiesiing gracious pr,s
eDce OF the holy spirit in the success Sf
h's labors, yet wilh.l We cannot bu, say
we find sorrowlul occ aslon to remark upon
his want Of due conduct in several lat,
instances, which is matter Of great grid
tn Us, and we think Justly offensive 4,
his brethren, and the churches OF Chris, J.
Mr.. Clap continued his pastoral care
over the Church ,ll his death, which oc.
Cured October 80, l74j, at The advanc-
ed age Of sevenly-eight.
October 30, TAG, the Rev. William
Vinal was ordained pastor Of the first
Church, and was dismissed September
2lst, 1903. April lth, 1869, the ceIc-
bra,ed Rev. Samuel Hopkins was install
cd pastor over the Church. In INA,
The difficulties connected with the rela-
tons that existed between Great Britain
and her American Colonies, began to
give warning ofthe conflict that eusucd :
and the noise of war began 10 derange
the emplovmcnls OF peaceful life ; New
port began To decline, commerce forsook
her wharves, many dwellings, were emp
tied Of their inhabitants, and the Church
es were forsakcn. DR.. Hopkins had
removed his family, and in l776, when
the town was taken by the enemy, he
left il and retired to his family. During
this time the bell belonging TO the Church
was sent to England, and the pulpit,
pews and fixtures were demolished. In
the spring of 1880, DIR. Hopkins, return
ed TO his parish, many of whom had
sought other homes, the remaining mem
bers, however, eventually succeeded in
reviving the Church. Our limits will
not allow US TO enter more into detail
Ii is sufficient 10 state that on December
20, 1903, Rev. DIR. Hopkins died, aged
80 years. September l2lh, 1904, Rev.
Caleb S. Tenney was installed pastor,
and was dismissed May 29,h, 1915.
August 23d, 1918, Rev. Calvin Hitch
cock was installed pastor, and was dis
missed August o3d, 1920.
July %, 1891, Rev. Samuel Austin,
ID. d., was installed pastor, and was
dismissed 1926.
Mach 9th, 1899, Rev. William II =.
1recher was ordained pastor, and dis
missed June o3d, 1893. Here the CAL
whistle reign over this Church stopped
From various causes, this venerable
Church which had once been so flourish
ing, began to decline, and its march for
some time was only downward. The
lew remaining members, however, con
.cludcd 10 re-Invigora'e their body by
abandoning their ancient house of wor-
ship and erecting new house, which
was accordingly done, and dedicated TO
the worship OF God on The 4lh day Of
June, 1884. Rev. A. II. Dnmoni was
Installed their pastor, 26th September,
1898.
The Rev DR.. Hopkins who is so well
known in New England is the author of
what was termed llopkinsian Theology
lies buried in the ground belonging to
the Church, and bcnca the shadows Of
The very sanctuary in which for so many
yeats his voice was heard. What n
world Of change do we live in, and what
"A picture might here be drawn Of the
nuiabiity OF all things mortal, and what
poor encouragement TO creed makers and
creed believers The good doctor was
an awfully stern Calvini.t, aud his in
1ueDce was such through New England >,
that his views became widely extended,
and | may say nj one time were the pop
ular faith o. this portion of the country.
Where is IlopklnsianIsm now what !!
the very Church Of lis great apostle Sc
fallen, 50 degcneratcd some may indeed
'hink it has, and such will doubtless la
nent this second prominent Instance OF
change in Church ownerships the
Church Of John Calvin in Geneva pre-
sen'ing exactly parallel case, ii now
being IN the possession Of The worship
pcrs Of the One only true God.
The old Church edllice having thus
become vacant, the few Unitarians then
~ Newport came together and made
strenuous efforts 20 purchase the same
and organize a Church, thinking the
tine had fully come when the birth place
of Charming should he possessed Of n
temple where the One true God, and
Him only, should he wnrshipped /, and
we would at this time bear testimony to
the untring efforts Of Rev Charles
Briggs, our general secretary, (famillar-
Iy called ~ Newport, FATHER Briggs
III aiding aud encouraging US in our un-
denaking, and, by the blessing oi God,
We were enabled, through the generous
assistance FROM our eastern friends, TO
carry our plans into effect. The Church
was entirely renovated and modernlzcd /;
IN fact So great q change in It's appear
ancc that hardly a veslrge Of rs former
aspect is retained, and our friends have
now ono Of the nralest Churches in The
State. The Rev. DR.. Claiming preach.
ed the Dedication Sermon, on July 9Th,
1886 lrom John iy %. Qi, which II