The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-01-09
Cranston St. Baptist Church
Sunday School 35 Years Old.
IT WAS ORGANIZED IN 1869
Rev. Or. Henson Preached an Historical
Sermon at the Morning Service, While
Prof. Wilson Spoke In Evening

The 35th anniversary OF the orgar1iza ton
OF the Cranston Street Baptist Church
Sunday school was fittngly observed yes
terday. In the morning Rev. Llewellyn l..
Henson. ID. D.. preached an historical
sermon; in the evening commemorative
addresses were delivered
The regular morning church service VAS
supplemented with special music by the
choir. In his sermon Or. Henson out
lined the progress OF tho Sunday school,
saying in part:
DIR. HENsoN's SERMON
"Thirty-fve years ago today this school
was organized When we see the small
beginning and read the records OF all the
years. and behold the great and pros
porous school today. we exclaim, What
hath God wroghtn Hundreds have been
converted here. and thousands have
studied the Bible in this school. One OF
the reasons for the great success is 20 be
eeen in the men and women who gave
themselves 10 the work. At the beginning
there was no church 10 back them up
no record 10 spur them on, no papers. no
library, no Bibles no classrooms. no
money They had only one small chapel
and one large debt
But there we're men and women who
were ready for work and for sacriice
DR. Bixby was tho prime mover. With
sturdy faith, a bright vision OF the fu-
ture and an undaunted love for the ,in-
saved, he gave n years OF his life TO this
work. Among the faithful and congerial
men and women whom ne called 10 his
help were Robert r. Holden, the first SUI
perintendent. who served most faithfully
for % years, and who was then elected
honorary superintendent: Frank T.
Bates, who succeeded him for two years,
and Herbert +. Maine, who followed Mr.
Bates, and served most acceptably for IL
years. Thirty-hve years with only three
superntendents is a record OF which to
be proud.
Edward A. Sawyer served as assist
and superintendent for 10 years, Andrew
Comstock as secretary for about IL years
II. W. Pepper as librarian for nearly "a
years. o. A. Jillson as recording secre-
tary for nearly 25 years and as teacher
and chorister from the beginning to the
present, and Miss a, NJ. Barrows as
teacher from the beginning to the present
and as organist for 20 years,
Besides these Miss Elizabeth G.. Paine,
the children's friend. had charge OF the
primary department from the beginning
until her death. in 1880 and Robert A.
Chace was secretary OF the school for
nine years until his death, less than A.
year ago
"OrganizlnG with 119 members, at the
end OF the first year the school had 400
and at the end OF the fourth year 625
members. The largest membership was
ss1, recorded in 1884 In 1889 the Calhoun
Avenue Mission took part of them ana
the two together now number about 1000.
OF the 1887 received into the church sos
have been by baptism and 713 of these
came from the Sunday school. The school
has supported a native preacher and has
raised for all purposes sS2 ss2.67."
EVENING SERVICE.
The evening service was attended by
as large a congregation as ever crowded
the church
The exercises opened with a few words
sf welcome from the acting superntend-
ent, Mr. Jllson; singing. 20 Worship the
King" by the choir and congregation; re-
sponsive reading by the pastor, Rev. l..
J.. Henson and school. with Gloria" by
the choir. anthem, Thee We Will Wor-
ship" w. II. Porter, by a quartet com
posed OF Miss Hildur Kindquist soprano.
Mrs. George Bosworth, contralto: VI. Cor
nelius Barnes, tenor. and +. b. Seauans
basso: prayer by Robert r. Holden. for
mer superintendent OF the school: offer
tory anthem, Thou Art . God. the Life
and Light" John c. Warren, by the
quartet.
The report or tho secretary was then
read, showing the present total member
ship OF the school to he 7S9 The total
attendance for the year was 1882 with
an average of 33l, the largest day being
b56 and the smallest los
The report OF the treasurer for the year
ending Sept 30. 1894 was read. as follows
Balance on hand AT the first OF the year
se1i; receipts. $S2693; total $685. N. Regu-
lar expenditures. s6l725; for benevolences,
tlb6l0; balance, s62.72.
The most interesting feature Of the SER
vice was the exercises entitled "Chroni-
cles Of the Cranston Street Baptist
Church and Sunday school" This con-
sisted OF readings OF specially prepared
sketches by seven young ladies', each COW
ering a period OF FIVE years from the or
ganization OF the school up 10 the pres
ent. and the whole seven comprising the
history for 30 years These chronicles
were written in the biblical style and
were prepared under the direction Of some
OF the teachers in the Sunday school
PROF. WILSON'S ADDRESS.
Prof. George @. Wilson OF Brown uni
versity. former assistant superintendent
OF the Sunday school, then delivered the
anniversary address. lie spoke In a
reminiscent vein. calling up scenes which
the old Views and faces had suggested
and congratulated the school on having
had wise founder and wise leaders from
the first. The influence Of this church.
he said, had gone out into the world.
and he knew OF two workers who were
now laboring In far-off lands. He had
met Christian workers in different parts !
OF the country who dated their inspira-
tion from their connection with the Grams |
ton street Baptist church Many churches /
were now engaged In playing leapfrog 10 \
get out into the suburbs. There was no |
need fer THE church to attempt 10 get out |
into the suburbs Its influence was felt /
where II now was. and had gone out in |
many lines-into the university and other |
places. where he had met students who |
had felt the influence of the Cranston |
street church I'm various ways-some OF |
them having carried of certain young |
ladies OF the church.
Tuesday evening the Ladies' Aid So /
ciety will serve a supper in the vestry |