The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-05-01
anniversary
SERVICES HELD
Central Baptist Church Ce|e.
bratss Its l00th Birthday.
REV. J. R. BROWN PREACHED
In Honor o. the Centennial The Church Was
eIahorateIy Decorated BY FlowerIng
Plants and Palms.
REV. J. R. BROWN PREACHED


Central Baptist church will be celebrated,
were auspiciously inaugurated yesterday
in the house OF worship OF that body on
Wey ybosset street.
The principal feature of the morning
was the historical sermon preached by
Rev Richard Brown, the churoh's pres
ent pastor, sketched It's history during
the past hundred years
The address was entertainly reminiscent
for all and was OF the keenes: interest
for those who are closely connected with
the church. IL was exceptionally com
plete In detail and scope. yot historical
data was so skilfully interviewer with
anecdote and incident bearing upon the
career OF the organization, as CLEANED
from exhaustive study OF manuscripts.
minutes and other records. that at once
caught and held 70 the end the atten-
tion of the congregation.
In the evening Rev. Thomas ID. Ander-
son. pastor OF the Emanual Baptist
church. Albany, n. Y. 10 which he was
called two years ago. preached the cen
tennial sermon an eminently scholarly
address that hound the past with Its
wealth OF memories TO the present OF op-
portunity and the future Of prophecy.
ELABORATE DECORATIONS.
In honor OF the centennial the interior
Of the church was rendered doubly at
traotive by the prodigal use OF flowers.
Entirely around the auditorium ran fes-
toons OF laurel gracefully dipping from
the balcony rail. while in front OF the
choir loft which the auditorium faced.
the dates 1905 and 1905 were wrought In
laurel artistically. and surrounded by a
deep border OF the same decorating ma
terial.
In each pew had been distributed, before
the service began. the souvenir programs.
which have been in preparation for some
time.
These are handsome examples OF the
printers and engravers' art. Bound In
d-ab colored covers. edged and titled with
blue. they bear on their front cover the
citys seal. while that OF the State OF
Rhode Island aprcars on the back OF the
programs.
The morning service began with an or
gan prelude. Fantasia" by Tours. The
order OF service was as follows: Doxolo-
gy: invocation. followed by the Lord :
Prayer. anthem. "Te Deum'' in B-minor.
Buck; responsive reading, Gloria. :"
Scripture lesson. -ead by Rev. w. H. r.
Faunce. d. D.: offertory. II VIII Love
Thee. o Lord" Macdougali: prayer. Rev.
DR. Faunce: alto solo. Eye Hath Not
Seen Gaul; hymn s4s. 20 God OF Bethel.
by Whose Hand" historical sermon. Rev
John Richard Brown hymn 1904, The
ChurCh's One foundation" benediction: :
postlude Festival March" Calkin. A
special chorus assisted the regular church
quartet.
HISTORICAL ADDRESS
Rev Mr. Browns text for the historical
sermon was Ps lxxvii 10: And I said
This is my infrmity. but will remember
the yeas OF the right hand OF the most
High"
After briefly outlining the general con-
6itions the speaker referred particularly
to this city.
He then continued "In 1896 Providence
was town Of 1900 inhabitants. Tts
boundaries were somewhat vague, but I'm
spiiit OF enterprise Stewart street had
been opened up. and hope was expressed
that the town would grow rapidly to the
west. For years. however. Stewart street
was an ill-tined experiment In a country
district Pawtuxot road, known 70 US now
as Broad street. ran along the edge OF a
great swamp, whose stnuosities have been
made permanent in the many changing d.
rections OF the street. But at any rate
everyone believed 'hat the city must have
In time a large population on the west
side OF the river. Roger Williams expert
-.r1cnt TN religion. represented in the First
BAPTIST church. created an almost unrea-
soaing reverence for that body and
threatened to make Capitalization the de-
sregationalists had two chUrches, the
Iplscopalians hal one organization and
were about to start another: the Baptists
seemed to be laGgard in their efforts to
supply the needs Of the growing town
REMARKABLE PREACHER.
I'm the year 1904 the Congregationelists
who had formed an organiza tion and who
had erected building on Richmond street
were without a pastor For some reason
which does not appear in any record
which have seen. they invited the Rev.
Joseph Cornell. a Baptist minister. to
SUPPLY their pulpit. Mr. Cornell was
remarkable man. Almost entirely unedu-
Gated he was yet able 10 command the
junction. OF the spirit wherever he went.
His preaching drew crowds and many
by his guidance passed through the crisis
AZ the spiritual change. The greater part
Of his converts. we are told, became mem
bers Of the First Baptist church. This,
however. does not seem TO have disturbed
the happy relations that existed between
himself and the Congrega tionalists.
THE pastor OF the First Baptist church
at that time was stephen Gano. He was
n preacher Of ability, but as leader In
critical and formative times he has never
been surpassed IN our UNCONVENTIONAL life
He encouraged the Raptsts who lived on
the west side TO form n new church: Jo-
seph Cornell IL was taken for granted
would be their pastor on Nav /. 1906
council composed OF the ministers and
delegates from three churches-the First
in this city. the Rrhoboth church and
the church I'm Warren-met at the home
of Benjamin Ham on Chestnut street. The
council was organized with Rev. John
pitman Of the Rehoboth church as chair
man and Henry Grew OF Providence as
clerk Those who wished TO be formed
into the new church recited their reasons
which were accounted sufficient
ARTICLES or FAITH
They thereupon presented articles Of
faith and n covenant under which they
would live and work. and which were
accepted They stood I'm n row while they
promised Elder Cano that they would
support the Lords cause In the new or
ganization. Elder ritman gave the hand
Of fellowship to jeremiah Ross for the