The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-03-20
SEvENTY-FIFTH
anniversary
Exercises Last Night at Roger
Williams Free Baptist Church.
REV. DR.. CATE The SPEAKER
Observance Of Thrs-Quarter Century Mark
Being Held The First -Four Days
This Week.
REV. DR.. CATE THE SPEAKER

The 75th birthday Of the Roger Will
iiams Free Baptist church was observed
yesterday.
Large congregations gathered 10 par
ticipate in the celebration. An address
was given in the morning by Rev. Or.
G. z. Cate. pastor OF the church, and
IN the evening by Rev. DR. George II.
Ball the first pastor OF tho present
church. and by Rev. Dr. Alfred William
Anthony. former member Of the Roger
Williams church. and az the present time
n professor in the Cobb Divinity school,
which Is connected with the Bates college
sn Lewiston, Me.
The observance of the 18th birthday will
continue for the first four days Of this
week.
The Roger Williams church was organ
ized on March %. 1890. in the house at the
corner OF Westminster and Hammond
streets owned at that time by Peleg
Boss. and the present ediflce was erected
c5 years ago.
Rev w. c. Manchester was the first
pastor OF the church, serving from 1890
TO 1897 and was succeeded by Rev.
Messrs. Caverno Mckenzie, Davis
Noyes. Fernald and DR.. Ball who led
the congregation into the new church.
He was succeeded by Rev. George T. Day.
Rev Messrs Perkins. stone. Blanchard.
Heath. Kirkland, Salley, Baker and NAL
vern.
The morning services began at 1915
doxology and invocation.
An address was delivered by the pastor,
dealing with the history OF the Roger
Williams church. which in part was as
follows:
''rhe general course Of the life OF this
church II so well known that shall not
attempt TO rehearse II year by year and
item by item. II Is not historical sum-
mary. but a historical sketch that propose.
We are not 10 look back curiously. just
10 see what sort OF people our fathers
were. TO flatter ourselves by comparison
and TO laugh at their blunders and foibles.
We come. rather, TO light our torches
anew at the old altar-to refresh our
spirits at the old fountain where they
bowed so humbly 10 drink
"The organizers were members of the
Six Principle Baptist denomination. The
six principles. drawn from Hebrew W..
1-e. were repentance for dead works,
faith toward God. doctrine OF baptism.
laying on OF hands. resurrection OF the
dead and eternal Judgment ON March
%. 1890, in the house now standing at
the corner Of Westminster and Ham
mond streets. with solemn services con-
Quoted by Elder Pardon Tillinghast and
Elder William G. Manchester. this church
was laid upon the rock. on the very
next day after the organization two young
women were accepted as candidates for
baptism seem TO see these two sisters
going forward hand I'm hand leading n
long procession OF those who have passed
through the halowed waters into the fell
lowship OF this church. May that pro-
cession not dwindle with the years but
sweep an ever lengthening line into the
very gates OF heaven.
"In 1885 an incident occurred that re-
vealed the spirit Of the church, and gave
direction 10 It's whole subsequent course.
On learning that the use OF violin to
Improve their music was an occasion OF
offence 10 members OF sister churches
they called a friendly conference and
severed their connection with that body.
not hesitating 10 assert the right OF in
dividual and church liberty. as the de-
ecendants Of Roger Williams For some
years after this. the church was known
as the Roger Williams anG Christian IIin
Baptist church.
But our church did not wish 10 stand
alone. She felt the need OF outward az.
flliation. Consequently an attempt was
made tn unite with the other Rapttst
churches. But terms acceptable 10 both
parties could not be made; our people
could not yield. the others could not ac-
cept the practice OF open communion. In
1877 we became a member OF tho FroewiIl
Baptist Quarterly Meeting. and few
churches have had n larger share In tho
life and work OF our denomination or
made so large contributions 10 it's treas
uries. or carried greater influence into
fts councils.
I'm 1890 there was no place OF wor-
ship between the Benehcent church and
Olneyvilo square. For some years this
church was the only centre OF religious
life In this whole vicinity. The neigh
borhood had a bad name. and was called
Christian I'LL in derision The very site
or this building was occupied by tav-
ern OF fl-repute. Drunkenness was n
common vice. and other evils which at
tend this were known 10 abound We
have heard more than once Of the Tom
Paine club that nourished heroabouts.
This was indeed strategic location, but
demanded on aggressive warfare. In
studying me records ones sees n Nv vigor-
ously they administered the discipline Of
tho church. IL would seem that some
case Of this sort was almost constantly
on trial. Drunkenness. profanity. impur.
iiy. desecration OF the Sabbath. living.
SANDER fraud, flthiness. heresy. neglect
~ covenant obligations. such are the
charges rendered one might sunnoso
their energies were spent chiefly in tbis
way. III today the moral standard is
higher than N was Is years ago. We have
these Puritan forefather, of ours to
taank"