The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-11-03
rHE OLD ELDER BALLoU MEET
ING HOUSE.

lIlS duCltll IL ioNAeNN a.
the northwestern part of the town o
Cumberland I'm Rhode Island. Daniel a
Cook OF Providence is Descendant o
the Ballous. and he has done much Z
preserve the interesting history or TN
Old church edifice IL is due 10 his as
eistance that we are able 10 present TN
following facts before the readers o.
The Providence News.
Also much has been CLEANED from
pamphlet edited by Anna NJ. Whlppie
of Woonsockat, r.. i.
Cumberland is said 20 be the hrst OF
the towns now in Rhode lsihd WheIe
a permanent home settlement was mace
by the English. IL was named IN hohoi
of William. duke OF Cumberland rain
er OF George ], OF Eng.and' ancS was
originally a part Of Massachusells :,
The old "Elderi Ballou Meeting
House" was erected prior TO l1i9 but the
exact date Is not knoyn.
In 1913 James Obadiah and Nathanlel
BallOu settled in log cabins IN t.le VI
cinity, when for miles around the couH-
try was a wilderness. Soon others JOIN
ed the little colony and IN ABOUT l'fV
built this sanctuary
Nothing about il resembles moueIh
church architecture. 1t is very pam,
about two stories high, with pointed
roof, was never painted outside or III,
ana is lighted by two rows OF windows
fitted with tiny panes OF glass, FORMER
ly they were of diamond shape. set IN
lead, but as these gave way, more mou~
ern windows replaced Vhen' the eNte-
rior is shingled and is dark IN color;
large fiat stones, shaped by nature form
the steps. The interior is spacious ana
four hundred people may be comforta-
bly seated i'm the old-fashoned pens;
these pens are made OF oak plank, one
and one-half inches thick. and are very
uncomfortable. In thu long ago the peo-
pie had cushions, ana during cold
weather fOOt-stOVes were carried;
mothers with infants in their arms, each
had an armchair; the gallery extends
around three sides of the room and Is
supported by huge oak tlmbers, on
which may still be traced the deep un-
even scars Of the axe. the gallery is
reached by two flights OF stairs, one az
each outdoor entrance; the men ana
women had their own entrance and por-
tion of the church; dividing rail still
exists separating the seats intO two
sections; the pulpit is much higher and
directly below is the "deacon's seat"
where the venerable deacons sat with
their faces turned TO the congregation
and looked after the interests OF the
church: NJ boy was caught at some
boyish trick the fact was made known
TO the congregation and the name OF the
lad. as the deacon, touched the boy with
his long rod: i'm a little closet under the
pulpit, the sacred vessels, used at the
celebration of THE Lords Supper"
tpfe ht2t,t-rr tils4fsf't--
jected when needed.
There was quite a struggle over the
of a stove. for heating the
church, some going so far as to declare
II 30 be the work of the evil spirit; but
finally a chimney was built and small
stove was placed in the church. The
services We're about two hours in length
and without fire TO make one comfort
able nor music TO brighten the time
must have been irksome. The early
CHRISTIANS that worshipped I'm this
church were known as The Six Princi-
ple Baptists' and were organized about
1872. Their views of baptism were by
candidates being baptized
in a pond belonging to Deacon Ar1el
Ballou. They believed the Washing N
Feet to be a Divine appointment as
was "The Lords supper"
In 1914 the neighborhood passed
through "a reformation" so-called, and
..the Church of Christ In Cumberland"
superseded the six Principle Baptists.'
This society fiouriShed for g. time. Miss
Whipple describes service as formerly
held dn this old edifice as follows: Be
the hin before the burial lot, and
watch the people who forsake not the
assembling themselves together TO
worship their all-glorious King"
Theirs was Puritan Sabbath, COM
mencing at set OF sun the eve before,
and their only business OF the day was
20 worship God, and In His service was
their delight From the north and
south. east and west, they come. some
L., q Ir
farm wagon, drawn by yoked oxen;
now and then a goodly company OF
youths and maidens walk leisurely
along. whose only conversation on the
way can be OF God and His tender mer-
cies TO the children OF men; the
younger boys and girls come barefoot,
and seem not 10 hesd the thorny path;
the older misses carry their shoes and
stockings. and as they draw near put
them on, only to be put off again on
their return.
LET us draw near and join in the wor-
ship:-tth Elder enters the church. our
eyes follow him " the aisle and into
The pulpit: the people standing the
while. out OF respect TO HIM, who Is
their minister teacher and friend. The
service commences at once: the Elder
with out-spread hands. and eyes turned
heavenward invoking n divine
blessing upon his people the
Invocation ended he reads n
hymn from the only Psalm book
there, and then hands the book over
the pulpit 70 one Of the deacons who |
reads one line, and all the people unite |
in singing IL 10 the tune of old Hun |
dred.' or some other good old tune THE |
Elder then reads the Holy Writ. Pc si
We listen and the Psalms seem To sinls
deep into our hearts. The Scr'ptura
lesson ended. he closes the book ana
leads the people IN \ PRAYER often -
beirg Of an hours duration. after an
nther hymn follows the serrnon a,d -.
h gets TO fourthlv he again quietly re-
verses the hour-Rlass beside him ana
starts in anew ard after another hair
hours preaching closes with tho be,o
dict'on the CONGREGATION starI ana
~'ng PRAISE Cod from Whom Az
blessings Flow" after which the os
sernblv breaks no only 10 eat their a.,
rers and oniov frie-div chat rii tt~,o
for the afternoon service and serro,
which may he but "a continuation ~ ,bo
orc w the morning"
our ancestors have 80 us a, ~ |
rmnle IN Sabbath ohservn nee tho snir-
II OF which we c~~'-' 90 emulate.
CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR.
The Erdaavo, g..f..t-.