The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-05-28
125TH ANNIVERSARY OF
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH.

In recognition of the 125th anniver-
sary OF the dedication of the First Bap-
tist Church, which occurred on May 2S.
1775, the pastor of the church, Rev.
Henry NJ. King, ID. D.. yesterday morn
ing, delivered discourse appropriate
to the occasion. He took for his text
Genesis xviii: IL, This is none other
than the house of God. and this is the
gate OF heaven"
Dr.King said in substance:
This church has had, from its or
ganization in 1888, but two meeting
houses before this one. AT first there
was no other place OF meeting than
the homes of it's members. There was
no public building in town even fo-
civil purposes. The first meeting house
was erected by the pastor. Elder Par
don Tillinghast in 100, at the corner
OF North Main and Smith streets. Sub
sequently the pastor decided this proper
ty to the church. In 1926. under the
ministry of Rev. J. III. Brown, second
meeting house was erected on the
ground where the first had stood. This
was a more pretentious building. and
was 40 feet square. The community
had been growing and contained about
200O souls.
I'm 1770 this church had only lib
members, but a new era was about 10
dawn. In that year Rhode Island Col
lege was transferred from Warren TO
Providence. largely through the efforts
of public spirited members of the FIRST
..l.t .l, A pox "a N
and enthusiasm followed. The spirit or
freedom was in the air in all the colo
MES and this meeting house was deul-
Gated to God in those sterring days be-
tween Lexington and Concord.
Friday. Feb. IL, liza, at meeting OF
the members of the church, IL was re-
solved TO unite In an effort to build
new meeting house The report of this
meeting indicates that there had been
much talk hitherto of new meeting
house, and that movemerO toward
chartcring the society had been start
ed Two weeks from the time of this
first meeting committee was dis
matched TO Boston TO study church
architecture. and another was named
to procure the lumber. Joseph Brown
became the architect. the church
steeple was designed after the manner
of St Martins in the ields. near Char
ing Cross. London. 1t was TO be 80
Z.
Mine months after the raising of the
frame the public dedication of the
meeting house occurred. DIR. Manning
preached the dedication sermon from
Genesis xviii, IL. June 6 following the
tall steeple was lifted into place. The
old house aai grounds were sold Tor
Gi00 The new ones cost G1O0O. and or
this amount 1000 was raised by lottery
under a legislative grant. Work was
suspended on the church soon after
ward, until after the revolution. which
turned the energies of all In one direc-
zion. The first bell placed in the steeple
came from England and weighed 2ol6
poundsI In 1777 the bell cracked and had
to-be recast, and this operation was
undergone at subsequent times because
of other cracks.
The relation OF this church to Brown
University has been most intimate from
the beginning until now. The first two
presidents Manning and Maxcy, were
pastors of this church. All the other
presidents have made this their spirit
ual home. An invitation TO the presi-
dency has seemed to include an Invita-
tion to membership In this church and
the line of succession has not been
broken. Many OF the students nave
formed an abiding attachment for the
hallowed associations OF this meeting
house and have carried away Its pic
ture as n sacred momento OF college
days. For III years the commencement
professions have moved down the hill
and have been welcomed within these
spacious walls. 1t, has helped To pre-
serve the connection which should
ever exist between religion and educa-
tion and has been a perpetual protest
againtt any divorce of learning and
piety."
The relation Of the church to the NOR
al liz OF the community ara.She efforts
Of the church toword the proclGma-
tion OF the truth OF revelation. were
also treated. James Manning Jonathan
Naxcv stephen Gano Robert u. Patti
son. william Hague. James ~. Granger.
Samuel T.. Caldwell Edward @. Taylor
and r. Edwin Brown have boen the
regular pastors preceding Dr. Kipg, and