The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-10-07
CENTENNIAL
CELEBRATION.
Maple Root Church Observing It's
Tooth Anniversary.
On: Of the First Six Principl. Baptist
Churches in the State.

Today Is red letter day for the members
Of the little Six Principle Baptist church.
situated about two miles from Washington
and known all through the central part Of
Rhode Island as the Maple Root church, as
this is it's centennial anniversary This was
ono Of the first Of the Six Principsa Baptist
churches organized in western Rhode Island,
and from IL nearly all Of the neighboring
churches OF the same denomination have
sprung. According TO tho church records,
the church was organized on October II, l762
aud I'm 1863 Mr.. Timothy Greene was chosen
"a the first pastor. In l770 he was followed
by Rev. Ruben Hopkins OF the Scituate
church, who continued as pastor until 1852,
when he was succeeded by Rev. Thomas Man
chester The old meeting house which stood
on tho site of the present Maple Root ceme'
terry was a small building and much out of re-
pair, and in 1897 il was sold and the present
meeting house, which is two. story build.
ing. about IS feet square and scarcely dis
tinguishable from any OF the old-fashioned
farm houses, was erected. The congregation,
which was composed Of the sturdy yeomanry
of Coventry and the adjoining towns. con-
stantly increased in numbers and at the
commencement Of the present century mum
bered nearly 100 members.
AT the time the church was erected the
great cotton mills of the valley had never
been thought OF, and the population was not
centere in chain of busy villages on the
banks Of the Pawtuxet, but scattered over
the country, and the site Of the church was
then considered a central one and best suited
TO accommodate the hardy yeomen, some of
whom travelled 20 miles for the purpse Of at
10 I,
ter retired from the pastorate and since then
there has been succession Of pastors, at the
present time Rev. -. /. Bennett OF the
Knotty Oak church at Anthony having charge
of the church. AT Zone time the membership
reached 4G0. but at present there are but 40
names on the roll. AS many Of the members
joined the churches at Crompton, Fiskeville
Anthony and Phenix when they were organ
lied.
The observance OF the centennial of the
church today has been talked Of by the mem
bers for some time. and invitations have been
extended 10 all of the churches in the state to
participate in the celebration The services
commenced at 10 O'Clock this morning, but
long before that time the members and their
friends had commenced TO assemble, and
when the devotional exercises, which were
conducted by Rev. J. H. Greene were opened
the church was nearly filed and the congre-
CATION was constantly increasing, the mem
bers coming in teams, on bicycles and on
foot from Washington and the neighboring
villages.
At IL o'clock Rev. Fenner Jacques preached
sermon appropriate to the occasion. .At
noon recess was taken for lunch, which
was followed by apraise service and invoca-
tion by Rev. J. n. Salisbury, reading Of the
Scriptures by Rev. Walter Greene, prayer
10y Rev. Warren Dawley and a historical ad-
dress by Rev. ID. L. Bennett. The exercises
will lc closed this evening by q service con-
Quoted by Rev. Warren:Dawley.