The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1891-12-05
PHENIX.

Rev. Benjamin Cottrell Is, without
doubt, a man whose equal in some respects
does not exist to-day in the Christian
age, being 75, a member OF the sect known
as the Six principal Baptists, a denomina-
tion peculiar to Rhode Island, and more
commonly called, "0ld Baptists." In "A
coy home with his excellent wife, he
lives at Fiskeville Four Corners, where he
he has resided for many years. He was
baptised at Birch Hill, July, 1888, and was
ordained TO the University in July, 1852,
and has been preaching constantly since
then.
The church over which he is pastor Is
located on the lot adjoining his home, and
is known as the Tabernacle; ii is a good
sized, well built edifice, neatly furnished
in the interior, and has most musical
bell, which calls TO worship every Sun
day a good congregation of faithful fol-
lowers. IL was raised in 1888 and finished
soon after. All the money used in its
construction, with the exception OF $40,
was raised by the personal endeavers of
Mr.. Cottrell.
The reverend gentleman's record, since
the term of his ministry, has been remark
able. He has attended officially l,312 fu-
nerals, having infants and aged as the sub
iect of his remarks. The oldest person at
whose funeral he ever spoke, was Mrs.
Elizabeth Johnson's, at Hope who was 93
years old. There are people living to-day,
who, il they thought the funeral address
was not to be by Benjamin Cottrell, would
not die contentedly. For in many fami
lies he has said the final tribute for one
generation after another. without failure.
OF the above number OF funerals named,
nearly all of them have been i'm Western
Rhode Island, as he has never been else
where as n minister.
There are those living to-day who have
20 thank, or the reverse, the Rev. Mr.. Cot
for inAf In tetV antay ha
having married 615 couples. A large mar
riage fee and Mr. Cottrell have never met.
One man paid him $50, another $l5, but
with these generous exceptions 80, g., and
81, have been the regulation stipulation.
Indeed, in more than one instance, the fee
was not forthcoming, but a promise of
future settlement, which future never
matured, was the only equivalent.
lt is told by some one, but whether au-
thentic or not is unknown, that IL was n
couple who had been " iined" by this good
minister, that, through the groom, pre-
sented the priest with 80 cents, with the
remark: "The law allows We two dollars,
N there's fifty cents n that will make ye
two dollars n half.n The first couple
ever united by Mr.. Cottrell was Noah
Fiske of Scituate and HuldaBennett OF the
same place, who delayed the wedding cere-
mony that this, their favorite deacon,
might be ordained n minister. The last
couple was George w. Wilson and Mary
T.. Mcclure also of Scituate.
There were two brides Of IL years of age
whom this clergyman married TO older
husbands, with the consent and presence
of the girls mothers. The oldest person
married was ~ years old. In differences
in the age Of bride and groom 30 years is
the greatest, the groom being the older.
At all times of day, and a number Of times
at midnight Mr.. Cottrell has married
people
One marriage, at which he ofiiciated
.aused a celebrated lawsuit, wherein Beni.
8utler was retained, and over half mil
lion of money was at stake. but the annul-
ment of the marriage contract was impos-
sible, so carefully, aud so true 20 legal and
moral laws, does this honest man always
direct his ways.
Although the subject of this sketch has
labored faithfully for forty years. doing "a
pastors ardous work. he has never receiv-
eel a dollar for his services, and has asked
nothing; neither has he ever been repaid
for attendance I'm his official capacity in
any other lines Of the duties he has per
formed. Occasionally he has received n
present IN token Of appreciation OF kindly
Offices rendered, but these have not been
noted a. frequent happenings.
Mr. COttrell has the personal appear-
ance of n man at peace with his Maker
aud all Of human Kind. ON being told
he looked very young for one Of his years
and that he did not tell that he was 75
years old no one would Imagine him over
80. he said: The Lord has been good 10
me and given me health and strength, aud