The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-10-30

single vase OF chrysanthemu on the
table in front of the pulpit was the only
decoration. The church was cro~ded.
The morning exercises opened at lo;45,
when Rev. DR.. Vose preached AZ hst"ri-
cal sermon, his tex being Phil. i:l2. lie
spoke in part AS follows:
Division OF the Church.
CONVENTIONS among di ciples OF Christ
have existed from tue first. On this ac-
count Paul and Barnabas were obliged to
separate, aud wider and apparently
more jealous diffusion OF ofspiritual truth
resulted. In the fine figure of Albert
.Laghron, sticks and stones may be frozen
together, but heat will soon melt and sep
arate them. This heat In religion may
not always be the result DIV love- but
when there it has sometimes proved for
the furtherance Of the gospel that hese
dissensions have arisen. Looking back
today over the Ions period OF $50 years
we cannot help feeling that it WAS well
that the Congregational church shou ID
divide and That NV aud separate
church should be established in this part
OF tho town.
But my purpose is to go further back
into the causes OF the separation. Ard
these are connected with one OF the
greatest movements OF New Z gland his
tory. In the year 1875 occurred the great
Awskening' in Northsmton, so named by
Jonathan Edwards. No name in all our
earlier history is more famous than that
OF Jonathan Edwards. AS a philosopher,
= writer and preacher he took the highest
rank. aud his fame has been growing ever
since.
T.. - fo~ N al to
= great extent before this time. This
was true, bolh In England aud in this
country. All the towns In the western
part Of Massachusetts, felt the influen ce.
Edwards does not con fine his descriptions
to lenevalities, but mentions particularly
many surprising conversions Of people
Of ali classes. including children. Some
Of the conversions we're accompanied
with great terrors and bodily contortions.
Extraordinary zaal was excited in many
gospel ministers even. 1t was natural hat
such state of things should be attended
with criticism and opposition. II the
Jews thought the apostles were full OF
new wine, similar charges were made
against 4 twarIs. He was driven from
Northampton. His treatise on the affec
tions led some people TO despair # their
acceptance with God. Others went
much further than he did and denounced
those who did not freely agree with the u.
Tey attempted to set up standard OF
christian experience, and ministers as
we'll as others ere to be tried by il. But
while there were dissensious in some
quarter, nevertheless this great move
ment certainly fell out for the further
sncs Of the gospel.
A Good Movemsnt.
DR.. v Sc th,n gave a brief outline OF
the work and missions of John Wesley
aud of Gilbert Ten lent. He continn, d:
The fact OF great In crest to US, how
ever, ID that Gilbert Tennent came t.
Providence in the year l741, aud that our
first pastor, Joseph Sow, ir., believed
himself t. have been Converted by his
pre- sching.
Returning. therefore, to the genral
causes which led to tue founiling of this
separate church, let it be remembered
that this was time Of great revival in
the old world aud the new. There was
need of the revival OF the true r ligion.
OF q return to the great doctrines of con-
version and dependence on the grace
Of God. One OF the influences which con-
Cured in hei ,htening the religious feel
ings of the times was the preachilg of
George Whitefeld, who first came % this
country In 1887. aud made several visits
Afterwards. Mutitudes of the common
people were truly converted and gave
evidence OF a changed life. III there had
been opposition TO Edwards and Wesley.
It was not stra ge that there was op Jos.
tion to Whitefeli. His orstory was like
fame of fire. His pass onate appeals
offended many OF a different tempert- A.
ment. whitefeld was a strong Calvin
ist. Many opposed him on this account,
and Wesley could not work with him.
AT this poiut we find the
Origin of Our Own Church
closely connected with the ecclesiastical
history of Conntc icnt, Congregational.
ism In Providence was largely derived
from Massach chusstts. The separation
which resulted In the formation OF this
church finds it's explanation To a slider.
able extent in the history OF Wi dhau.
county. Conn, aud that county has eyeT
since been very cl use y connected witn Pro
videuce. Happily We have "A very minute
history of Windh I'm county. one OF the
most extensive county histories that has
ever been written.
When the revival Droke out. OF whlcn
have been speaking, Windhim county
was the scene Of deep relig Gus Interest.
r. lous preachers came 10 Providence
who had just returned from exciting
scenes Ia Wlndham county. The com
mon people Ds' urally preferred the more
eloquent preachers. lne authorities o
Yale college ndemned those who were
not approved by the association. The
matter was carried into law. Separate
churches were denounced IS illegal, and
In some instances their mpisters werr
'mprisonsd aud fined.
The nat er is brought very close 20 n /.
by the act that X isha Paine was one o
the mos prominent men IN tns clntro-
versy. This Eli ha Paine had become
known TO us In Prov deuce. lie probs bly,
preached here AID his talents AID su or
inRs had az akened sympathy am.ng our
people here aud was OF great hello TO our
first pastor, Joseph Snow. For two or
three years tue people here continued 20
meet from house 70 house, or under the
L. II. IA