The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1906-01-30
NEWPORT
CHURCHES
UNITED

Special meetings of the Second and'Cen-
trail Baptist churches OF Newport were
held last night. at which II was voted
that the two churches unite In ono cor
poration. to be known as the Second Bap-
tist society
The resignation OF Rev. j. Chester
Hyde was accepted Mr.. and Mrs. Hyde
will be rendered a reception next Monday
evening. Rev. Dr. George w. Quick has
been called to the pastorate of the united
churches and has already taken up his
residence in Newport.
The following resolution was adopted:
voted. That the General Assembly be
requested to pass an act uniting the Six
Principles Baptist society with the Cen
trail Baptist Society OF Newport Ga draft
OF which IL herewith presented and read)
so that the two churches Immediately on
the passage of the act shall be one cor
poratlon 10 be known as the Second Bap-
list Society" II. T.. Read and A. w. Luz
ther were appointed committee To COM
municate the petition 10 the general as
sembly.
The Second Baptist church has been I'm
existence 250 years. II was established III
1856 with q members who withdrew from
the First Baptist church.
The founders of the church were Rev
William Vaughan. who was the first pas
10. Thomas Baker. James Clarke, Jere-
miah Clarke Daniel Wrightman. John
Odlin. jeremiah Weeden, Joseph card,
John Greenman. Henry Clarke. Peleg
Peckham. Joseph Weeden, John Rhodes,
James Brown John Hammett William
Rhodes. Daniel Sabear and William
Greenman
Rev. william Vaughan served as pastor
until his death in 1877. He was succeeded
by Rev Thomas Baker who served two
years The third pastor was Rev. John
Harden whose ministry lasted Il years
During this time. In 1897. the first church
structure was built Mr.. Harden died
while pastor and was succeeded by Rev.
James Clarke a nephew Of Rev. John
Clarke During Mr.. Clarkes pastorate,
which covered 80 years, an assistant pas
tor was installed and the building en-
lareed He died while still pastor In his
eighly-eighth year Rev. Daniel Wright
man, who had been associate pastor.
succeeded to the pastorate and served the
church until 1850. when lie died, in his
eighty-third year Rev. Nicholas Eyres,
the next pastor, died i'm 1859, when he was
so years old.
The most remarkable pastorate In
length OF years and in the prominence OF
the preacher was that OF Rev. Gardiner
Thurston who served the church 81 years.
dying while still pastor In his eighty
third year.
The pastors who followed Mr. Thurston
were Rev Joshua Bradley. 1901 1897; Rev
J. r. Gibson. 1S07-1Sl5; Rev. Samuel wy.
down, 1sl5-iN7. Rev. Romeo Elton, 1Sl7-
1892. Rev William Gammell 1s23-1S21.
In 1897 Rev John o. Choules began his
first pastorate. which extended until 1893
He was followed by RcT. John Dowling
Rev. r g. Freeman. Rev Leland Howard
and Rev. Thomas IJcaver, the last named
resigning I'm 1876. During Mr.. Bowling 3
pastorate the present church edifce was
erected, in 1884, and dedicated in 1885. Be
tween 1910 and 1si7 the chuIch passed
through one OF its most troublesome
times. and Jan. ]. lSi7. lf members, in
cluding all tho officers. asked for letters
OF dismissal which were granted them.
and they withdrew to organize the Central
Baptist church. In June lsi1, Rev. Mr.
ChouIes was induced 10 again assume
charge OF the church. His pastorate was
n prosperous one. with a renovated
house, a revised roll and judicious guide
the oidtime prosperity returned. DR.
Choules died I'm 1856 while still pastor. and
Rev. Charles Howard Malcom succeeded
him. beginning his service early the next
year and continuing in the pulpit until
Nov. 1871
The pastors I'm more recent years have
been Rev n. h. Thompson, who served
six years: Rev. Frank Rector. who served
three years; Rev. w. H. Covell. Rev.
Sumner w Stevens. Rev. VI. III. IIowes.
Rev. T.. =. Fitzpatrick. Rev. J. F. Fleming
and Rev j. Chester Hyde. Mr.. Fleming
resigned the pastorate July II. 1902. TO ac-
cept an appointment as chaplain In the
United States navy, and Rev Mr.. Hyde
began his pastorate In October. 1902, serv-
ing until the present time.
The Central Baptist church was organ
izod IN lS4G by as members who had with
drawn from the Second church. lmme-
diately after the organization iOi others
who had withdrawn from the Second
church were admitted. steps were Inn
mediately taken 20 purchase the building
which the church now occupies and which
is TO be the house OF worship OF the united
church This had been the First Congre-
rational church. where for more than 20
wears Rev Ezra stiles. who was later
president OF Yale college. had been pas
tor. and where Rev. william Ellery Chan
ming was baptized by Dr. stiles and
preached his first sermon. Rev. Henry
Jackson, u. II. was the first pastor, serv-
ing rs years from 1877 until 1863. lie was
followed by Rev. Henry r. Robbins. ID.
u from 1863 TO 1857. Rev. 5. r. Hancock
from 1851 60 1863: Rev. y. J. Wheeler. from
1859 90 1879. Rev. Warren Randolph. ID.
n from 1879 10 1899. and Rev. John T.
Rccklcy. II. D.. from 1901 90 June. 1906.
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