The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-03-26

90 which he was elected after repeated
failures to secure am election had com-
PEELED the withdrawal of the candidate In
nomination by his party and the substi-
tuition Of his name ON the ballot. He was
a member of the common council In 1919.
He was nember of the fire department.
in the days of the hand engines.
When the state Reform school was IN
stituted i'm the old Tockwotton building,
Mr. Howland was appointed one OF the
original board of trustees. That was
about 1850, and he remained on the board
for 10 or III years. The vigorous interest
hc displayed in the institution has few
parallels in public Office. He devoted
Time and attention 10 its devclVpment
without stint He organized Sunday
afternoon exercises at the school, for
which il was the purpose 20 secure dis
tcrs, University professors, 60 address
the inmates, and 10 il recorded that Mr..
Rowland rarely failed TO fill an attractive
program, and rarely missed being present
himself every Sunday afternoon during
tho decade of his trustecship. First and
last the weekly exercises enlisted the
services of some 800 speakers, tho greater
part of whom were secured by Mr.. How
land personal efforts
IL L., perhaps as member OF the
school committee for some 80 years that
Mr.. Rowland is most widely known
among his fellow citizens. Ii is safe To
say that 60 few men and women between
the ages of 25 and 30 who had their train
ing ia the Providence public schools was
his face unknown. 1t is probable that no
Othor Is 50 familiar 10 So many. He was
a constant visitor To the schoosl during
his extraordinary term of service and
was inevitably favorite with the school
children. 1t Is said that for many years
ho annually made the rounds OF tho
.lsnOnI. Mt
one visit TO every single school room and
addressing the children, many of whom.
now men and women can recall his
words and the quotations in the nature
OF notices, with which he was accustomed
10 point his remarks. He was profound
believer in public education and tire
less worker for its promotion.
Better than perhaps anyone else now
living Mr. Charles T.. Carpenter knew
Mr.. Howlnnd. The long friendship be-
tween the two began in the First Uni
vcrsalist church Sunday school, where
Mr.. Carpenter was pupil and Mr.. How
land teacher. The latter made some-
thing of "A protege of the young man, and
Mr.. Carpenter attributes much of his sue
cesses in his ventures into public life TO
Mr.. HOwland's s interest and assistance.
MIR. Carpenter recalls that Mr.. Rowland
when young man of - was identified
with the organization OF the Sunday
yersalist church, which then stood on
Westminster street, where the Boston store
now Is. Mr.. Carpenter himself has been
superintendent of that same Sunday school
for Is years, and "a member for 80 years.
The first organization was in June, 1928,
and MIR. HoWland continued active inter-
est in the Sunday school until 1897, when
he left the Uniyersalist church and Joined
the Westminster Congregational (Uni-
tHrian), church with which he was ever
after identified. 1t was his nature To al
low no attachment of years or affection to
restrain him when his mind was turned
to path that he believed TO be better and
more reasonable according to his judg-
nent. He retained his pew ownership In
the Uniyersalist church, however, and
recent historical paper recited that he was
the last survivor of those who were pew
owners in the church in 1872
AT the time of his death Mr. Rowland
was vice president of the City National
Bank, of the board of directors of which
or since October, 1910. He was a member
Of the Rhode Island Veteran Citizens
Historical Society and was recognized as
one of the most active members. He was
also member of the Mechanics Associa-
ton, an organization that in the DAYS
when it found field of activity to fill in
The community was probably To be cred
tied with "A larger measure of important
public service than any local organization |
before or since Mr.. Rowland was pres
dent of this association for time, and
was always active in its public work
The death of this venerable citizen re-
moves figure from the community that
nay be called rare He was man Of |
magnificent character and conspicuous !
lobility of nature. Though pronounced
n his ideas and energetic in their prose.
'ution, these were never narrow. His |
honesty and integrity in ever phase of |
business and private life recognized moth |
ng but the straight path as the only |
,ath. The name of no citizen has ever |
TODD higher for the virtues and qualities |
hat make n name "a good name. He was |
espected and beloved in whatever circles |
le moved during his long and busy life, |
nd his death will come as "a personal loss |
o many hundreds young and old, in |
Providence