The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-12-28
The Roman Catholic Church and The Christ
mas Festival.
TO the Editor OF the News:

| ~ tht iuitof OF the News.
Without desiring in any way TO pro-
woke a religious controversy, which
would be especially unreasonable al
this time, yet think in your editorial
OF last Saturday on the growth
| of The observance OF Christmas
in this community you unwlttingIy
overlook quite an important factor in
It's religious observance. Your cdto-
rial speaks of the influence of two Prot
\ ystant Episcopal churches and of the
fact that ST. Peters and 81. Paurs was
| built in 1887 The exact language used
In regard TO the latter statement is as
! follows:
sixty years ago or SO there were only
TWO Episcopal churches i'm Providence
-. John 5. the mother of all, organized
| IN lf22. and Grace. which was organized
! IN 1929, and became the sixth in the
diocese. This latter parish for several
years held it's services i'm the "Old Tin
Top ON Weybosset street. But I'm 1882
The church purchased the Providence
Theatre estate, corner of Mathcwson
ana Westminster streets, and converted
II into the church now familiar To us
all There was no Roman Catholic
church here then. The first one st.
Pauls 5 ana st. Peters, was built in 1857
81. Stephens Episcopal was organized
In 1889. And from the latter date we
begin TO trace the ever spreading re-
lisious observance of Christmas"
In a very modest work, entitled
sketches of the Establishment of the
Church in New England" by Rev.
James Fitton. published by Patrick
Donahue. Boston, 1872. the early growth
or the Il. c. church in this city
is graphically told. Rev. Father Fitton
says: AS early as 1913 the small coll
ony of Catholics at Providence who
We're attended by Rev Or. Matignon
and occasionally by Rt. Rev. Bishop
'heverus from Boston had mass in n
small wooden building. then standing
on the north side of sheldon street.
about 100 feet east OF Benefit street"
In 1923 Rev. II. ID. Wooley was COM
missioned To look after the spiritual
wants OF the Catholics of this state and
Connecticut. and by his report il Is
shown he baptized 50 persons. The
Catholics We're attended by other
clergymen until 1885. when Rev Fathers
Lee ana McNamee had charge When
the foundation Of SS. Peter and Pauls
church tthe old Cathedral. as many will
recall the structure) had been built in
1886. Rt. Rev. Bishop Fenwck came To
this city and preached i'm the town hall
To IA delighted congregation Of all the
Catholics who then resided I'm the city
and for miles around, who were assem-
bled on that occasion and were esti-
mated at 1000 souls.' The census OF
the city taken i'm 1899 gave the adult |
population as 1857; children of 4 years |
of age and under. 211 between 4 and |
10 years. 213: between 10 years and II |
years, 49, Total Catholic population. |
1882. The baptisms at SIS. Peter and |
PauIs church were. i'm the year 1889 to |
1870. 2O4. while i'm the year 1886 To 1s47 |
the baptisms had increased to 333. and |
or course. the bautisms continued to
increase, as after that time there was
notable influx of Catholics into the
state and a large number OF children
born Of Catholic parents. Now and for
a good many years, say. for 80 years.
The Catholic church attendance has
been very large.
IL VIII be seen from the above that |
there were Catholics i'm Providence, and |
4 good many of them, previous to the |
building of the old Cathedral Now, I
10 not for moment wish TO take one
Dit of credit from st. Johns or Grace |
,hurch, for it's congregations were An
luential and they clung To the tradi-
ions even as the English had to some
II the glorious festivals that had been
'njoyed when all Christians were one
With the Roman or mother church. but
seems as If your editorial was bit
90 general in this statement:
Upon the influence and teaching OF |
he attendants OF st. Johns and Grace
hurch parishes half "A century ago
ested the entire responsibility OF main
aiming the observance Of the Christ |
mas festival in our community"
Yesterday. in nearly every church OF |
whatever denomination. there were
pecial services or special music i'm
onor of Christmas. No day lis dearer |
0 the heart of the Roman Catholic
han Christmas day, and upon no day
n the year liz a Catholic less apt to
eglcct To observe as the day of the
nth of Christ. Catholics OF the Irish
ace and about all of the Catholics
here were OF that race never failed TO
bserVe the day. From Father Fittons | ,
ork | make another quotation. He.
fter speaking OF the dedication of st.
atricks church IN 1912. saws THE
lmber of Catholics i'm Providence eight
ears subsequently who availed them ,
Ives of the jubilee. that is, in 1850. was !
bout 5000. over 5000 approached the
tar at SS. Peter and Pauls and 26OO :
st. Patrick's."
While the influence OF st. Johns and ;
race church was much. yet surely the !,
echanic hurrylng from the grand music +
I'd solemn observance of high mass at q
O'Clock To mill or shop. with the SER !,
mt girl gong fasting 10 the same ser r
ces AT the old Cathedral or St Pat / /,
clk's were no less budding morrows | -
midnight" To community too many :,
the church attendants of which =
missed Gods smile perhaps to watch :,
is Frown." j. j. n, Jr ;.
Providence. Il. l.. Dec. 26, 1898. :,