The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-09-26
The News Of the State
VALLEY VILLAGES
St. Mary's Catholic Church Oh.
serves 60th Birthday
Notes Of Interest.

on Friday last. II was 80 years since the |
land upon which the st. Mary's church
stands In Crompton was purchased and
the work upon the new church started
At that time there was no Catholic
church in the valley and the one to be
started that day was the first this side
OF Providence Prior 10 that time. the
Catholics living in the Valley were forced
TO go TO Providence when they wished TO
worship, while Rev James Fitton OF that
city occasionally came TO the Valley ana
administered TO the Catholic families
here on September %. 1894. the land now
occupied by the st. Mary's church was
purchased from Mrs. Paul Doran. the for
mer owner being the one 20 first break
ground for the new church. At that time
there were 30 Catholic families I'm the Val
ley most of whom were Irish. At present
there are over 5000 and these worship at
Ave Catholic churches in different parts
OF the Valley.
The church was finished the following
January and the first pastor was Rev.
Daniel Kelly. who remained its pastor
for nine months He was succeeded by
Rev. James T. Gibson. who was the first
resident pastor and remained in that ca
pacity for 20 years. when his death ended
his duties at the church and In this
world He died in 1891 leaving all of his
worldly belongings 10 the parish. Rev. j.
j. Brady, was the next pastor, and he re-
mained at the church until 1895, when he
was transferred To New Bedford Rev. w.
s. Flynn. the present pastor was then APP
pointed and is at present I'm charge. al
though the old church at Crompton Is
little used now, the majority OF the wor-
shippers now residing nearer the new
church at Arctic Centre, which Is known
as the St James church, IL being built
shortly after the death OF FIR. Gibson.
Yesterday the services at the old church
in Crompt~l were varied somewhat and
an extra mass was celebrated. The usual
nrst mass at s o'clock was said as usual
and the extra mass was said at 9;D Al
this mass the pastor OF the church was
the celebrant. and during his sermon he
spoke of the history OF the church and
gave a number OF interesting happenings
I'm the past three score OF years which
were OF interest to any OF the older mem
bers who attended the anniversary mass.
At present the Crompton church is little
more than n mission and the few mem
der tine direction OF one OF the assistants
OF the ST. James parish.
VALLEY HAPPENINGS.
Miss Helen s. Lathrop OF Providence
was at the Riverpoint Congrega tional
church last evening and made an interest
ing address al the regular meeting of the
Christian Endeavor society meeting.
which was made an open meeting. Miss
Mabel Greene was the leader and after
the regular opening exercises introduced
Miss Lathrop, The speaker. spoke on the
missions in Japan and showed many in
terestng curios from the eastern country
which Is so prominent Just at present.
She told OF the growth OF the missions
there and OF the progress the missionaries
who are working there. Taken on a whole
the address was very interesting and the
audience learned new and interesting
| things OF the country After the lee
| ture Miss Lathrop was warmly greeted
| by the members OF the society. she being
quite well known among them as she has
spoken here on several occasions before.
In odd Fellows hall on Saturday even
| ing the Phenix Pit club held dance
! which was well attended and which was a
| success
| The third quarterly conference OF the
| Phenix NJ r. church was held In the
| church vestry on Saturday evening with
| Rev. A. ]. Coultas Of Providence presid-
| ing The reports Of the several commit
| tees OF the church were presented and the
| meeting which was n business session
| was brief.
! Under the direction Of the Catholic For
| esters OF Arctic Centre yesterday after
| noon on the Centrevile baseball grounds
a series OF games incluf'ng a baseball
game was held the same being attended
by goodly number OF people.