The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1906-01-12
Pastor Of CathedraI's Views
on Baptist Founder Of State.
BEFORE VETERAN CITIZENS
Says Roger Williams Believed Ia Church
Without Temple, Forms Almost With.
out Substance Was Not Appreciated

The Rhode Island Citizens Historical
association held regular meeting yes
terday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock az the
vestry OF the Mathewson Street NJ E.
church. After the reading of the records
by Secretary Brown, the president made
lengthy remarks regarding the future OF
the society. Three new members Colonel
Harold j. Gross, Anthony McCabe and
Mrs. Martha F. Barstow. proposed by AL
bert l.. Chaffee and Mrs III. ". B. Chat
fee. were elected members. Mr.. Gal
lagher announced some new circulars and
pamphlets available. Mr.. Dennis pre-
sented the report of the nominating COM
mittee for new officers. The election pro-
ceeded viva voce without opposition, tin
the treasurer was reached, when several
Colonel Collins. Mr. Arnold and Mr.
Brown inquired why Mrs. Chaffee was
omitted and how long member. and the
answer. IA years and the society largely
In debt to her now; and several speak
ers denounced IL as gross wrong and
injustice to the present faithful and hard
working treasurer.
Mr. Brown spoke OF II as n cut-and-
dried, star-chamber piece of business,
the committee being called the Don't
Tell Committee" and the idea prevail
ent, that no changes would be made. All
the incumbents asked was fair play and
justice and square deal TO each and
every member. Much dissatisfaction was
manifested and strong feeling prevail
ent, that at the last meeting the no
tice OF election from the floor should
have been given. instead OF a star cham
Der committee run by one or more, thus
giving TO one and all alike an equal OPP
portunity in the management and sue
cess OF the society
A motion by Mr.. Everett was carried
for a ballot with Mrs. Chaffee and Mrs.
Hall as candidates. and Mrs. Chaffee was
elected by a large majority. and on mo-
ton, was made unanimous. The ticket
was then completed, and Il was said
other incumbents would have been bal
loted for. had they permitted. Mrs. Chat
fee, the treasurer. presented her report
OF expenses TO date. audited, OF s1SS.07
and OF this amount the society being her
debtor SS.1s.. The ticket presented by
the committee for officers is as follows:
THE OFFICERS.
PRESIDENT, Thomas w. Bicknell; vice
presidents, r. Harnwitt Tilley, Newport
county; Mrs. Orrin l.. Bosworth. Bristol
county Thomas w. Chase, Kent county:
George Fl. Utter, Washington county;
Amasa NJ Eaton. Elisha Dyer. Daniel X.
Ballou. Providence county; state at large.
John p. Sanborn; executive committee.
president and recording secretary. Henry
A. Atkins. Mrs. Elizabeth c. Hill. James
NJ Arnold Francis Gallagher j. +. c.
Farnham; corresponding secretary, Ben
-tamfu L. Dennison. recording secretary,
Joseph ID. Hall, Jr.; treasurer. Joseph d.
Hall, Jr.; committee on neurology, Amasa
NJ Eaton Mrs. Elizabeth c. Hill. Fran
els Gallagher: auditing committee, Rich
mond p. Everett, Washington Williams,
Van Buren, Krime, and cabinet keeper,
Joseph d. Hall. Jr.
INTRODUCED FIR. BOWLING.
The president then introduced the, Rev
Austin Dowling. rector of the cathedral
who delivered a very eloquent and inter-
esting address entitled Roger Williams
His Views on Church and State and the
Consistency with Which He Applied
Them"
Or. Dowllng, while possessing very
pleasing. attractive bearing and address,
is a very winning graceful speaker an
orator with great fiuency OF classic Ian
guage. a man OF deep research study,
culture and extensive reading. and des-
tined TO win great fame and brilliant
laurels in both the pulpit and the forum
Those members detained missed a great
literary. historical treat. DIT. Downing
spoke in part as follows:
Roger Williams was believer in the
secular state. Although brought up in
the Church OF England he became imbued
with the theology OF the Puritans and
digging deeply into the differences of the
Protestants about the Christian ministry"
became in the end TO believe in a church
without temples or forms almost without
substances. He emerged from his Inquiries
an unsettled seeker. convinced Of the doc
trines Of Christianity as he apprehended
them In the Bible and convinced of little
else but that his one guide and master In
life must be his conscience
CHURCH AND STATE
As the idea OF the church and her minis