The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-05-26
HISTORIC TABLET.
II Was Dedicated Yesterday al
Warren Baptist Church.
DR.. Guild of Brown University Made an
Interesting Exhibit.

Tho dedcatory exercises in connection
with the unyeiling OF the historical me-
mortal tablet on the Baptist church AT
Warren took place yesterday afternoon
under very pleasant auspices, and were at
tended by an audience that hlled the
church and was composed Of townspeop!e.
Many visitors from abroad, including rep
resentatiyes Of various Baptist churches,
members of the faculty Gnd alumni OF
Brown University, and others Interested
in the history uf the old church and the
early history OF the university, which are
commemorated by the tablet.
For the occasion tho auditorium was
very deliberately decorated, red, white and
blue streamers were festooncd from tho
central chandelier to pillows on the side
aisles. The choir gallery was draped with
large flags, as was also the pulpiU and
platform. One notable fact was that the
flag with which the desk was draped was
the new state flag, adopted by the As
sembly last week. and believed TO be the
first ono in use. There was profusion
of potted plants and flowers distributed
about with an effect that was very
pleasing.
number Of historical relics were ex-
hlbitei, including tho communion table
which was used at the service when the
church was first built in 1864. Tho vane,
n huge hand forged one, which formerly
was on the steople and was found in the
debris after the building was burned by
the British in l77S, and sun dial, the
property of the church in its early history,
were also shown.
DIR. Reuben A. Guild of Brown Univer-
sity exhibited a very Interesting pamphlet
issued by Isaac Backus entitled Govern
ment and Liberty Described and Ecclesi-
astical Tyranny ExI osod. F" It was pub
lished in l77S under the auspices of the
Warren Association which mt that time
met at Leicester Mass, and represented
l20 churctes. The last six or eight pages
give an account of the prosecutions In tho
town of Pepperill and the efforts made to
break up Baptist meetings and prevent
ba1Ptisms; , 49,, o., -
we'll rendered by tho choir, which was
augmented by an addition OF several well
known vocalists from Providence. The
address by THE pastor, Rev. H. MatteB,
was IA very thorough and concise resume
of the church's history. An original
poem written for the occasion by Hezekioh
Butterworth of Boston and read by him,
was "A splendid tribute to fair Warren, the
church and his former townsmen, he
being a native here
Judge Bosworth spoke of the influence
of the church and society in promoting
higher and nobler citizenship in tho
community.
The exercises were intcntly listened TO
by the large audience and was closed by
the benedction by Rev. ;. ID. MoSley of
the Baptist church OF Bristol.
The committee having the matter in
charge was composed of the following
gentlemen: Theodore Warren, James
Bachelor Henry +. Drown, Frank :.
Drown and Nathan Goif, who performed
their work In very satisfactory manner.
Mr. Warren acted IA chairman during
the exercises and introduced the speakers.
At the conclusion of the exercises tho
guests of the society were entertained mt
luncheon in the south vestry. Tho tablet
is ix3 feet, made Of bronze and was cast
Mt tho GOrham works