The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-05-25
Something About DenOmi-
nation and Its Work.
Origin, Principles, Doctrines
and Growth.
Presented by a Member Of the Rhode
Island Association.


Church, Rev. Wesley Haskell, pastor,
May 20 to 29. A short account Of this
viii, without doubt, be of
interest TO our readers, THE NEWS being
well patronized by our Free Baptist
friends.
The first Baptist Church ever organized
in America is the First Church of
Providence; when organized this church
was, in ali essentials, Free Baptist In the
principles and doctrines for which the de-
nomination now STANDS and has ever stood,
the proud boast of this church being that
no doctrine has been changed since their
belief first assumed form. Roger Will
liza ms founded the first church, 1888, in
the spirit OF liberty ard free communion,
and, though nominally Calvinistic, his
people very soon accepted the doctrine OF
''general redemption" Several other
churcnes were organized within the next
hundred years, ali OF whicn accepted a
general atonement and free communion,
finally yieloiug TO the Influence OF the
Calvinistic party, whose better educated
ministry succeeded in winning the rest
over to their own views.
Mhiteiield came TO America, for the last
time, I'm 1170, by which date 20 or 80
Baptist churches were esta blished III
Whitetield's hearers at Portsmouth,,
n. H., was young man named Benla-
min Randall. The great eynngelists
earnest words brought conviction TO Ram
dali's soul, but Ia this he would not yield
until tidings of Whiteheld's sudden
death, September 30, l77o, reached him;
the preachers death effected, perhaps IL
would be better to say completed, what
his words only began, Randall professed
conversion October 10, 1770, joining the
Congregational Church OF his native place
in 1772.
Though neither Arminian nor Baptist
in his own views, there was something in
Whitefield's preaching and exposition OF
the Bible which settled Randall in
Arminian views, and at the same time
unsettled him in regard TO the doctrines
OF the Congregationalists regarding bap-
tism, the result being Randal's baptism
at Berwick, Me-, August IA, l776, where
he became a member OF the local church,
to be disfeliowshlpped in 1919 because OF
his belief in the 'wbosoever will, may
come" as he interpreted the Scriptures:
being least out, " he connected himself
with new interest at STAFFORD and was
ordained April 8, 1850, in which year the
first Free Baptist Church was organized
at New Durham.
Within the 10 years following, num-
bcr of churches were organized, holding
the same principles ana doctrines as the
mother church at New Durham, yet. go
liberal were these that at n quarterly
meeting, held in 1874, well known
Calvin Baptist preacher was elected clerk.
The now almost universally observed
quarterly meeting was devised IN 1913;
In 1892 the first yearly meeting was held
mt New Durham ny which year between
twenty and thirty churches were In exist
ence.
Tnus the Free Baptist denomination
came into existence, the ofispring OF the
spirit of liberty Just then everywhere pre-
vailing throughout the American colo
nes, the "first- BORN religious child of
American Independence-not imported,
but native born.
The impression qnite generally prevails
that open communion was one OF the
leading doctrines, indeed one OF the foun-
ostion doctrines, of the Free Baptist de-
nomination; the impression is erroneous.
Several years passed before this question
became prominent-Armininni es OPP
posed to the rigid Calvanism OF those
days was the foundation stone on which
Free Baptists built their religious views:
free communion being finally voted on
at New Durham in 1856, though II was not
until three years later, in i7SS, that
general invitation TO the Lords Supper
became the established rule.
During tho FIRST fifty years OF denomi.
national life "a quarterly meetings were
containing s3i churches; at
he close OF the rirst century there were
l3 yearly meetings, containing over 13, 600
mem ters, divided into Ia quarterly meet
ngs. within The past eight wears about
700 members have been received by the
admission of a numter of smaller bodies
vol rs,,,flnr ralivfnna 4 m ahdt- 4
Jon TO these 1t is estimated that there
ire in the United States at least 60, 900
ree communion Baptists, between whom
ind the FREQ Baptists the difference Ia
very small. 1t IS net an over estimate ito
'um up by stating there are little short OF
80, COO open communion Baptists outside
)i the Calv in Baptist body; inside that |
body no one questions that there is very |
arge aud very respectable minority who |
ire Free Baptist in all but Eame; in our |
,wn city several of the Calvin Baptist |
are in practice, "open commun-
on, whatever they may bo in theory; |
hrougout the whole OF the Calvin Baptist |
body there l., today a broad and deep |
current of Free baptist doctrines and |
principles which few care TO attempt to |
urn aside from the certain ultimate con-
,uest, which is rapidly approaching. |
indeed. almost every Baptist church OF |
my Importance has long since buried |
the issue on which Free Bap- |
lists originated, and large minority |
Practices, without question, open COM
nunion.
Thus the question Why does not the |
number more membersY IN |
already answered; Free Baptists have |
stood iauch more for the tn principles.
~ \ general atonement. (2) Open COM
nunioD, than for actual numbers ns
separate denomination. We are content
Is long az these principles TTevnil; when
he larger body accepts these principles
I is possible We shall find our mission ac-
'omplshed ns cvnngelists TO teach the |
Calvin Baptists tho truth for which We
nave ever stood firm.
The Morning STAR the dcnominational
weekly, IL one OF the eldest religious
Nceklies published in the States having
1een regularly issued since the year 1926.
rhe Free Baltisis have enc foreign mis-
zion field, the two districts, Midnap0rc
md Balasorg, IN India, which werc en-
ered in 1895 by jeremiah Phillips and
Eli NoJcs, he first m sionarics sont out.
The denomination has several excellent
colleges, Hates College. Lewiston. Me-.
liillsdnlc College, Michigan: Winnobago
college, Minnesota; keuEa College, New
York. Siorcr College. N. Virginia with