USA > Rhode Island > Providence County > History of Providence County, Rhode Island, Volume I > Part 53
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Roger Williams remained pastor of the little flock but a short time. His progressive views soon brought him to a position of doubt as to the validity of his own baptism, and consequently the authority of his action in the pastoral office. His baptism had been adminis- tered by one who could not claim apostolic succession and hence that baptism could not give him the spiritual authority which he felt that he ought to have for continuing in the pastoral relation. He with- drew from that office, and during the rest of his days remained with- out any regular connection as pastor, though he continued at divers
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times and places to expound and proclaim the doctrines of the Chris- tian religion.
The church, however, remained and grew. Who the original twelve were is not known with definiteness, but coinciding records of other localities furnish partial information. The church in Salem excommunicated ten persons who had come to Providence, and all but two had been re-baptized. The ten persons thus dismissed were "Roger Williams and his wife, John Throgmorton and his wife, Thomas Olney and his wife, Stukely Westcott and his wife, Mary Holliman and Widow Reeves." Which of these were the two not re- baptized is not known. To these ten are to be added Ezekiel Holli- man, and probably Richard Scott and his wife. Chad Brown and Gregory Dexter and William Wickenden, who afterward became elders in the church, were with their wives received into the church soon after its beginning.
The early ministers are supposed to have labored without any salary. This was so both from necessity and probably from convic- tion of opposition to the principle of a paid ministry. It was exer- cised by those who in character and gifts of "prophesying" were marked for it. Of those who exercised thus the functions of elder- ship, one of the most conspicuous was Chad Brown, who though he died within a dozen years after coming here, is still represented in name and blood, as he has been for many generations, by those who have been and are prominent in their support and honor of religion and letters in Providence. Gregory Dexter, one of his associate elders, survived him more than half a century, living to be 90 years old. William Wickenden, another, lived here over 40 years, a mem- ber and minister in the church. He died February 23d, 1670. Thomas Olney, another of this class, died in 1682, having laid the founda- tions of a name which has been a household word for many genera- tions. After serving the church for a while he withdrew, on account of the church having adopted the sacrament of the laying on of hands as an important sequel to baptism, a doctrine in which he could not concur. This was about the year 1652, and Mr. Olney was accom- panied by a number of dissenters, who agreed with him, and they formed another church, which continued till about 1718, when it dis- solved. Pardon Tillinghast, who joined the infant settlement and church in 1646, being then 24 years of age, continued here until his death, at the age of 96. Elder Tillinghast gave the church not only his services but their first house of worship. It was a rude affair, as history says, "in the shape of a hay-cap, with a fire-place in the mid- dle, the smoke escaping from a hole in the roof." It stood on the Town street, near the corner of Smith street, and gave the church a sort of local habitation after meeting for 60 years out of doors and in doors wherever a place for the time being could be found.
The eldership continued in the Brown family for three genera-
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tions. From Chad it passed to John, his eldest son, who had married the daughter of Obadiah Holmes, who was whipped at Lynn. James, the third son of John, born in 1666, served the church in his turn, and died October 28th, 1732. With him was associated Ebenezer Jenckes, who succeeded Elder Tillinghast in 1719, and served the church till his death, August 14th, 1726. At about the time of the death of Mr. Jenckes a new meeting house was erected, which was raised May 30th, 1726, and stood till the present one was built. It was about 40 feet square, and stood so that at high water the tide flowed nearly up to the west end of the building. From the front door, which opened on Main street, an aisle extended to the pulpit, which was raised three or four steps from the floor, and on each side of the aisle benches extended north and south to the walls of the house, there being no box pews in the room. Benches were also arranged in the gallery. which was entered by narrow stairs from a door on the south side of the house. Mr. Jenckes belonged to a family who had been known as liberal friends of literature and religion. His father, a native of Buckinghamshire, England, was a pious man, and the first who built a house in the town of Pawtucket. His brother, the governor, a member of this church, was for a number of years ambassador of the colony to the court of St. James, and was distinguished not only by the urbanity of his manners and his intellectual endowments, but by the graces of religion. His son, Daniel Jenckes, who was for 48 years an active member here, was for 40 years a member of the gen- eral assembly, chief justice of this county, and a munificent donor to the college and the church.
John Walton ministered to the church for a time. He was a man of liberal education, and a physician as well. He led a party that favored the payment of ministers and the admission to communion of those upon whom hands of the church had not been laid. The party that opposed these sentiments prevailed and he withdrew, while the leader of the latter party, Samuel Winsor, be- came the minister of the church. Winsor was then 56 years old, and he continued in office 25 years, till his death, November 17th, 1758, being assisted for a time by Thomas Burlingame. Samuel Winsor, Jr., son of the former, was ordained in 1759, and continued in the ministry of the church and in the opinion of his father till the spring of 1771, when the opponents of his views became stronger, and he withdrew from the church, accompanied by the party who agreed with him.
A new era in the history of this church begins with the location of Rhode Island College in this town, in 1770. The church was then about 130 years old, and though having a clear field from the start in a town which now numbered four thousand souls, it had but 118 members. It had never paid its ministers, and on principle was op- posed to doing it. It discarded singing and music in public worship,
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HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.
after the manner of the Quakers and the early Baptists in England. It was still rigorous for the laying on of hands, refusing communion to those who did not practice it, and held those liable to discipline who should " join in prayer without the bounds of the church." Cn the occasion of President Manning being invited to communion with the church, he not being in sympathy with these views, a protest was raised, but was over-ruled. Mr. Winsor, with the protesting party, withdrew and Mr. Manning was at once called to preach and admin- ister the communion. For 20 years, till three months before his death, he held this position, still president of the college and acting pastor of the church. He exercised his ministry with intelligence without looseness, with zeal without narrowness. He smoothed the passage of the church into a new order, reforming with moderation, and restoring the union of education with religion. The church went forward under his ministrations more rapidly than it had ever done before. Soon after his coming to the church it was resolved to build a " meeting house for the public worship of Almighty God, and also for holding commencement in." In the middle of Febru- ary, 1774, the orchard of John Angell was purchased for the site of the new house of worship, which was at once planned and built. It was dedicated on the 28th of May, 1775, having been erected at a cost of £7,000, equivalent to about $25,000. The Charitable Baptist So- ciety had also been organized. A great revival was in progress about this time, and President Manning estimated that about two hundred persons were converted, and that he baptized more than half that number himself, in less than a year. But the battle of Lex- ington turned the attention of all eyes to the great national conflict that was opening, and the work of the church was sadly obstructed thereby. The college was closed, and its hall used for barracks and hospital. Improvements in general were stopped, the painting of the meeting house was postponed until 1787, and the congregation was scattered. President Manning closed his pastoral service of this church April 24th, 1791, within three months of the close of his life, at the vigorous age of 53 years. In the mean time Mr. Manning wishing to give the church better service than was possible with him in connection with his college duties, urged the church to secure a pastor in his stead. This they succeeded in doing for a time in the person of Reverend John Stanford, an English minister, who began such pastorate about the first of January, 1788, and closed it Septem- ber 26th, 1789.
The next minister was Reverend Jonathan Maxcy, who was or- dained September 8th, 1791, and just one year later resigned to be- come president of the college. This short pastorate was followed by the longest in the history of the church, that of Reverend Stephen Gano. This began in the summer of 1793, and continued 35 years, till his death in 1828. He was a nephew of President Manning, and
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HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.
a son of Reverend John Gano. He had studied medicine, and for a time engaged in its practice. His ministry was remarkable for the great numerical increase of the church and the powerful religious awakenings by which it came. At the beginning of his ministry the church had 207 members; at its close it had 491. Eight years before, that is in 1820, the membership reached its highest point, then num- bering 648. In that year 147 persons were baptized. It was during the ministry of Doctor Gano that the church dismissed the rite of laying on hands which had held a place in the principles of the church since 1653, though for 40 years it had been gradually losing ground. On the second of December, 1808, the pastor brought the question to a decisive issue by offering his resignation if it was to be continued. It is needless to say the custom was abandoned.
The next minister was Reverend Robert Everett Pattison. He was twice called to the pastorate of this church. His first term of service was from March 21st, 1830, to August 11th, 1836. His second term began December 10th, 1840, and ended on the first Sunday in April, 1842. His first ministry was a very successful one, and was followed by a long vacancy in the pastoral office. During his first ministry not only was the religious life of the congregation greatly invigorated, but the first important change was made in the meeting house. In 1832 the 126 square pews, with aisles crossing from door to door, were removed, and 144 long pews were put up. The second gallery at the west end, once set apart for colored people, was taken down; the high pulpit was altered and the sounding board over it was taken away; the chandelier and the venetian window at the rear of the pulpit were kept; but this and the renovations which have fol- lowed quite altered the antique congruity of the house as it was. Two years later the organ, which had been proposed nearly a score of years before, was placed in the gallery, two generations after a minister had left the church because singing in public worship was "highly disgustful " to him. This was said of Mr. Winsor by a con- temporary. The organ was the gift of Mr. Nicholas Brown, the second of that name, who had been a liberal supporter of the church, as well as of the college which bears his name. Forty years before he had built a parsonage for the society.
The ministry of Reverend William Hague, continuing but little more than three years, occupied the space between the first and sec- ond periods of Doctor Pattison. He was 29 years old, of fresh com- plexion, small figure and alert action. He had been pastor of the First church in Boston, and returned to that city after his ministry here. Brief as his ministry was here it brought increase to the church, and gave character and influence to its pulpit. Following the second ministry of Doctor Pattison came that of Reverend James Nathaniel Granger, which continued more than 14 years. He came here when 28 years of age and died at the age of 42. He was of
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serious, grave appearance, his marked qualities being sobriety, sol- idity and strength. He was commissioned to visit ard inspect the missions of American Baptists in India, which occupied many months of his time, after he had labored in this field about ten years. During his absence Reverend John C. Stockbridge occupied his pulpit and pastoral field for a year, and Reverend Francis Smith for a shorter period. After his return he resumed his pastoral duties with broken health and failing strength. He died January 2d, 1857. During three months in 1855 he was assisted by Reverend William C. Richards. In 1857 the lower part of the meeting house was recon- structed and greatly improved for the more social uses of the church, at an expense of $12,000.
Doctor Francis Wayland, who 16 months before had resigned the presidency of Brown University, supplied the pulpit and did the pastoral work of the church for a year and more, though he declined to assume the office of actual pastor. During this time a very stir- ring revival visited the church. This was followed by the ministry of Reverend Samuel L. Caldwell, D.D., whose pastorate extended from 1858 to 1873. Reverend Edward G. Taylor, D.D., began his ministry here April 18th, 1875, coming here from New Orleans, and being then 43 years old. His ministry continued until 1881. Dur- ing the time the church increased in number from 381 to 547. Dur- ing this ministry a mission was begun at Mount Pleasant, which issued in the formation of a church-the fourteenth Baptist church in the city. Since the beginning of this century this church has contributed largely to the formation of several other churches: In 1805, to the church in Pawtucket, and the Second, now Central church in Providence; in 1806, to the church in Pawtuxet; in 1820, to the Third church in Providence, and in 1855 to the Brown Street church. The pastorate of Reverend T. Edwin Brown, D.D., began February 5th, 1882, and continues at the present time. During the 250 years of the life of this church it lias had 20 ministers. Besides its pastors at least 62 ministers have been among its members. There have been 1,240 members added to it by baptism and 1,088 by letter from other churches in the last three quarters of a century. In the last hundred years it has received altogether about 2,900 members. The church now numbers 488.
After the Baptists the next sect to find a place in Providence was that of the Friends. The first appearance of this sect in New Eng- land was in 1656. Persecuted as they were in every other colony of New England, the towns of Rhode Island received and comforted them in their sufferings, and the consequence was the adoption of their opinions by some of the inhabitants of almost every town at a very early period. Tradition says that Richard Scott was the first person in Providence to adopt their principles. His wife, Catherine, and two daughters, Patience and Mary, were also among the first
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members of the Friends' Society. All three of these women suffered corporeal punishment in Massachusetts, the wife as early as 1658. One of the daughters married Christopher Holder, whose name ap- pears more than once among those who suffered corporeal punish- ment in Massachusetts on account of their devotion to the principles of the Friends. In 1666 Thomas Burnyeate, a Friend from England, held a meeting in Providence, and in 1672 George Fox, the celebrated leader of that sect, held a meeting in Providence, "in a great bari, which was thronged with people." This was followed not long after- ward by the celebrated debate on 14 propositions, in which Roger Williams contended with great zeal against three English Friends- John Stubbs, John Burnyeate and William Edmundson. The debate was carried on three days at Newport and one day at Providence. Thus it appears the principles of the Friends were obtaining a foot- hold in Providence, though the data by which we may judge of their progress are very few and uncertain. In June, 1691, a record of the Rhode Island quarterly meeting indicates that an attempt was made to purchase "Sucklin's lot of land at Providence," doubtless for the purpose of a building site, and it is supposed that the purchase was made. From the same records it appears that a weekly meeting was established at Providence as early as March, 1701, and in the follow- ing year the project of building a meeting house was resumed. A subscription of £60 15s. toward the project was raised by 40 inhabit- ants of Providence, whereupon the quarterly meeting of Rhode Island resolved to proceed with the building of a house 30 feet square. Subsequent quarterly meetings agreed to an exchange of location for one near the dwelling house of Eleazer Arnold, and upon that site a meeting house was erected between June, 1703, and July, 1704. This house stood on a lot 7x12 rods, and its location was north of the pres- ent city, in the part of the then town of Providence which was sub- sequently set off as Smithfield, and it was afterward known as Lower Smithfield.
In the beginning of 1718 Providence monthly meeting was set off from Greenwich monthly meeting, with which it had formerly been associated, and consisted of Providence and Mendon meetings. In 1731 the name was changed to Smithfield monthly meeting. The proposition to build a meeting house in Providence town was pre- sented to the Smithfield monthly meeting in 1724, and being ap- proved and aided by the Rhode Island quarterly meeting, to whom it was referred, the house was built within a year or two from that time. Its original location was on Stampers hill, whence it was re- moved in 1745 to a site, according to later description, between South Court and Meeting streets. The deed of the lot was made in the be- ginning of the year 1727, the house having already been erected upon it. An addition was made to it in 1784-5. The town was accustomed, for a long time, to hold their town meetings in this house, and a
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HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.
school was for many years kept in the upper part of it. The present Providence monthly meeting was set off from that of Smithfield, already noticed, in 1783. The house already mentioned was after- ward removed to Hope street and converted into two dwellings, and the present meeting house, at the corner of North Main and Meeting streets, was built in 1844-5. The present number of Friends wor- shipping in the city is about 150. Among their recognized minis- ters are Phebe R. Gifford, Huldah M. Beede, Sarah K. Reynolds and Robert P. Gifford.
Worship under the conduct of the Congregational order does not appear to have been regularly established previous to the year 1720, or about that time. The general principles laid down at the outset of the settlement, entirely separating the ecclesiastical from the civil functions of society, were quite too liberal to afford an attractive atmosphere for the Congregational element of that time. In 1721 an attempt was made to erect a house of worship by them. Doctor Hoyle, one of the most active and efficient of their number, visited the neighboring colonies and obtained pecuniary aid for the enter- prise, and, without the approval or consent of his associates, began the erection of a house on a lot of land near the junction of Pawtuxet and High streets. Dissatisfaction at this action was so great that after the house had been partially finished it was torn down. In 1723 the society erected a house for worship at the corner of College and Benefit streets. This was afterward changed somewhat in model, and familiarly called the "Old Town House," it having been sold to the town in 1794. A more spacious and elegant house of worship was at once erected at the corner of Benevolent and Benefit streets. They began to raise this building on August 19th, 1794, on which occasion Doctor Hitchcock, the pastor of the society, delivered an address. The house, being completed, was dedicated August 16th, 1795. The size of the house was 87 by 71 feet on the ground, and the front was ornamented with two spires of very symmetrical propor- tions. Mr. Caleb Ormsbee was the architect. The whole house was a beautiful copy of one of the most beautiful houses of worship in Boston. It was destroyed by fire on the morning of June 14th, 1814. The society immediately set about the erection of a still more spa- cious and elegant structure on the same site. The corner stone of this house was laid with appropriate ceremonies on the 29th of May, 1815, and the house was dedicated on the 31st of October in the fol- lowing year. It is built of granite from the Waterman " snake-den " ledge in Johnston. Its size is 77 by 100 feet, including a vestibule of 20 feet. The stone tower is 80 feet high to the bell deck, and the spire reaches to a height of about 200 feet from the ground. The cost of the house exceeded $50,000.
Previous to the settlement of any minister several clergymen from the neighboring colonies occasionally preached for the society.
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HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.
Among these were a Mr. Dorrance, a Mr. Danforth and Reverend Samuel Moody, of York, Maine, who by permission of his own con- gregation preached at Providence three months. During this period he baptized 16 persons. The society had no settled minister until 1728. In the spring of that year Josiah Cotton commenced preaching for them, and was ordained in the following autumn, 18 churches be- ing present by their delegates to assist at the ordination. The church was constituted on the same day, its original members being Cornelius Salisbury, Nathaniel Blague, William Randall, Joseph Bagley, Timothy Carpenter, Joseph Barstow, John Church, Thomas Pollock and John Taylor. Mr. Cotton remained in the pastoral charge of this society and church until 1747, when he was dismissed at his own request. Reverend John Bass was called, after an inter- val of about five years had elapsed. He commenced preaching for this church in 1752 and continued until 1758, when he left the minis- try and commenced the practice of medicine. The church at this time was in a weak condition and its religious interest appeared to be suffering a decline. In 1761 its membership became more united, the whole number then being 11 males and 10 females. In 1762 the services of Mr. David S. Rowland were obtained, and he continued with them until 1774, when he asked and received his dismission. Doctor Lothrop, of Boston, served the church nearly the whole of the year 1775. After his return to Boston the revolutionary war broke up the society so much that they had only occasional preachers till the fall of 1780, when Enos Hitchcock became their permanent pas- tor, though he was not formally installed until October, 1783. His pastorate was terminated by his death, which occurred February 27th, 1803. His biographer wrote of him: "The character of his mind, the working of his heart, the creed of his life, might be writ- ten in a line -- ' faith, hope and charity, these three, but the greatest of these is charity.'" He left a legacy exceeding $6,000 to the society. His immediate successor was Henry Edes, of Boston, who was ordained in July, 1805, and was dismissed at his own request in June, 1832. The Reverend Edward B. Hall was installed November 14th, 1832, and continued in the pastorate until 1865. After a va- cancy of a year or two Reverend Arthur M. Knapp became pastor in 1868, continuing about three years. In 1873 Reverend C. A. Staples was in the ministry of this church, continuing to 1881. Reverend Thomas R. Slicer, the present pastor, was called to the pastorate in June, 1881. Two churches and societies have sprung from this one since its establishment. These are the Beneficent Congregational, from which the Richmond Street and the High Street Societies sprang, and the Westminster Congregational Society. In 1882 the covenant of this church was simplified so as to read: " In the love of the Truth, and in the Spirit of Jesus Christ, we join for the worship
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of God and the service of man." The present congregation numbers about 200 families. The society belongs to the Unitarian order.
The fifth religious sect to gain any notable foothold in this town was the Church of England. No trace of Episcopalianism appears in Providence previous to about the year 1722, except it may be that Mr. Honyman, the Episcopal missionary of Newport, occasionally preached here. On one of these occasions he declared that " no house could hold the congregation, so that I was obliged to preach in the open fields." This was in 1722, when he exerted himself in gather- ing a subscription to erect a church. The sum of £250 was raised here, to which was added £200 more in Newport, £100 in Boston and £200 in other places. An additional sum of £200 was borrowed, and the erection of a church proceeded. A building 62x41 feet and 26 feet high was raised on St. Barnabas day, 1722. The largest single contributor to this building fund was Colonel Joseph Whipple, who gave £100. The church occupied the same spot on which St. John's church now stands. It was a remarkably neat and pretty church, and some time after its erection a steeple was added. In 1762 and in 1771, leave was given by the general assembly to raise money by a lottery, sufficient to repair the church and build a steeple, from which we infer that the steeple was not built until after that time. The first bell in Providence is said to have been hung in the steeple of this church. The house was pulled down in 1810. The corner stone of the new church was laid on the 5th of June, 1810, and the edifice being completed was dedicated on the 11th of June, 1811. The size of the building was 82x67 feet, with a chancel 16x34 feet. Mr. John H. Greene was the architect of this building, which was con- structed of natural-faced stone laid in irregular blocks. The first clergyman settled over the church here as a missionary was Rever- end George Pigot. He was sent by the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, to Stratford, Conn., and in the fol- lowing year was settled over this church. He remained, however, but a short time, and was succeeded by Mr. Charro. The latter was dismissed from his charge on account of improper conduct. In Octo- ber, 1730, Arthur Brown became rector.
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