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

ed ana regular ministry discouraged.
the services OF religion should fan into
disuse.
PIors AND SINCERE.
The early life OF the peoplc OF Rhode
Island was as pious and sincere az that
OF the Pilgrims. and they purchased
freedom for us az a great cost, but ihcy
needed instruction in the value of or
sanized Worship
congregationallsm had great work
TO do In awakening right feeling on the
DUTY of giving 10 churches and minis
tcrs regular support and the influence
has been hcathful down 90 this day.
i6s3 Block Island passed under the jur-
isdclion OF this colony, and though sc-
cessible With difficulty, II played an Inn
nortant part IN our history.
Tho remarkable family Of the May
hevs who did such a great work among
tho indians or Martho's VINEYARD pro-
bahly visited this Island also and other
Congregationaiists were there. rs We
learn from the fact mentioned in Grecn's =
History. that samuel Niles, native Of
Block Island aud congregationalist.
Was the first Rhode Islander that grad
usted At Harvard.
Newport from the first felt tho influence
on tho Cougrega tionalists although they
had no permanent church until 1926. But
a great succession of eminent men were
found among them. Nathaniel Clapp. the
first minister, was man of great dignity
praised by Bishop Berkeley. as the most
vpnerErfs rrr1u he ever saw unless IL were
the pope OF Rome
This comparison may perhaps he re-
csrded as a sly hit at the disposition OF
the New England clergy 10 assume infalii-
ble authority
Divisions OF opinions caused the organ
izstion OF a second nd'congregationa church
IN Newport VA 20. the same year III
which the First congregational church
was formed an Providence now under the
pastorate OF Rev. Augustus Lord.
Eminent and learned men preached In
these churches and their influence was on
the whole toward freedom of thought and
high-minded peIv.
CongreSa In Newport was cs-
pecally influential in the early days pr
samuel Hopkins was a great leader o.
theology, but has better claim to dis
tinction for his doctrine OF disinterested
affection, as applied 10 the slaves and
manifest also i'm the beautiful story Of
his private life. told by Mrs Harriet
Beecher stowe; I'm the Minister'S Woo
ing In this church William Elery
Chahnins was baptized and murtured IN
his early life From DR. Hopkins he Inn
hibed his ardent love OF humanity and
the spirit of progress In religion and phil
anthropy.
WORK OF EZRA STILES.
DIR. Ezra Stiles. afterwards president OF
Yale, college. was pastor OF the other
church in Newport. and did much for
the early history of Rhode Island by his
diary. still carefully preserved stiles
had ia his early life been a preacher
among the Housatonic tribe OF lndians
at Stockbridge and like John Eliot and
Jonsthont Edwards. shared with Roger
Williams the bonors OF doing good among
that race Thus. to the praise OF the
early Congregationalist belongs much OF
the effort made 10 elevate and bless both
the Indian and the Negro Truly these
efforts were pa rtal and insufficient. set
We must not forget those heroic souls,
who were true 20 the Saviors maxims
of love tSaall mankind
Rhode Island has the honor Of being the
first in the field OF conflict against slavery
and there were no greater champions OF
freedom than Samuel Hopkins and in
later days. William Ellery Channing
The Influence OF Congregationalism In
Newport was well maintained in the last
century In the long pastorate OF DR..
Thacher ThaYer, who for nearly ~ years
maintained the dignity and high educa-
tionaf standard OF the New England min
istry. lie spent much time in training
Young men and women In the classics.
4
and Professor Diman acknowledged their
Indebtedness TO him.
TOngrFEationalsm has not been con6n-
ed TO the cities or any one part OF Rhode
Island. In fact the influence OF the de-
nomination has always been i'm favor OF
regular worship and many churches i'm
the smaller places have existed from
early times, and others have been estab-
iished that are fast growing in strength
and usefulness.
The church In Peacedale though only
founded in 1857, has sprung into large
and vigorous life among the stronger
churches OF the state.
harrington and Bristol have already
been spoken Of I'm Bristol pr Thomas
Shepard accomplished a long and honorcd
ministry. covering i'm all with his later
retirement. about 50 years
He was man of gentle spirit. never an
"a agonistic 10 his brethren OF any denom-
inatiou. but holding friendly relations
with all.
THE BRITISH CHURCH.
II IL interesting 10 know that the early
name OF the church I'm Bristol was "The
Catholic congregational Church" and We
believe that the general trend OF our de-
nomination. though not without some
manifest failures, has been 10 foster a
truly Catholic spirit
Bristol pastor. exercised an even longer
ministry in the secluded town Of Little
Compton.s town so much separated from
tho rest ~ the state. by thc absence Of "A
railway, or regular steamboat connection.
that II seems more remote from rs than
large portions Of Massachusetts or Con-
necticut.
IL IS place ~ rare beauty aud fcrtll-
ity and our fathers for many generations
have dwelt there. and the Influence of the
Conereea tionsl church has not been small
I'm promoting education. enterprise ana
hrotherly love.
The ouakers. or the Society Of Friends.
e. they preferred 10 be called brought
with them much that was beautiful iu
sentiment and character. MANY were the
sects and denominations OF those who
AT slmdry tunes and In divers manners
exercised their gifts in this lttlc State'
bu II ~ 10 the eternal praise of Rhode Is
lana that her ministers and people gencr-
sllA were friendly disposed 10 the In
dians. and N may be- truthfully said that
bat FOR this Influence. the other colonies
" New England might have been utter
IS destroyed.
While the honor belongs largely Co
Roger Williams as the pioneer. yet others
shared MS spirit and not least the con-
erecu tlonalists
ni ~pca king of their influence 7 would