The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-11-14

tionalism ha been. Increasingly favorable
10 liberty and ipst government While
~ the carly DAYS 9f Purianism. ana
while the colonies held precarious roIa-
iion TO the mother country there WAS
something OF Intolerance, ~ did not be-
long Ia the system, and has long since
As early as i7is three Congrega tional
ministers toek part in the ordina dion Of
BAPTIST minister Ina Boston. .on which oc-
ca-lOn cotton Mather. a man often cred
tied with more bigotry than really be-
longed Ia him. said in the sermon OF the
day; Cursed be the anger and the
wrath. for II ~ cruel-gopd for nothing
hut only Ia make divisions III Jacob and
dispersions IN Israel New England has
also I'm former times done something OF
this aspect. which would not now be 50
well approved IN which II the Brethren
I'm whose house We are now convened met
with anything too unbrotherlN, they MAY
now with satisfaction hear us expressing
our dislike Of everything which looked
Ike persecution I'M the days that have
ia ssed over as. Here certainly was "A
graceful acknowledgment Of past errors.
and u is certainly no exaggerated claim
Tor Congregationalism or lndependency
that II contained In IL the germs of re-
ligious freedom.
That which came to its fullest and In
some respects finest exhibition I'm Roger
Williams was nurtured III ia rugged soil.
among the early settlers OF Massachu-
sets and thsir Kindred in the mother
country The great founder OF Rhode
Island proclaimed and suffered for the
truth, which was implicitly contained IN
the principles, and nourished i'm the
hearts OF those with whom he came TO
these shores many Of whom deeply sym
pathized with him. so that there IL truth
as well as poetry in Mrs. Hemans lines
above quoted
HELD IN HIGH HONOR.
or Congregationalsm I'm Providence
there u ma need 10 speak. as that subject
has been more fully dealt with elsewhere.
he altst
tablished in lao. and the Benencent
church fu 11I3 on the west side az the
city. Tire all lhai-ee M tifFs tAes--eF+--
ated powerful influence. sometimes in
harmony with one another. some times
opposed but Yet doing much for the cause
Of freedom aud earnest piety. In later
years these churches have multiplied and
spread over all the city IL is matter Of
regret that they could not have united In
all things-yet perhaps there has been a
larger growth. even in divisions. and a
grpBtar number Of workers have been en-
listed ia benevolent enterprises. The
schools of the city are largely indebted
TO these churches Father Wilson SUI
perintended most Of the teaching or the
West Side for score of Years. Con-
gregational pastors and laymen We're
foremost in creating and supporting our
system Of public schools.
Eminent men have been among them
from the first. Dr. Enos Hitchcock OF
Revolutionary fame. a chaplain under
Washington. published treatise on Edu-
cation More recently DR. Edward
Hall and Dr Leonard Swain. though
differing widely I'm some respects, fought
together and successfully the battle of
free schools for colorcd people.
No ministers I'm the city have held higher
honOrs for patriotism and good citizen
ship than Or Clspp and Or. Woodbury..
to whose names may be added those OF
Ter Twining and Dr. Behrends, both Of
whom have been recently ca He'd away
from large spheres OF usefulness.
The founda tions OF our government are
inwrought with the essential principles
said that the method OF conducting n New
England town meeting was IN him the
model of popular government. I'm which
all should have equal rights of repre-
We need not defend or dssemble the
faults OF our fathers They can well
afford 10 be painted they were II they
were not always before their time they
were never behind g. They were look
ing for new tight TO break forth from
Gods word If in coming 10 this couu-
try they turned their faces toward the
setting sun. II was now world they
sought. and. like ST. John, I'm the Reve-
lation, they had a vision 90 he realized.
as they fondly hoped by themselves aud
their children Of "a new heaven and "a
new earth, wherein dwelleth righteous
ness"
No age has ever fully realized its ideal.
10 is no dscrcdit To our ancestors that
they buildcd better than they knew. and
the heritage or freedom which We pos
was insured 10 us not only by the
dreams Of enthusiasts. but even through
tho mistakes and-narrow iudgment=-e,f
practical men. who did what they
thought was best at the time. and who
were beating their way like a ship tossed
by winds and waves, toward the haven
where they would be.
" Congregationalism as n system of
church policy and purity has not vet at
tanned neither H. already perfect tho
world has still to find any system that
has produced larger fruits of education,
knowledge. freedom and Christian char
ity
Mr.. CAI.BAGuERs TRIBUTE.
Reference being made TO the death of
former members. the Hon, Benjamin
Tucker Eames and MIR Samuel Foster
tributes were rendered 10 their memory
That Of the Secretary Mr.. Francis Gala
gher as related to AIR. Eames was i'm part
as follows.