The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-07-11
Friendship Street Baptist
Society is Progressive.
Will Build at Corner OF Broad and
Stanwood Streets.
Twenty Thousand Feet OF Land
Bought for an institutional Church.

The Friendship Street Baptist Society
has purchased 10000 square feet of land
at the corner of Broad and Stanwood
streets on which II is intended to erect a
modern institutional church. The land
includes three lots formerly belonging
60 the John R. Hodges estate, and the
price paid was $1,000, the transfer being
made last Monday.
For two or three years past the society
has felt the desirablity OF removing to-
ward the center of the congregation,
which has gradually shifted TO the west
ward, and the excellence of the choice of
the new location is emphasized by the
fact that in that ward there are Is, 900
persons and no Baptist church.
The typographical situation of the lots
also reflects great credit on the judgment
OF the prospectors, one lot facing half
OF the property between Public and STAN
wood streets, the other two being on
Stanwood street.
In deciding to build an institutional"
church, the society has chosen the ideas
which, 1t seemed, would offer the great
est attraction to, and hold the greatsst
number OF young men and young wo-
men. Ii is liberal-minded society, SO it
was concluded that gymnasium, bowl
ing alleys, reading rooms, ETC., would be
as attractive there TO young and old as
anywhere else. At the same time tha
The new edifice will not necessarily be-
built of brick, but just what material will
be used Is not determined upon. 1t is
calculated, however, to erect building
which will cost from s35, 600 to S45, 900, the
money to be raised by popular subscrip-
tion.
The money for the land was raised In
an ingenious way, or, rather, two ingenious
ways. Nearly $500 of il was subscribed
on Memorial Sunday, when the land was
sold by the pastor, Rev. Edward Holyoke,
IN lots. A blackboard was set up on the
pulpit platform and on it was drawn
plan of the land divided In spaces. These
spaces were marked with various prices,
ranging form $500 down to S5, and the
congregation was asked to buy. About
1000 was raised by coupon books, each
coupon costing 80 cents and sold by auth
orized agents to anybody and every body
who cared to buy. This system was in
Stituted last February and there are still
plenty OF coupons for sale.
Owe two years ago 1T was proposed to
build and nearly $4,000 was pledged,
when the hard times came and the idea
was given up until more prosperous con-
ditions prevailed, for the society is not
an exceedingly wealthy one, there being
but handful of rich men in the con-
gregaation. The purpose did not die out,
however, and few of OF the pushing
members got together few months ago
and appointed committees, as follows:
General Committee-James s. Hudson,
chairman; Anson It. Rice treasurer;
Thmoas j. Leonard, George f. Woodley,
Thomas w. Waterman. L. A. Tillinghast,
Frank f.. Ballou, Charlottee Blundell
and Anna +. Cranston.
Special Committee-Frank L. Ballou,
chairman; Thomas w. Waterman, treas
urer and Anson Il. Rice, secretary.
The pastor is a member, ex-offlcio, of
both committees.
The Friendship Street Baptist Society,
although not as old as some others, has
been exceedingly fortunate and has filed
adistinctive place in Providence. 1t cele-
brated its 50th anniversary last year.
Its present pastor is an indefatigable
worker and during his eight years. min
istration the congregation has almost
doubled. This fact alone explains the
need of new location and q larger fed.