The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-11-22
A QUARTER CENTURY.
First UniversaliSt Church Observes
Its 25th Anniversary.
Sermon by Rev. H. I. Cushman, Who
Has Been Pastor D Years.

The First Uniyersalist church corner of
Greene and Washington streets yesterday
celebr ated its 25th anniversary by an ap-
propriate sermon by Rev. Henry l. Cush-
man, ID. d.. for the past % years pastor
Of the church.
The church was dedicated Nov. 20.
1872. The church society is 20 years old
and previous to the building of the
present church edifioe in 1872 occupied a
church where the Boston Store now
stands.
The following oiergymen previous to
DIR. Cushman have been connected with
the society: Rev Fayette Macsy, Rev Z.
David Pickering, Rev. William ). Balch :,
ID. d., Rev. Henry Bacon, Rev. Edwin
A. Eaton, Rev c. Ii. Fayles, -. d.,
who recently celebrated his send birth
day, and Rev. Il. ii Capen, ID. ID. presi-
dent Of Tufts college
The subject of DR.. Cushman's sermon
was "Twenty-6ve Years in the Greene
Street Church. He said; This church
in which we are now gathered was dedi-
Gated to the worship of God and service
OF man 20 years ago. For n quarter
OF "a century without the omission of u
single sunday the children of God have
come here for the worship of God, and to
take to heart the ever old, but ever new
lesson that He is good and His Mercy
ehdureth forever.
On April TO- 1896, we celebrated the
75tb anniversary of this society. 1t will
be interesting to recall u few facts of this
history The total cost of this property
was Sl33. i9l. OG and tho society erected
the church with debt Of more than
hn Of
the debt Is 5000. During tho first 10
years tie society raised ST., ZOO
year Since then il has raised about $1,000
year. Our financial record is one TO be
proad of.
Before the dedication OF this church
the society had 3l2 members since then
2dS members have been received. his
compares favorably with the additions %
the Protestant churches in New England
during this pefiou.
In tie past 20 years the ministers Of
this churon have attended g07 funerals
and 4l7 marriages. The Sunday school
came into this cnurch with about its pres
ent number of members The devoted
superintendent OF the school Is now ssrv-
ing his 49th year OF uninterrupted work,
a record with few parallels i'm Sunday
school history.
The chief characteristics of the work in
this church have been stsadfnstness and
GcNtlOpiHcnt Inc sJeuuldSlncSS mas Dten
shown in many ways. The splendid finan-
cial record Is proof that our people are
loyal and consistent The uninterrupted
successioppf services and our participa-
tion in many local good works point n
the snme direction. Our constant alle-
gience to the simplicity of Christ must not
be overlooked. III our dcyeloUment has
not been shown i'm great increase in num-
bers il Is in other ways There has been
development in our financial methods. in
the net of WORSHIP and the act Of preach
ing. The church methods and ways come
IN for their share OF development
The past is secure What of the future
I.et MS apply the same rule ana increase
In steadlastncss and development. Ever
since the glory of the Lord came down
upon this house. 10 hes bean kept "a "a
place OF worship. Cine of these days we
shall repair tina effect of time on its
walls Lot us oil 10 with more aud more
memorials. Let us count nothing waste
that will contributs 90 its beauty and
adornment. ami let us keep 10 as the
very "House of God and the very gate
of Heaven. Let us never come in or gu
out Of this church without fSeling that
ever more deeply "llc is good, aud His
mercy cnauretb forever"