The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-09-11
THIS CITY OF OURS.
As Viewed by an OctogenariDn i'm a
Norwich (N. ", Papar.

1t is something to be enjoyed with
much pleasure when one is able TO ram
BILE in ola paths and TO call up FOND re-
membranes OF other days, especially
when these recollections cover period
OF 70 years or more.
Passing through Tockwotton street the
other day in the electric cars, there came
to my mind an interesting incident of my
boyhood DAYS. as | remem bered the Sab
bath morning, 76 years ago when my
Christian parents led me along this very
street and into the Third Baptist Church
that might become pupil in the Sun
day School.
i remember as though il were but yes
terday taking seat with some five or six
other boys OF my own age, there to enter
upon the study OF Gods word. The plan
was for each scholar TO commit to MEM
ory passages OF that Precious Book and
10 recite them TO the teacher and TO an
swer his questions and TO ponder upon
what we had learned. Our teacher was
a student In Brown University and was
able and faithful. What we then master
cd we have not forgotten. 1t is all alive
and fresh in our heart-mind today.
Thank God. 1t Is with me now pleas
ing happy pastime 10 be able TO travel
along the lines and to recall these pre-
cious memories of things and events
which have been with me for three-quar-
ters of a century.
Sailing along Providence river and Mar
ragansett bay and noting the numerous
steamboats, moving over the placid waters
l thought OF that day when the first
steamer-Ropert Fulton-attracted the
attention OF the people otthe little town
of Providence. Ii was simple craft in
deed, and not comparable at all to the
plainest craft that moves up and down
the river and bay in these closing times
of the 18th century.
Little Rhody, as this stirring common
wealth Is called, is denominated in legal
parlance "the State of Rhode Island and
Providence Plantations and is worthy
of the name and the honor. This State
was settled by Roger Williams, whose
vertiable life is something akin TO a
myth; his grave is with us 10 this day
but Its location no one knows.
Rhode Island is and always has been a
free little kingdom and has been the
home, as Governor Of Connecticut said,
"for all sorts of consciences.h ~
The Universal Baptist Church, which
claims the largest liberty OF opinion and
of speech and Is stalwart defender Of
all this Independence in thought speech
and life, dominates here and makes its
power felt. As an evidence of the per-
feet liberty and broad freedom We have
only TO call attention TO the numerous
sects into which the Baptist is split up
III Aht DtNNt W NOUuIul lnlS bHlDlOl n
Massachusetts, wife, solicitous and earnest
TO find out how the Baptist church stood
in regard 10 members in Rhode island,
made inquiry of her husband on his re.
turn home from a visit TO his dominion /:
Ibid YOU find any Bapists in the State,
especially our sort OF Baptists?' "Oh,
yes, said he, "there are in the common
wealth six principal Baptists, close, also
open, communion Baptists, Seventh-Day
Baptists, Christian Baptists, Calvinistic
and also Armenian Baptists, Free
will Baptists and self-willed Baptists.
and, F" said he, "the self.willed church is
the largest OF them ALL" facetious
friend at our elbow inquiries whether or
not this is just the sort OF church organj-
zations some OF the good brethren in the
Park Place Baptist Church i'm our village
are seeking 10 bring TO the front. As
matter OF course this is not our opinion,
and we must, therefore, consider all this
as a slander. Our brethren mixed up in
this church quarrel are ALI honest. They
blunder when they suppose the Christian
church, the church Of Christ, Is to be
governed by human statutes. The little
focK is not consulted by majority. You
cannot vote men into the kingdom OF
heaven, mot by might nor by power but
by My spirit saith the Lord. Yes,
brethren, IL Christians We "are built up-
on the foundation of the apostles and
prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the
chief corner stone"