The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-08-03
ALL Up BY IHE EARS.
FiSkVille Four Corners Full Of Ex-
element To-day.
DON'T LIKE LATTER DAY SAINTS
Difiiculty-A New Religion which
Brings Down Condemnation From
baptist Preacher iagesDivided.

~
state OF affairs il would seem as IL the
inhabitant' of Fiskville Four Corners
could not p ssibly have any cause for
controversy among Themselves, and yet
that little village is the scene OF dis
agre ment winch, arising between two
perso :, has ext nded throughout nearly
the entir population and is the principal
theme of conversation.
Fiskville Four Corners is one OF the
Pawtuxet Valley will ges, situa ed about
half mile from the Arkwright depot,
on the T.. V. railroad. 1t has popula-
ton of proaah,y 80 souls, aud perhtp;
% dwelling houses.
The Tabernacle church, branch Of
the Old Baptis, is situated here, and is
pres d,d over by Rev. Benjamin Cot
IRELAND IL is between this reverend
gentleman and ne OF his former mem
bers that the trouble first arose.
How the Trouble Aross,
About two years ago new religious
sect started in this quiet village called
the Latter Day Saints" Meetings were
held at different residences and sermons
preached by different ministers Of this
faith, but there were no converts for
long time. $50
But about two months ago the teach
ings of the Latter Day Saints" began
to take effect aud three ladies OF the viii
lage announced their conversion and de-
sired to become baptized. Rev. Mr.. Rob-
ley was the preacher who had charge OF
the meetings at that time aud IL WIS he
VINO performed the ceremony in the Paw
tuxet river near Jackson.
Aud then the trouble b egan. Rev. Ben
jamin Cottrell, who up TO this time was
tue sole guardian of the religious life OF
these ladies, did not like the idea of hav-
ing bis cong regation drawn upon in this
manner, and expressed his views upon
0 h.a lon of Nj for l,ara md
the aforesaid Rev. Mr.. Robley in a most
forcible manner.
Rev. MIR. Cottrcll's Sermon.
This sermon caused deal of excite
ment among the residents of the village
and reached the ears Of Mrs. Battey, one
of the converts and a former member of
Mr.. Cottrell's church. She naturally re-
sented the manner in which the reverend
gentleman expressed MS views of her
chosen religion, and, with her husband,
questioned Mr. Cottrell in regard to its
propriety. Mr.. Cottrell stated that he
considered it his right 10 preach the
Bible. and the next SUNDAY preached
another sermoR similar TO the first.
Mr.. Battey, concluding that he could
get no satisfaction from MIR. CottrelI, con-
suited Lawyer Franklin u. Owen Of
Providence. who has the matter now in
hand, and il is stated upon good author
lHdt, liDltSS tut IcNcItDu
retracts some Of his atements. there
will be trouble.
OF course the neighbors got hold of
these facts and had choice morsel to
gossip over. Sides were taken and now
the population of the village is divided
between Il. ID. s." and anti-L. ID. 5.
Other Developments.
The Developments were brought about
by the refusal of the janitor OF the town
hall TO allow the Saints the use OF the
ed flee. His refusal, in the face OF the
vote of the Cranston To- council to
allow the use OF the hall fie, for religious o
purposes, caused a storm Of indignation
among the members Of the new society,
at persecution. They decided to hold
heir meetin4s in private residences and
in the me lntime petition the couacil for
the further use of the hall.
The janitor Of the building, Mr. Joseph
Briggs, Jr.. tells his story. as follows:
people have paid fer that hall. and Pm
going to see what the council says about
Mrs. John Battey was the next person
seen. A complete history of the trouble
was given by her, dating from the Sun
day when the notable sermon was
preached by Mr.. Cottrell up to the pres
personal insult. ID of cours she re-
sented it. She was not In toe least
ashamed Of the religion she had en-
braced and regarded the slanderous
statements uttered against Rev. Mr..
Robley as very unjust.
Law Council.
tn answer to the question as to why
they refused to pay for the hall, she
stated that AS the council had agreed to
let them have it free they saw no sense
in paying. She also stated that the coun-
Gil would next Monday act on petition,
drawn up by Rev. Mr.. Robey and
signed by twenty of the most influential
residents OF the place, praying Tor the
further use of the hall and asking why
ii had been refused them.
Next Monday will, in all probability,
tell the story as TO whe her the town hall
will be used by the Saints or not. But If
il is refused they will still continue to
hold meetings and enjoy their chosen re-
ligious views elsewhere.