The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-10-30
Skstch Of the Society That Preceded The
Regular Church Organization
THE REORGANIZATION OF IN 1886.
New SocIey Composed Largely Of Those Sho
Sought Greater Religious and Civil lblrJ.
As Men and wom.n Under Tho Compact

The 50th anniversary Of the Church
of the Mediator was observed yester-
day at all the services and at the morn
ing service Rev. Henry w. Rugg, ID
d.. the former pastor Of the church,
delivered an interesting historical SER
mon, taking for his text Acts /. s. dwell
ling chiefly on the idea Witnesses for
Christ" In substance he said: Fifty
years do not cover a very long period.
But in the history and growth OF the
individual church they signify much
OF prayer and labor and something Of
fruition. Before taking a review OF the
establishment OF this church and It's
career. IL would be well TO call atten-
tion 10 some OF it's antecedents.
THE EARLY HISTORY.
Before the establishment OF the
church there was a religious society
and SUNDAY school which dates from
the year 1910. AT that time the Rev.
w. s. Balch was the pastor of the First
UniVersalist church in Providence
With his favor and that of his people
a considerable number OF Worshppers
in that church united in forming the
Second UniVersalist society. The date
Universalist paper OF 1904. when
stated that the newly formed society
maintained public worship in the Ola
Town house and in Mechanics hall un-
der the leadership of the Rev. j. n.
Parks. who seems to have been very
active i'm promotin0 the movement Fol
lowing him were the Rev Messrs. Will
liam $. Ballou. William Jackson and
James Gallagher II should be obserV-
ed that each OF these preachers served
the new society for a comparatively
brief period.
IN tS45 there was n reorganization
Of the society which had become enfee-
bled. This REORGANIZATION took place
under somewhat different conditions. II
was the outcome of political differences
which for several wears had been rife
in Rhode Island. The reorganized So
ciety was largely composed of those
who sought for greater religious and
civil liberty. and We're for the most
part those who represented the Law
and order party Of Rhode Island.
UNDER FIRST COMPACT.
There were 45 men and women who
united under the first compact, which
was exceedingly liberal. IL bound them
to unite I'm Christian fellowship and to
accept the authority of the Scriptures
and 10 believe fully in Christ as the
son or tTOd ana the SdNlof Oh the Woi ~,
This church was formally instituted
and recognized on the last Sunday In
October. 1S49 80 years ago today. on
the morning OF that day Mr.. Cook
preached his farewell sermon ana in
the evening the Lords supper was ad-
ministered TO the members in the SER
Vice given to the society by Mrs. Mary
]. Fenner the same service which VIII
be used in commemorative rites today.
Thenceforth the church had. for the
most part. a progressive and useful ca
reer. 1t added TO it's membership every
year under the several pastors who
succeeded Mr. Cook. An one time, 1917
SIS. IL suffered severe losses by reason
of dlssensions. but this loss was more
than regained in the next few years
In conclusion he called attention TO
the fact that from the first more es-
pecially I'm later wears. this chuch has
sought TO be helpful in charitable deeds.
Through it's Mira mission II has pro-
vided some relief for the suffering and
in other wavs has endeavored to do
benevolent work i'm the community at
large. Then an earnest word of eXhor-
tation followed. telling the members or
the church not so much 10 look back
ward o To look forward and 10 consider
the responsibilities facing them. In this
work, for the glory OF God and FOR the
good OF man. the speaker made very
earnest appeal for unity and fatthful-
ness on the naTt or nj thUvr vino are
now bound together bv the ties or falth
and doing the will Of the Lord.