USA > Rhode Island > Providence County > History of Providence County, Rhode Island > Part 41
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* Friends' Records, vol. 2, page 59.
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day school. The latter was occupied in the fall of 1881. On the 14th of April, 1882, the church was again damaged by an incendiary fire to to the extent of $300, but was well repaired, and in 1889 presented a neat and inviting appearance. The cemetery lacks the care to make it the attractive spot that nature has suggested it might be, and con- tains many old graves.
The monthly meetings at Woonsocket have from the time of their institution been occasions of interest to nearly all the original families of northern Rhode Island. Its members, in a series of years, were persons bearing the names of Aldrich, Allen, Angell, Arnold, Ballou, Barker, Bartlett, Braley, Buffum, Brown, Bennett, Bronson, Callom, Cargill, Cass, Chapman, Comstock, Cook, Dyer, Earle, Farnum, Gould, Gaskell, Harris, Hopkins, Hill, Jillson, Lapham, Mowry, Mussey, Nichols, Osborne, Owen, Packer, Paine, Potter, Powers, Read, Rich- ardson, Rogers, Smith, Southwick, Spencer, Steere, Swett, Thayer, Trask, Thornton, Varney, White, Whipple, Wilkinson, Wheeler, Wil- son and Wing.
At these monthly meetings were formulated simple but exact rules for this plain people, which indicate the whole line of their conduct. The sinful and innocent pleasures of the world were alike strictly for- bidden, and at an early day such things as "husking bees " at night and horse racing were placed under the ban. Their ideas of peace pre- cluded the idea of war, no matter what the object to be attained by the appeal to arms was, and the defense of their homes elicited no quicker response than the effort to vindicate a principle. Hence pat- riotism found no lodgement in their hearts, nor was there sufficient charity to condone the offense of those of Quaker training who aided to liberate the colonists from the thralldom of a foreign power. Yet withal, this was a goodly people and the general conduct of their lives, conformed to the rules of their church, produced good citizenship. The attendance at these meetings has generally been large, there being 400 present when the present new meeting house was first occupied.
The attendance at the first day and midweek meetings is compara- tively small, but sufficient interest has been manifested to keep them up with regularity. For many years " silence " was their marked feature of worship, and when it was broken by the voice of an eloquent preacher, the effect was inspiring. But when the voices of their teachers became silent, the Quakers became lukewarm .* It is stated that once when such a condition existed that but " ten or twelve mem- bers assembled for worship on First day, and many of these during the interval of silence fell asleep." Happily this state of affairs did not prevail long. In such an era of spiritual depression the genial and learned Elisha Thornton became the minister, and carrying his humanity into the sacred desk, taught so eloquently and yet so devoutly
*Richardson's History, p. 79.
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that sleep was out of question, and all listened enraptured to his beau- tiful and impressive sermons. Thus he preached from before the re- volution, for about 30 years, being also zealously devoted to the cause of education meantime, when he removed to New Bedford, where he spent his last days in peace, if not in the enjoyment of the comforts which such a life should have brought.
A minister of a recent period was Abel Collins Monroe, who came to Woonsocket in 1845, and was one of the preachers at the time of his death, in August, 1883. Lydia B. Cole was also a minister in this period. Since 1884 the meetings have not had the teachings of a regu- lar minister much of the time, but they are faithfully continued by about 30 members. The Sabbath school is maintained with benefit and interest, about 100 members attending. For many years James S. Read has been the superintendent.
The early history of the Baptists at Woonsocket cannot be given with any degree of accuracy, on account of the loss of the records by fire, when the church was burned April 12th, 1858. That place of worship was dedicated April 24th, 1834, during the pastorate of the Reverend Peter Simonsen, the first minister, who took charge of the congregation in 1833. As originally built, by the general contribu1- tions of the citizens of the village, on the Cumberland side, it was a small and plain house, which had been enlarged several times before its destruction. In consequence of these additions the house bore a more ancient appearance than was warranted by its age. The loss to the society was fully covered by insurance, and in the fall of 1858, a new edifice was begun on the same lot, but a little east of where the old house stood. This was erected at a cost of $6,000, and is a frame, 43 by 76 feet, with projections on front and rear ends of three feet each. The tower is 116 feet high and was adapted for the use of a clock and bell, which were placed in position in 1860. The church itself was consecrated May 26th, 1859, and the attendant ceremonies were witnessed by large congregations. On the same day the Reverend John Jennings was publicly recognized as pastor. In 1860 an organ was purchased through the efforts of Doctor S. B. Bartholemew, and four years later the yard was graded and enclosed with an iron fence. Repairs since that time, including the handsome interior decoration in the summer of 1881 and the introduction of steam heat in 1887, have made the church attractive and comfortable to those who worship in it. On account of its central location, in the business part of the city, the property has become very valuable. In 1889 the principal officers of the Baptist Society were; Clerk, Rod- ney D. Cook; treasurer, Otis Hawkins; deacons, J. A. C. Wightman, Rodney D. Cook, Frank P. Lee, T. B. Holden; superintendent of Sun- day school, Joseph J. Hulbert.
In the Sunday school were 250 members and the church roll bore the names of 340 persons, a number of whom were non-residents.
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HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.
The pastor of the church was the Reverend S. W. Foljambe, D. D., who was inducted into that office February 1st, 1888. His predeces- sors, since the organization of the church have been as follows: 1833-4, Rev. Peter Simonsen; 1834-7, Bradley Miner; 1837-41, Joseph Smith; 1841-3, George N. Waitt; 1843, Daniel Curtiss; 1844-5, Joseph B. Damon; 1845-7, Kaslet Armine; 1847-51, Luther D. Hill; 1852-8, Joseph B. Breed; 1859-63, John Jennings; 1863-4, James W. Bonham; 1865-6, John D. Sweet; 1866-7, Denzel M. Crane; 1867-73, Sullivan L. Holman; 1874-6, Frederick Dennison; 1876-84, E. E. Thomas; 1884, M. B. Scribner; 1884-7, J. H. Parshley.
The Baptists, like the Methodists, have recognized the importance of missionary labors among the French Canadians and in 1869 the Reverend N. Cyr, of Vermont, was appointed to work among that class of people in the manufacturing centers, under the auspices of the Board of Home Missions. In 1873 he was succeeded by the Reverend J. N. Williams, who also preached at Woonsocket in the Baptist church, continuing at intervals until 1882. He was followed by the Reverend E. Leger, who was succeeded in 1886 by the present minister, the Reverend Frank X. Smith. The latter has been hold- ing Sabbath services twice per month at Woonsocket and also preaches at Fall River and Central Falls. At the former place he had succeeded in gathering a band of 40 people, who made a profession of the Baptist faith, but owing to removals the number has been re- duced to 25. While these worship in the French language and have their own pastor, they hold their membership in the regular church, not yet having been organized as a separate congregation. Under a similar arrangement instruction in French is imparted to several classes in the regular Sabbath school.
The First Presbyterian church is the youngest Protestant church in the city, its organization having been effected December 20th, 1886, when 18 persons on profession of faith, and 29 by letter, united in the bonds of fellowship. But the effort to secure this end was made earlier that year. In May, 1886, the Reverend Joseph W. Sanderson, superintendent of the N. E. Board of Home Missions, arranged to have the Reverend John Montgomery, of the Lonsdale church, visit the place and gather together those who entertained the Presbyterian faith. This led to a call for a meeting in Lyceum Hall July 19th, 1886, with a view of forming a congregation, when 12 persons responded, who were presided over by the Reverend Thomas A. Reeves, of Mat- teawan, N. Y. The latter spent the month of August in the city, hold- ing services regularly, which were attended with so much interest that he resigned his pastorate in Matteawan in October, 1886, and was transferred to the Presbytery of Boston, in order to identify himself more fully with the work at Woonsocket. The formation of the con- gregation followed, when the following official board was elected, or- dained and installed: Pastor, Reverend Thomas A. Reeves; elders,
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Leander Fisher, John D. Griffith, Martin V. B. Knox, Hugh Peden, deacons, Peter S. Archibald, Thomas Booth; trustees, Alexander Brenton, John Bentley, Thomas Booth, Leander Fisher, M. V. B. Knox, Hugh Peden, James Thompson.
Since that time meetings have been regularly held in Lyceum Hall, and the congregation, under the pastorate of Reverend Mr. Reeves, has been placed upon a permanent footing, growing in num- bers and influence and leaving its impress upon the moral life of the city. In January, 1887, the congregation was incorporated by the general assembly of the state, and in the summer of that year a large lot, on the corner of Bridge and Greene streets, was purchased, on which is being built a church planned by Architect P. D. West. Its design shows a very attractive exterior, and the main audience room will be 54 by 60 feet in size, with the floor descending from the street entrance to the pulpit platform. When once completed, it will afford a spiritual home for the congregation which will attract many more to its membership and increase its scope for doing good. In July, 1889, there were 69 active and nine non-resident members, who also maintain a Sunday school, of which John D. Griffith is the super- intendent.
The following account of St. Charles Catholic church is from notes. by James W. Smyth:
It is believed that the first Roman Catholic who took up his perma- nent abode at Woonsocket was Michael Reddy, who came to the ham- let part of the village in 1826. Two years later mass was said in the hall of the public house of Walter Allen, at Union Village by Father Robert D. Woodley, there being ten persons in the congregation who participated as worshippers. Subsequently visiting priests came from Pawtucket and Providence and said mass at private houses, as the in- crease of Catholics was very slow. In the early part of 1834 the Rev- erend Fathers Lee and McNamee came and labored a short time, but to the Reverend James Fitten was allotted the work of establishing a Catholic parish in this locality, whose influence has become second to none other in the diocese.
Born in Boston in 1805, he was ordained a priest in 1827. In his travels as a missionary he came to Waterford in 1834, and the use of the school house there being denied him, he said mass at the house of Edward McCabe. At Woonsocket he found 30 Catholics whom he met at private houses, but finding evidences of increasing numbers, he secured an old hall, in which worship was held. He soon after formed Woonsocket into a station, and larger quarters were demanded. These were found in the hall connected with the public house of Reuel Smith, which was also used for secular purposes. In this con- nection an anecdote, recorded by Erastus Richardson, in his account of the church, finds an appropriate place: "On a certain occasion, in 1841, this hall had been let to a dancing party, who had beautifully
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decorated it with evergreens, weaving with the fragrant boughs and suspending in a conspicuous place, the following motto: 'A time to dance.' As the time for the religious services drew near, Mrs. Smith (the wife of the landlord, who, though a Protestant, had a friendly feeling for the Catholics), with the evergreens that composed the word ' dance,' substituted another word, and made the motto to read, 'A time to pray.'-thus, by a very simple and kindly act, not only trans- forming a house of mirth into a temple of worship, but even making the hands of the profane to quicken the emotions of the devout."
In 1843 there were 200 Catholics, and the question of building a church was agitated. Subscriptions were received and Edward Mc- Cabe was appointed treasurer of the fund. A lot of ground on North Main street was purchased of Dexter Ballou, and Jarvis Cook was en- gaged to build a church for $2,000. It was a frame structure, 40 by 60 feet, and was consecrated by the Reverend William Tyler, the first bishop of Hartford, in October, 1846. On the 12th of the same month the first wedding in a Catholic church at Woonsocket was solemnized by Father John Brady-Michael Mccarthy and Mary McCormick. Soon after the church was built Father Fitten was succeeded by the Reverend Charles O'Reilley, who remained until February, 1852. In this pastorate the church became too small, and in 1848 it was en- larged.
In 1854 a pastoral residence was built on the lot adjoining the church; the vestry was built in 1857, and in 1859 the first parochial school house was built at a cost of $3,100. At this time it was found that there were 2,300 Irish Catholics in Woonsocket parish.
In 1860 Edward Harris presented the parish with a new cemetery, containing two and a half acres, which was blessed by the Reverend E. F. McFarland, September 18th, 1860. This was subsequently en- larged to contain 13 acres, and a receiving vault was built at a cost of $1,500. The cemetery is on the Milford road, in the state of Massa- chusetts, about one and a half miles from the church.
Meantime, the Reverend Hugh Carmody had become the priest, and remained until February, 1854. The Reverend John Brady was the priest until April, 1855, when Reverend M. McCabe was called to the care of the parish. Under his devoted and energetic labors the congre- gation outgrew the capacity of the old church, and in 1863 the collection of funds for a new church was begun. This work went on favorably, and when Father McCabe was transferred to St. Patrick's church, Providence, January, 1866, he left the parish free from debt and a fund of $10,200 secured for the new edifice. He was followed, January 31st, 1866, by the Reverend F. J. Lenihan, the young poet, author and silver-tongued orator, who soon became very popular in the parish. In his hands the building fund grew apace so that in the spring of 1867 the old church was moved to an adjoining lot and the work of building a new one begun. Sunday, June 16th, 1867, the corner stone
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was laid in the presence of 3,000 people who had been led to the site in a procession, marshalled by Captain James W. Smyth. The stone was placed in position by the Reverend Father McFarland, and the work of building the beautiful edifice went rapidly forward. In the midst of these active labors Father Lenihan was stricken down by death. He was buried on the southwest corner of the church lot, in August, 1867, and a few years later the parish erected a substantial granite monument over his grave. The scholarly Father Bernard O'Reilley was the next priest, but the active business affairs which de- manded his attention were not congenial to him, and he left in December, 1868, to engage in literary pursuits in New York city. In the period of his ministry, May 22d, 1868, the old church building, on the Elliott lot, was destroyed by fire and the meetings of the parish were then held in the Armory and later in Harris Hall.
On the 2d of February, 1869, the Reverend Father M. McCabe was transferred from Providence to this parish, and he has since that time been the beloved pastor. He devoted himself with vigor to complete the church, raising $36,000 more for that purpose, and watching every detail of the building until it was ready for dedication, October 16th, 1871. The ceremonies were performed by Bishop McFarland, assisted by Father McCabe and the Reverend R. J. Fulton, of Worcester, Mass. It is an imposing edifice of Northbridge granite, 75 by 164 feet, and has sittings for nearly 1,800 people. The altars are very massive and the adornments in the interior are in fine taste and beautifully finished. The church cost about $80,000 and is an appropriate monument of the zeal and faithfulness of the members of the parish, acting under the guidance of Father McCabe. To improve the architecture of the church he caused a vestibule tower to be erected in the summer of 1889, at a cost of $9,000. It is of the same material as the church and its dimensions are 21 by 21 feet and 96 feet high. In the upper part of the tower is a bell, weighing 4,000 pounds. Directly opposite the church a large priest's house, valued at $10,000, was erected in 1881, and on an adjoining lot will be erected a large block for the use of the societies connected with the church. .
In the fall of 1867 a desirable property was bought near the church for convent purposes, on which new buildings were placed at a later day. On the 20th of August, 1869, the Sisters of Mercy took charge of this as the Convent of St. Bernard, and have since maintained schools of a high character, which are well patronized. In 1889 Sister Anastatia was the directress. St. Charles' school, before mentioned, and St. Michael's are also in charge of the Sisters of Mercy and are attended by nearly 500 pupils. The latter school building, on River street, was the gift of Father McCabe to the parish, in 1878, and is worth $8,000. All these temporalities of the parish are in charge of the usually constituted board of control, the lay members of which in 1889 were Doctor P. H. Madden and John F. Holt.
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HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.
Connected with the church, and valuable auxiliaries in its parish work, are several important societies, which are well maintained. One of these, the Ladies' Benevolent Aid Society, was organized March 29th, 1868, with Mrs. Joseph Banigan, president; Mrs. William Ker- wick, secretary; and Mrs. James W. Smyth, treasurer. The society has greatly alleviated the sufferings of the poor and performed much charitable work. The Christian Doctrine Society was organized Sun- day, August 13th, 1871, and Daniel Holt was the first president; James Murray, secretary; and Reverend John Kelley, treasurer. Its object was to conduct the boys' Sunday school and to provide teachers there- for. A library was established as soon as the society was formed, which has since grown to be a valuable feature of its work. The Christian Doctrine Lyceum is closely allied to the latter and its scope is indicated by its name. Its organization dates from 1870, and with little exception regular weekly meetings have since been held. In 1889 John V. Heffernan was the president.
Warmly interested in these aids has always been Father Michael McCabe, for 20 consecutive years the pastor. He was born of well-to- do farmers in Leitrim, Ireland, in 1826, and was well instructed in his youth. In 1851 he came to America and entered the seminary at Providence and later the theological seminary at Baltimore, Md., which he left in 1854 to return to Providence to be ordained to the priesthood. At Woonsocket he has seen his parish grow until it numbers more than 3,600 members, with over $100,000 worth of prop- erty, yet he serves as unostentatiously as when he first came. Truly has it been said of him: " He is to the parish like a common father, whose advice, instruction and benevolence have been the consolation and protection of a thousand homes." In 1879 he was appointed vicar- general of the diocese of Providence, and since 1887 has been a Can- onical pastor to the parish. In his labors as a priest he has been assisted by the Reverend P. Farley, the Reverend J. Mahon and others.
The Church of the Precious Blood is an offshoot of St. Charles church, and is composed almost exclusively of French Canadian Catho- lics. Prior to the separation the mother church had assistant priests for the French people, separate worship being often held. Among the priests of the old parish who so served were the Reverends Law- rence Walsh, in 1866; James A. Princen, in 1867; F. Belanger, in 1868-9; and Austin D. Bernard from 1870. Under the latter, in 1872, a separate organization was effected and the parish of Du Precicux Sang formed. The meetings were first held in the hall over the Harris Privilege store, but the rapid growth of the congregation soon made it possible to acquire separate church property. August 27th, 1873, a very eligible lot was purchased for a building site, in Bernon, where the corner stone for a large edifice was laid, October 25th, 1874. The ceremonies attending this act were participated in by all the Catholic
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societies of the town, besides a large assemblage of people who pro- ceeded thither from St. Charles church. The stone was blessed by Vicar General Lawrence McMahone and the sermon in French was preached by the Reverend A. Villeneune, of Montreal. The edifice thus begun was to be of brick and stone, 69 by 168 feet, 70 feet high, and to be set off with a corner tower 172 feet high. Later this plan was slightly modified as to the height of the towers. The exterior of the building was finished, except the south tower, which was but 72 feet high and was to be carried up 15 feet more, and the basement was already occupied for public worship, when the church was destroyed by a gale, February 2d, 1876. The wind blew furiously from the northwest, at the rate of 67 miles per hour, and the air was so filled with dust and ice javelins that sight was almost obscured. The roof was loosened from the building, and the walls separating, it was dropped down, carrying with it everything except the east wall and the towers, and causing a loss to the parish of about $25,000. In a short time the work of restoration was begun and the basement was again speedily fitted up for worship. Work upon the main church progressed more slowly and the completed edifice was not ready for dedication until July 27th, 1881. As consecrated its principal features are the same as those of the original church, being plain but impres- sive in its appearance. The interior is beautifully decorated, and there are three altars, the main one being 33 feet high. There is an organ, 31 feet high, and in the tower are five finely toned bells. The church accommodates nearly 2,000 people and the parish has more than 6,000 members. Adjoining the church lot a commodious priest's house has been erected, and near by is the convent and academy of the Les Dames de Jesus Marie, a substantial brick building, in which a largely patronized school is maintained. To provide more spacious accommo- dations a larger convent will be erected in the same neighborhood, upon foundation walls which have already been laid. A number of parish schools of a primary grade are also supported and are attended by hundreds of pupils. The interests of the parish were for a number of years in care of the Reverend Father A. D. Bernard, and have been successfully continued and increased by the present pastor, the Rev- erend Charles Dauray, who has for a dozen of years been the priest. The entire temporalities of the parish are estimated worth more than $100,000.
The St. Vincent De Paul Beneficial Society was organized in 1878 as an auxiliary of the church work among deserving members of the parish. In 1889 its principal officers were: Solomon Breault, presi- dent; Alphonse Gaulin, vice-president; Philip Boucher, secretary; Godfroy Daigneault, treasurer. Other church societies have recently been organized, and are in a prosperous condition.
The following account of the Universalist Society and church is from notes by the pastor.
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HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.
As early as 1821 Reverends Hosea Ballou, Thomas Whittemore and, later, David Pickering, William S. Balch and others preached the doctrine of universal salvation in the village of Woonsocket Falls, using for that purpose groves, school houses and unfinished factories. There was great opposition, but as it was unwise and ill-tempered it only multiplied believers in this doctrine. October 25th, 1834, a permanent society - The Woonsocket Universalist Society of Young Men-was formed at the hotel of Luke Whit- comb, when the following officers were chosen: Christopher Robin- son, president; Jonathan Wales, vice-president; Lewis H. Bradford, secretary; William O. Bisbee, treasurer; Willis Cook, Aaron Rathbun, Albert Jenckes, Eliab M. Ballou, William J. Holder, prudential com- mittee.
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