The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-05-08

thinking that the New England and
Brooklyn churches should take care OF
their own affairs and the result was that
the division took place. The Eastern con-
ference began with IL churches, 122S men,
bers, Is ministers and IL schools. The
first officers of the conference were as fol-
lows: Howard Daisley, president; T.
NJ. Batemap, vice president; N. W. Mat
hews, secretary; with T.. Humphries,
secretary OF the Brooklyn district; and s.
Knowles, secretary of the Fall River dis
trict, and j. III. Acornley, general secre-
tary.
Each year has shown good increase in
every department OF the church, until
now there are 1879 mem mbers. 22 ministers,
20 churches, six other preaching places,
seven parsopages and Il schools. The
valuation of property has increased over
s57, 900. The two districts now forming
the conference formerly raised about S570
q year for missions, ana now they raise
the noble sum Of S1600 with likelihood
OF large increase this year.
The present principal officers of the
conference are President, Rev. j. Mason,
Providence, X. l.. !; vice-president, William
Bannister, Esq, Lawrence, Mass; secre-
tary. Rev. George Davies, Pascoag, II. l. (;
general secretary, Rev. l.. Humphries,
New Bedford, Mass: general missionary
secretary, Rev. A. Humphries, Lawrence,
Mass. Gen eral Conference Fund secretary
v. II,
Lowell Mass. Superannuation Fund sec
rotary and treasurer, Rev. A. Humphries,
Lawrence, Mass.
The conference will open with nm evan
gelistic service at 7:i5 o'clock Monday
evening. The examining committee Will
meet on Tuesday and all candidates for
the ministry and ministers on probation
must appear before this committee for
examination. 1he Fall River district
committee will also hold a meeting. On
Wednesday the examining committee will
meet at Q q. m. end the general committee
at p. m. Thursday the conference will
convene for organization and busin essd
at a. m, and at p. M, there Will he
a conference session followed by puolic
reception nj g:45 O'Clock. Conference
sessions will also be held on Friday and
Saturday and at $3.50 p. m. the annual
convention of the Woman's Home
Missionary Society will be held and
this convention promises to be one OF the
mcst interesting meetings Of the confer
ence and in the evening there will be q
grand missionary meeting.
On Sunday the services at Ruggles
street church will include q conference
prayer meeting, love feast, sacrsmental
and ordination service and at 3 2. m.
there will be a grand Sunday School rally.
There will also be special services Mt the
Memorial Church on Warwick avenue, at
dale. On Monday there will be confer
ence session and pentecostal convention
and on Tuesday there will be two confer
ence sessions. The closing sermon will be
by Rev. w. b. Taylor.
There will be special services and SER
mons daily during the conference.
A brief sketch OF the church at which
the conference Is to be held cannot fail &c
be OF interest as 1t nay well be designat-
ed as the parent OF the other societies OF
the same denomination in the state.
The first service under tie auspices OF
Primitive Methodism,. held In the city
of Providence, was held in Lyceum Hall,
Al Westminster street, not far from the
center of the city, on Sunday, August %,
1855, and about dozen persons were
present and the service was conducted
by John Proudc, and q. e. Mackay, now
pastor of a Congregational Church al
Andrews, Ind. The society worshipped
there until October, of that year, then
moved to a hall on North Main street
and afterwards to Columbia Hall, on
Franklin avenue.
The first service held was on..December,
| 10, 1885. A society was organized during
| that year i'm the house OF {. T.. Mackay. by
| the Rev. w. III. Yarrow, then general
missionary secretary.
The conference OF 1856 appointed John
Proude as its first pastor. In 1887, the
| lot on which the first church stood was
gwen the society by William Ralston on
Franklin avenue, and Rev. Proudc claims
| the honor OF raising the first 800 towards
| tSze erection of n church, which during
| that year was built at a cost OF abou,
500. In September, 1887, Rev. o. NJ
| Cousens was appointed pastor. During
| bis pastorato the membership increased
| aud n mission was opened at Lonsdale
r.. /. In May, 1sSs, Rev. Joseph sut
cliffe. who was formerly member. but
who i'm the meantime had been taken in
| to the ministry, was appointed to succeed
| Mr.. Cousens. Under his pastorate the
| church was cleared OF debt; new lo'
bought and the church moved to tn,
| corner OF smith and Ruggles street, and
another mission opened In hall in Olney
| willie SQUARE, which is now the Harris av
| enue, church.
In Nav, 1891. Rev. George Davies succeed
| ed MIR. Sutcliffe. and spent three years al
| its pastor; during which time the mem
bership increased.
In 1894 the present pastor, Rev. Johr
/, Mason ves appointed TO take charge OF IT,
the conference having made IL a mission
During tho last two years a new brick
church has been built at cost of sever
1 l-ll kn A.r